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Supporting the shift to animal component-free and xeno-free research in cell culture
PromoCell: The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries are shifting toward more ethical, consistent, and regulatory-compliant drug discovery and translational research.
This shift is particularly evident in cell culture. Researchers increasingly demand animal-free alternatives that deliver superior reproducibility and meet stringent regulatory requirements. Drug discovery and cell therapy applications now utilize animal component-free (ACF) and xeno-free (XF) cell culture media for GMP-grade product development.
What are ACF and XF media, and why are they important?
Animal component-free media are formulations that are free of components derived from animal or human sources. These include serum, proteins, and other biological materials that are commonly used in cell culture.
Xeno-free media are formulated without any components from non-human animal sources. The use of XF media ensures that human cell cultures are maintained in completely human-compatible environments.
ACF and XF media ensure batch-to-batch consistency and eliminate unknown biological contaminants. They also address regulatory compliance issues that can compromise research outcomes and therapeutic development timelines. Stricter regulatory guidelines make the adoption of ACF and XF media essential, not just ethical.
Advantages of using ACF and XF media formulations
The transition from conventional cell culture media to ACF and XF formulations has several scientific and ethical advantages that can affect research quality and regulatory acceptance. ACF and XF formulations provide batch-to-batch consistency, as they eliminate the variability introduced by animal-derived components and unknown proteins that can influence experimental data and cell behavior.
In addition, the use of ACF and XF media can enhance reproducibility across different laboratories. Regulatory agencies require detailed documentation of all culture components and their origins. Therefore, switching to ACF and XF formulations is particularly important when developing cell-based therapies.
The use of ACF and XF media also has ethical advantages. Organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) continuously update their resources regarding ACF products and advocate for animal-free research. These formulations eliminate animal-derived materials, supporting animal welfare policies and reducing the environmental impact of traditional serum production.
| Product name | Short description | Formulation |
| Monocyte Attachment Medium | For efficient adherence selection of monocytes from freshly isolated human mononuclear cells | Defined, animal component-free, and protein-free |
| Preadipocyte Differentiation Medium | Cell culture medium for the differentiation of preadipocytes into mature adipocytes | Defined and animal-component free |
| Primary Cancer Culture System | Cell culture solution designed for the selective culture of malignant cells derived from primary tumors or patient-derived xenografts | Defined and animal-component free |
| Skeletal Muscle Differentiation Medium | Cell culture medium for differentiation of skeletal muscle cells | Defined and animal-component free |
| Freezing Medium Cryo-SFM Plus | Cryopreservation medium for optimal cell storage | Defined, animal component-free, and protein-free |
| Fibroblast Growth Medium D-ACF | Cell culture medium for Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts (NHDF) from juvenile donors | Defined and animal-component free |
| Dendritic Cell Generation Medium XF | For the generation of dendritic cells from peripheral blood monocytes | Xeno-free |
| 3D Tumorsphere Medium XF | For the cultivation of cancer cell lines as 3D tumorspheres | Xeno-free |
| Cancer Cell Line Medium XF | For the standardized in vitro cultivation of established cancer cell lines | Xeno-free |
| Hematopoietic Progenitor Cell Expansion Medium XF | For expansion of primitive human hematopoietic cells | Xeno-free |
| M1-Macrophage Generation Medium XF | For the efficient generation of M1 macrophages from fresh monocytes | Xeno-free |
| M2-Macrophage Generation Medium XF | Medium for generation of M2 macrophages from fresh monocytes | Xeno-free |
| Macrophage Base Medium XF | Customizable medium for generation of macrophages from fresh monocytes | Xeno-free |
| Mesenchymal Stem Cell Growth Medium XF | Cell culture medium for proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells | Xeno-free |
Explore PromoCell’s animal component-free and xeno-free solutions
Discover PromoCell’s ACF and XF media
PromoCell has developed ACF and XF cell culture media for various cell types, suitable for a variety of applications.
Their product range includes optimized media formulations, supplements, and complete culture systems that maintain cellular functionality while adhering to ethical and regulatory standards.
PromoCell’s solutions:
For researchers requiring even more stringent regulatory compliance, PromoCell also offers Custom GMP Services, providing tailored solutions that meet the standards required for clinical applications and therapeutic development programs. Please contact your Bio-Connect account manager to explore Custom GMP Services.
