Charcoal Treated, Sterile Filtered

Fetal bovine serum (FBS) is a ubiquitously used essential supplement in cell culture media. FBS is a cocktail of proteins, vitamins, carbohydrates, lipids, hormones, growth factors, minerals and trace elements and is used as an universal growth supplement effective for most types of human and animal (including insect) cells. The major functions of serum in culture media are to provide: i. Hormonal factors stimulating cell growth and proliferation and promoting differentiated functions. ii. Transport proteins carrying hormones (e.g. transcortin), minerals and trace elements (e.g. transferrin) and lipids (e.g. lipoproteins) iii. Attachment and spreading factors, acting as germination points for cell attachment. iv. Stabilizing and detoxifying factors needed to maintain pH or to inhibit proteases either directly, such as αantitrypsin or α2-macroglobulin, or indirectly, by acting as an unspecific sink for proteases and other (toxic) molecules. RM10416 is charcoal treated fetal bovine serum. Charcoal treatment involves filtering chilled serum through an activated charcoal adsorbent filter. Charcoal stripping is the most effective method for removal of endogenous steroids from the serum. It removes non-polar factors present in the serum, such as, viruses, hormones, certain growth factors, cytokine and several other lipophilic substances. Extensive biochemical profile of the serum is done before and after the treatment to ensure efficacy of the treatment. Charcoal treatment may lead to reduction in growth promotion ability of serum, particularly for the cells that require stripped compounds.