<h2 data-section-id="1vscfio" data-start="222" data-end="262">What are TERT overexpression viruses?</h2>
&nbsp;
TERT overexpression viruses are recombinant lentiviral (or in some cases retroviral) particles carrying the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene under a constitutive promoter, designed to extend telomere length and bypass replicative senescence in primary cells. Related entities include telomere maintenance, replicative senescence, population doubling limits, EF1-alpha and CMV promoters, and antibiotic/fluorescent selection markers (puromycin, hygromycin, GFP-Puro).
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Adeno-hTERT Antisense used in cancer research for inhibition of telomerase activity&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-hTERT Virus (High Titer) used as a standard tool for efficient immortalization of primary cells&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-EF1a-hTERT Virus uses the EF1a promoter for reliable, long-term expression.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Adeno-hTERT is used in transient TERT expression for high-efficiency adenoviral delivery</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-hTERT is used as a streamlined vector for specialized genetic engineering.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-hTERT-2A-CDK4 Virus co-expression for complex cell types like myogenic cells.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-EF1a-hTERT-Hygro Virus for precise metabolic selection featuring hygromycin resistance&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Lenti-hTERT-Neo Virus for stable generation of cell lines, includes neomycin/G418 resistance&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="t86qiz" data-start="932" data-end="983">How to choose TERT overexpression virus products</h2>
&nbsp;
Promoter selection
EF1-alpha promoter constructs are often preferred for primary cells where CMV promoter silencing over extended culture is a concern, though CMV-driven constructs offer strong initial expression; the choice may depend on the expected culture duration and cell type-specific promoter activity.
Selection marker type
Antibiotic resistance markers (puromycin, hygromycin, neomycin/G418, blasticidin) allow selection of stably transduced populations by drug treatment, while fluorescent-antibiotic fusion markers (e.g., GFP-Puro) additionally allow visual confirmation of expression and flow sorting; confirm the target cell line's existing markers don't conflict.
Titer and transduction efficiency
hTERT lentivirus is typically supplied at titers around 1x10^8 TU/mL; transduction efficiency depends on the target cell type's susceptibility to lentiviral infection, and some difficult-to-transduce primary cells may require optimization of multiplicity of infection (MOI) or use of transduction enhancers.
Species considerations
hTERT is human-specific; for non-human primary cells, confirm whether a species-matched TERT ortholog is available or whether SV40 large T antigen (with broader documented cross-species activity) is a more appropriate alternative for the target species.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="3151" data-end="3176">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
TERT overexpression lentivirus is typically supplied at approximately 1x10^8 TU/mL in small-volume vials (e.g., 25 microliters per vial), shipped on dry ice and stored at -80&deg;C, with constructs validated by full-length sequencing and confirmed free of mycoplasma and common contaminants. Stable transduction and selection typically take 1-2 weeks before characterization, with full confirmation of telomere extension and extended proliferative capacity assessed over subsequent passages. As of 2026, hTERT lentivirus remains a standard tool for generating immortalized cell lines that retain much of the original primary cell's phenotype, distinguishing it from the more transformation-prone SV40 large T antigen approach.
This sub-category sits within MBP's cell immortalization catalog alongside SV40T antigen overexpression viruses and additional immortalization agents. Labs building custom expression constructs can also review MBP's cloning reagents for vector and competent cell options. MBP's specialist team can help confirm promoter and selection marker choices for a specific primary cell type before order placement.
Browse our collection and <a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">contact the expert team at MBP</a> today to find premium-quality TERT viral vectors for your lab.&nbsp;

TERT Overexpression Viruses

Adenovirus MSDS

Lentivirus MSDS

Lentiviral Vector Amplification - Protocol

Lentivector Packaging - Protocol

Lentivirus Infection - Protocol

Cell Immortalization - Handbook

Cell Immortalization Reagents - FAQ

Adeno-hTERT

Unit Quantity

Description

Application

Expression System Type

Vector Map

Note

Caution

Shipping Condition

MSDS

Adeno-hTERT Antisense

<h2 dir="ltr">What Are Adenoviral Control &amp; Reporter Constructs?</h2>
 Adenoviral over-expression experiments typically include matched control constructs that use the same vector backbone, promoter configuration, and production workflow as the experimental construct, and are packaged and purified under equivalent conditions. This helps account for vector-related and adenovirus-associated innate immune responses that can influence cellular readouts independently of the transgene. Using appropriate null or reporter controls is essential for accurate interpretation of adenoviral transduction and expression data. Choose the tools that support accurate data interpretation.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" aria-level="1">
GFP Adenovirus Reporters: confirm transduction visually using high-titer viral particles expressing green fluorescent protein
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000;" aria-level="1">
Beta-Galactosidase (LacZ) Adenoviruses: &beta;-gal markers derived from E. coli for standardized colorimetric and histochemical assays.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000;" aria-level="1">
pShuttle-LacZ Control Vectors: produce recombinant adenoviruses expressing LacZ.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000;" aria-level="1">
Null Adenovirus Controls: empty viral particles for assessment of non-specific cellular responses during gene delivery.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; color: #000000;" aria-level="1">
CMV Null Adenoviruses: used to identify promoter-specific metabolic effects. Contains CMV promoter without a transgene.
</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr"> How to Choose Adenoviral Control &amp; Reporter Constructs</h2>
 Empty Vector Matching An empty vector control &mdash; identical backbone, promoter, and packaging as the experimental adenoviral construct, with no transgene insert &mdash; establishes the baseline for adenoviral delivery effects independent of the over-expressed gene. Fluorescent Reporter Selection GFP and RFP fluorescent reporters allow tracking of transduction efficiency by microscopy or flow cytometry, matching the promoter configuration of experimental constructs. Luciferase Reporter Format Firefly luciferase and Renilla luciferase provide quantitative bioluminescent readouts; secreted NanoLuc reporters allow sampling of culture supernatant for repeated, non-destructive measurements over a time course. Immune Activation Considerations Because adenoviral delivery activates innate immune sensing in transduced cells independently of any transgene, an identical-backbone control is essential to distinguish transgene-specific effects from generalised adenoviral response. Production Workflow Matching Controls should be produced, packaged, and purified using the same protocol and timeline as experimental constructs to avoid batch-to-batch variability confounding comparisons. 
<h2 dir="ltr"> Specifications Context</h2>
 Adenoviral delivery can activate innate immune sensing in transduced cells, altering gene expression independently of the transgene; therefore, matched controls with the same Ad5 backbone and promoter configuration are required for valid interpretation of adenoviral over-expression experiments. MBP adenoviral control and reporter constructs include GFP adenovirus, &beta;-gal (LacZ) adenovirus, and null adenovirus systems, supporting qualitative and quantitative assessment of transduction efficiency. Using control and experimental constructs produced under consistent conditions reduces variability that can confound downstream comparisons across treatment groups. Recording vector identity and batch information supports reproducibility and troubleshooting. Product availability reflects MBP&rsquo;s catalogue as of mid-2026. 
&nbsp;
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team</a> at MBP today for the selection of matched adenoviral control and reporter constructs for your workflow.

Control/Reporter

Lentiviral Vector Amplification Protocol

AAV Infection Guideline

AAV Packaging Protocol

Selection-Drug Killing Curve

Lentivector Packaging Protocol

Lentivirus Infection Protocol

Adenovirus Null Adenovirus

Titer 

Storage Condition

<h2 data-section-id="1h8mvlk" data-start="0" data-end="45">What are primary cell culture medium kits?</h2>
&nbsp;
Primary cell culture medium kits are complete, ready-to-prepare culture systems that combine a cell-type-specific basal medium with the supplements required for optimal growth and maintenance of primary cells. Unlike purchasing media, serum, growth factors, and antibiotics separately, these kits provide all components in validated proportions, ensuring that the medium performs as intended for a specific primary cell type.
A typical kit includes a basal medium, a cell-specific growth supplement, an antibiotic component where appropriate, and fetal bovine serum (FBS) or an equivalent supplement when required. The components are designed to be combined directly according to the manufacturer's instructions, reducing preparation errors and improving consistency between experiments.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-path-to-node="5">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul data-path-to-node="6">
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Tissue-specific primary cell culture medium kits
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Specialized growth media for endothelial and epithelial cells
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Workflow systems for thawing, plating, and maintenance of hepatocytes&nbsp;
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Differentiation media for progenitor and stem cells&nbsp;
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Serum-free bioprocessing and cryopreservation reagents
</li>
<li style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">
Targeted fibroblast, smooth muscle, and myocyte growth kits
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1nip7jz" data-start="1066" data-end="1116">How to choose a primary cell culture medium kit</h2>
&nbsp;
Match the kit to the cell type
Primary cells have highly specialized nutritional and signaling requirements. Kits are available for endothelial cells, hepatocytes, astrocytes, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, stem cells, and many other cell types. Selecting a kit specifically designed for the target cell type is essential for maintaining normal cellular function and morphology.
Serum-containing vs. serum-free formulations
Traditional kits often include FBS as a source of growth factors and nutrients. Serum-free and xeno-free kits replace animal-derived components with defined supplements, reducing variability and supporting applications that require animal-component-free culture conditions.
Complete kit convenience
Most kits provide all major components needed to prepare complete culture medium. This eliminates the need to source multiple reagents individually and helps ensure that supplements are used at the correct concentrations.
Antibiotic inclusion
Many primary cell culture kits include antibiotics to reduce contamination risk during routine culture. However, some specialized formulations, particularly those designed for immune cells and mononuclear cells, are intentionally supplied without antibiotics because these additives can influence cellular responses and experimental outcomes.
Storage and preparation
Kit components are typically stored separately until needed. Basal media and supplements are usually refrigerated, while serum components may require frozen storage before use. Once mixed into complete medium, shelf life is generally shorter than that of the individual components, making it advisable to prepare only the amount needed for near-term use.
Specialized differentiation systems
Some kits are designed not only for maintenance but also for cellular differentiation. These systems may include multiple supplements added sequentially throughout a protocol to guide stem cells or progenitor cells through defined developmental stages.
<h2 data-section-id="dydsco" data-start="3131" data-end="3173">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="4061" data-end="4086">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Primary cell culture medium kits are commonly supplied in a format consisting of a basal medium bottle accompanied by concentrated supplements and serum components that are added directly before use. This approach simplifies preparation while ensuring that all components have been optimized and tested together.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us" title="Contact the expert team at MBP">Contact the expert team at MBP</a> today and get optimized primary cell culture medium kits for your lab.

Primary Cell Culture Medium kits

TM005-Differentiation Protocol-Preadipocytes into Adipocytes

Adipocyte Differentiation Medium

Adipocyte Differentiation Medium TM005 by ABM: 500 ml two-part system (480 ml basal + 20 ml TM005-S supplement) for preadipocyte-to-adipocyte differentiation. Antibiotic-free; lot-tested for differentiation efficacy, sterility, pH, osmolality, and endotoxin. Stable 30 days post-mix. Downloadable protocol included.

Sterility

Appearance

Disclaimer

Flyer

Adipocyte Medium Kit

<h2>What is agarose for gel electrophoresis?</h2>
&nbsp;
Agarose is a linear polysaccharide derived from agar that, when dissolved in hot buffer and allowed to cool, forms a porous gel matrix whose pore size is determined by the agarose concentration. DNA and RNA molecules migrate through this matrix under an electric field at a rate inversely related to their size, allowing fragments of different lengths to be separated and visualized as distinct bands.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Azura Agarose for routine electrophoresis of nucleic acids with low electroendosmosis (EEO) performance</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Benchmark Agarose for PCR product analysis and high-quality nucleic acid separation</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Benchmark Specialty Agarose for specialized gel applications requiring enhanced resolution and performance control</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Standard Agarose for routine use in gel electrophoresis workflows</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">EZ Pack&trade; Agarose Tablets for agarose concentration control and convenient gel preparation&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>How to choose agarose type and concentration</h2>
&nbsp;
Use standard agarose at 0.7&ndash;1% for routine PCR and restriction digest checks on larger fragments
A 0.7&ndash;1% standard agarose gel is commonly used for routine PCR product verification and restriction digest analysis when fragments are generally in the 1&ndash;10 kb size range.
Use 1.5&ndash;2% standard agarose for resolving smaller fragments in the 200 bp&ndash;2 kb range
Higher agarose concentrations from 1.5% to 2% are appropriate for resolving smaller PCR products, SNP genotyping amplicons, or restriction digests where size differences below 500 bp need to be clearly distinguished.
Use high-resolution agarose at 2&ndash;4% for very small fragments or close sizing
High-resolution agarose formulations can differentiate closely sized DNA fragments in the 50&ndash;500 bp range more effectively than standard agarose, making them useful for applications such as microsatellite or STR analysis.
Choose low-melting-point agarose when you need to recover DNA from gel slices
Low-melting-point (LMP) agarose can be melted at approximately 65&deg;C after electrophoresis, allowing DNA-containing gel slices to be processed more easily for downstream enzymatic reactions or purification workflows.
Confirm agarose purity (EEO grade) for sensitive applications
Electro-endosmosis (EEO) reflects agarose purity. Low-EEO agarose supports more consistent DNA migration and helps minimize contaminants that may interfere with downstream PCR amplification, restriction digestion, or other enzymatic applications.
&nbsp;
<h2>Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Standard agarose gels are typically prepared by dissolving agarose powder in TAE or TBE buffer through heating, followed by cooling to approximately 55&deg;C before pouring into casting trays. Higher-concentration gels solidify more rapidly and generally benefit from prompt casting.
As of 2026, low-EEO agarose grades remain the preferred choice for sensitive applications such as Southern blotting, gel extraction followed by PCR, and restriction enzyme digestion workflows where contaminants can inhibit downstream reactions.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team</a> and get premium agarose gel for your research today.

Agarose

Shipping condition

Agarose, 500g

Agarose, 100g

Air Liquid Interface Differentiation Medium

<h2 dir="ltr"> What is a cDNA Synthesis Kit?</h2>
 A cDNA synthesis kit provides the complete set of reagents - reverse transcriptase enzyme, reaction buffer, dNTPs, RNase inhibitor, and primers - needed to perform first-strand reverse transcription, converting an RNA sample into a cDNA pool. Unlike one-step RT-PCR kits, which combine RT and PCR in a single reaction with gene-specific primers, a cDNA synthesis kit performs reverse transcription as a standalone step, producing a cDNA template that can be used across multiple subsequent PCR or qPCR reactions targeting different genes. Choose a cDNA synthesis kit when one RNA sample needs to be analysed for multiple gene targets, or when downstream qPCR requires a separately-generated, quality-checked cDNA template. 
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li data-section-id="1o7fvd2" data-start="74" data-end="228">First-strand cDNA synthesis kits for RNA-to-cDNA conversion in gene expression workflows, including AzuraQuant&trade; and AzuraFlex&trade; cDNA synthesis kits</li>
<li data-section-id="z40sk0" data-start="229" data-end="395">Standard cDNA synthesis kits for routine transcriptional analysis and downstream PCR applications, including Accuris qMAX and 1st cDNA Synthesis Kit (FS01-00)</li>
<li data-section-id="1yvybqf" data-start="396" data-end="521">Flexible and high-efficiency cDNA synthesis systems designed to support a range of RNA inputs and experimental conditions</li>
<li data-section-id="sl2teb" data-start="522" data-end="599">miRNA-specific cDNA synthesis solutions for small RNA expression analysis</li>
<li data-section-id="17gz9kt" data-start="600" data-end="770" data-is-last-node="">One-step and integrated RT-based systems and master mixes supporting streamlined reverse transcription workflows, including OneScript Plus and OneScript Hot RT kits</li>
</ul>
<h2 dir="ltr"> How to Choose a cDNA Synthesis Kit</h2>
 Priming Strategy Oligo(dT) primers target the poly-A tail of mRNA, enriching specifically for mRNA-derived cDNA and reducing genomic DNA or rRNA background. Random primers (commonly hexamers) prime throughout the RNA template regardless of sequence, useful for templates lacking a poly-A tail (such as bacterial RNA) or when full-length cDNA coverage, including 5' regions, is needed. Some kits offer a blend of both primer types for balanced coverage. Reverse Transcriptase Included Kits built around M-MLV RNase H-minus reverse transcriptase favour longer, more complete cDNA products, while kits using enhanced-thermostability or inhibitor-resistant reverse transcriptases may better handle GC-rich templates or minimally purified RNA samples. Genomic DNA Elimination Step Some cDNA synthesis kits include a separate genomic DNA elimination (gDNA wipeout) step performed before reverse transcription -- important for accurate gene expression quantification, since residual genomic DNA can contribute false signal in downstream qPCR if primers span regions present in both genomic DNA and the cDNA target. Reaction Volume and Throughput cDNA synthesis kits are available in formats scaled for individual reactions through to high-throughput 96-well formats, allowing labs to match kit format to typical sample batch sizes without excessive reagent waste. Downstream Application Compatibility The resulting cDNA pool should be compatible with the intended downstream application -- standard PCR, qPCR with SYBR Green or probe-based detection, or digital PCR -- confirm that the kit's buffer system does not interfere with the chosen downstream detection chemistry. 
<h2 dir="ltr"> Specifications Context</h2>
 In a two-step workflow, the first step synthesises first-strand cDNA using a reverse transcriptase such as M-MLV-RT with the chosen priming strategy, and the resulting cDNA pool can then be used in multiple separate PCR or qPCR reactions targeting different genes - a key advantage when a single RNA sample needs to be analysed for several targets, since the cDNA synthesis step is performed only once. Genomic DNA elimination steps, where included, are typically performed as a brief pre-treatment with a DNase before the reverse transcription reaction itself begins. cDNA synthesis kit components - enzyme, buffer, dNTPs, and RNase inhibitor - are typically stored at &minus;20 &deg;C; RNase-free water and RNase inhibitor handling throughout the workflow are recommended to prevent RNA template degradation before synthesis.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team </a>at MBP today and get high-precision cDNA synthesis kits for your lab.

cDNA Synthesis Kits

DataSheet

PCR Product Guide

All-In-One 5X RT MasterMix with gDNA Removal

Concentration

<h2>What is Chemicals as a reagent category?</h2>
&nbsp;
Chemicals covers the broad range of chemical and biochemical reagents used across molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, and general laboratory work: biochemically relevant compounds like vitamins, buffer salts, amino acids, and enzyme substrates; general laboratory chemicals including solvents, acids, bases, and inorganic salts; and research-grade specialty chemicals for specific applications. Unlike application-specific categories such as Epigenetics or Electrophoresis, which organize reagents by research workflow, Chemicals organizes by the nature of the material itself.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you'll Discover:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/chemicals/biochemical-reagents" title="Biochemical Reagents:">Biochemical Reagents:</a> High-quality metabolic inducers such as IPTG (G116), L-Arabinose (A2001-ZYM), and Cumate (CH065), along with essential buffers and enzyme stabilizers like TRIS (CH059), DTT (G025), and PMSF (G034).
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/chemicals/inorganic-reagents-and-compounds" title="Inorganic Reagents &amp; Compounds:">Inorganic Reagents &amp; Compounds:</a> Ultra-pure essential chemical substances like Sodium Azide (CH052) designed for accurate laboratory buffer enhancement and sample conservation methodologies.
</li>
<li dir="ltr" aria-level="1">
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/reagents/chemicals/detergents-and-surfactants" title="Detergents &amp; Surfactants:">Detergents &amp; Surfactants:</a> Enhanced cell lysis and denaturing agents featuring 20% SDS (CH100) and concentrated 10X Tris-Glycine-SDS Buffer (CH125) for protein electrophoresis setup.
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2>How to navigate Chemicals</h2>
&nbsp;
Start with Biochemical Reagents for biologically relevant compounds
Biochemical Reagents covers the subset of the catalog most relevant to molecular and cell biology workflows: vitamins and cofactors, buffer salts and ready-to-use buffer solutions, amino acids, and other compounds with specific roles in biological systems.
Check purity grade requirements before ordering a research chemical
Research-grade chemicals vary in purity from technical grade to ACS-certified, HPLC-grade, and molecular biology grade, with the appropriate grade depending on how the chemical is used; cell culture and enzymatic applications generally require higher purity than non-biological analytical or general lab use.
Confirm whether your chemical needs are better served by a specialty category
Some research chemicals belong more naturally in application-specific sections of the catalog, such as chromatin immunoprecipitation buffers in Epigenetics or gel running buffers in Electrophoresis, while general-purpose chemicals and biochemical reagents not tied to a single workflow type belong in this Chemicals branch.
Consider bulk ordering for high-consumption research chemicals
Common research chemicals like buffer salts, solvents, and vitamins are used in large quantities by active research labs, and bulk pricing can represent meaningful savings on frequently replenished reagents.
Look for certificates of analysis when accuracy matters for your application
Quantitative applications, including analytical standards, enzyme kinetics studies, and defined cell culture supplementation, require chemicals with documented lot-specific purity and concentration, typically confirmed by certificate of analysis provided with each lot.
&nbsp;
<h2>Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Research-grade purity designations for laboratory chemicals follow widely adopted convention systems including ACS grade (meets American Chemical Society purity specifications), HPLC grade (verified purity for chromatographic applications), and molecular biology grade (certified free from nuclease, protease, and other activities that would interfere with molecular biology applications). As of 2026, pre-made, ready-to-use solutions for common biochemical reagents like PBS, HEPES buffer, and Tris-HCl continue to see growing adoption over powder or concentrated formats in labs prioritizing convenience and reproducibility over reagent cost per use.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Reach out to the friendly team at MBP</a> now to get a quote for your particular research needs.

Chemicals

Ammonium Persulfate (APS)

<h2 data-section-id="1go10h8" data-start="173" data-end="215">What are classic cell culture media?</h2>
&nbsp;
Classic cell culture media refers to the foundational basal medium formulations that have underpinned mammalian cell culture since the mid-20th century: DMEM (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium), MEM (Minimum Essential Medium), RPMI 1640, Ham's Nutrient Mixtures F-10 and F-12, IMDM (Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium), and the combination formulation DMEM/F-12. Each is manufactured according to its originally published formula, with modifications limited to those necessary for consistent performance and stability of the medium over its shelf life. These media supply the amino acids, vitamins, glucose, salts, and (in most formulations) phenol red pH indicator that form the nutritional backbone of essentially all subsequent specialty, serum-free, and Advanced media derivatives.
&nbsp;
<h2 dir="ltr">What you will find:</h2>
&nbsp;
<ul>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Selective Mammalian Antibiotics including Puromycin, Geneticin, and Hygromycin B for stable development of cell lines.</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Broad-Spectrum Bactericidal Agents for routine contamination prevention, including Penicillin/Streptomycin and Gentamicin&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Prokaryotic Selection Reagents for effective bacterial transformation, including Ampicillin, Kanamycin, Chloramphenicol, and Tetracycline&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Antifungal and Antimycotic Solutions to maintain sterile cultures, including combined 100X cocktails and Amphotericin B (Fungizone)&nbsp;</li>
<li dir="ltr" role="presentation">Specialized Small Molecules for targeted biochemical assays, including Ganciclovir, Rapamycin, and Actinomycin D&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="1mfajxk" data-start="1218" data-end="1252">How to choose a classic medium</h2>
&nbsp;
DMEM vs MEM
DMEM contains up to four times the amino acid and vitamin concentration of original Eagle's MEM, along with higher glucose levels, making it suitable for cell types with elevated nutrient demands &mdash; DMEM is broadly applicable across mammalian, insect, and plant cell phenotypes including primary cells, stem cells, and transformed lines. MEM remains widely used for monolayer culture of many standard cell types, with optional Hanks' or Earle's salt formulations and a calcium-free modification that permits suspension growth.
RPMI 1640 for suspension and hematopoietic culture
RPMI 1640, developed at the Roswell Park Memorial Institute for culturing human leukemic cells, is optimized for non-adherent cell types &mdash; lymphocytes and other blood cells &mdash; and contains glutathione plus higher biotin, B12, and PABA concentrations than DMEM or MEM. Despite its hematopoietic origin, RPMI 1640 supports a broad range of adherent lines (HeLa, T47D, RENCA, CT26.WT) when properly supplemented.
Ham's F-10/F-12 for CHO and specialized applications
Ham's nutrient mixtures were originally developed for CHO cell clones, HeLa cells, and mouse L-cells, and remain suited to hepatocyte culture, viral fusion experiments, and toxicity assays, with formulations available for use with or without serum. Coon's modification of Ham's F-12 roughly doubles the amino acid and pyruvate content and adds ascorbic acid, developed specifically for hybrid cells produced by viral fusion.
DMEM/F-12 for complex, rich-medium applications
DMEM/F-12 (1:1 mixture) combines DMEM's glucose, amino acid, and vitamin richness with Ham's F-12's zinc, putrescine, hypoxanthine, and thymidine, producing an extremely rich complex medium used for MDCK cells, glial cells, fibroblasts, and human endothelial cells &mdash; and serving as the basal medium for many serum-free Advanced formulations used in organoid and stem cell work.
IMDM for high-density rapid proliferation
IMDM further enriches DMEM with additional amino acids and vitamins, substituting potassium nitrate for ferric nitrate and adding HEPES and sodium pyruvate. IMDM's sodium bicarbonate buffer system (5&ndash;10% CO₂) and enriched composition make it well suited for rapidly proliferating, high-density cultures including Jurkat, COS-7, and macrophage cells.
Liquid vs. powder format
Liquid classic media are ready to use (after appropriate FBS and supplement addition) and include sodium bicarbonate in the formulation. Powdered media are manufactured without sodium bicarbonate, since it tends to off-gas in powder form &mdash; 3.7 g/L sodium bicarbonate must be added upon reconstitution, followed by sterile filtration. Powder formats offer cost and shipping-weight advantages for high-volume labs preparing their own media.
&nbsp;
<h2 data-section-id="17i0pj" data-start="5035" data-end="5061">Specifications context</h2>
&nbsp;
Classic media are manufactured according to originally published formulas, with stability-related modifications documented per product. DMEM's sodium bicarbonate buffer system at 3.7 g/L is standard across liquid formulations; powdered formats require this addition upon reconstitution along with 0.22 &micro;m sterile filtration. As of 2026, DMEM, DMEM/F-12, and RPMI 1640 remain the three most widely specified classic media across academic and biomanufacturing labs, with IMDM increasingly used for high-density suspension applications in bioprocessing.
For recombinant growth factors and cytokines used alongside classic media, see Recombinant Proteins. For supplementation reagents (GlutaMAX, NEAA, sodium pyruvate, HEPES), see Cell Culture Supplements &amp; Additives. Browse Mammalian Cell Culture for the broader category.
<a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us">Contact the expert team </a>at MBP to get highly efficient microbial control solutions for your lab.

Antibiotics

Amphotericin B (Fungizone)

G274 by ABM (Applied Biological Materials) is Amphotericin B (Fungizone) — 100 mL sterile solution, 250 µg/mL Amphotericin B and 205 µg/mL deoxycholic acid in sterile ddH₂O. Antifungal supplement for cell culture. Store at –20°C. Research use only.

Usage

Ampicillin

Antibiotic/Antimycotic (100X)

G273 by ABM is a 100X Antibiotic/Antimycotic solution (100 mL) containing penicillin G (10,000 U/mL), streptomycin sulfate (10,000 µg/mL), and amphotericin B (25 µg/mL). Use at 1% v/v in mammalian cell culture medium. Store at −20°C.

United States

Texas

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