Pharmaceutica Analytica Acta

Abstract

Assessment of a Protein-Free Medium Performance in Different Cell Culture Vessels using Mouse Hybridomas to Produce Monoclonal Antibodies

Rodolfo Valdés, Marcos González, Déborah Geada and Eutimio Fernández

The main aim of the study was assessing the performance of a Protein Free Medium (PFM) in different cell culture vessels using three mouse hybridomas to produce monoclonal antibodies (mAb) specific for hepatitis B surface antigen, human alpha interferon and a human versica (proteoglycan). In parallel, the influence of the PFM on the hybridoma production kinetic patterns associated to these vessels was also studied. In conclusions, PFM allowed successful hybridoma cultures and mAb production, but showed limitations compared with serum supplemented medium in T-flask, roller-bottle, gas permeable bioreactors and hollow fiber bioreactors. As it was expected, mAb production kinetic pattern was unmodified by the PFM under assessed experimental conditions and the production kinetic pattern analysis is an important tool for indicating the best operation mode for industrial scale mAb production, but an absolute prediction cannot be totally assumed from these experiments.