MEM Medium, IC-2020-S
Product Introduction
Minimum Essential Medium (MEM), also known as minimal essential medium, is a basal cell culture medium developed by Harry Eagle from Eagle''''s Basal Medium (BEM). It is one of the most fundamental and widely applicable cell culture media, and is among the most commonly used media for animal cell culture. MEM contains 12 essential amino acids, glutamine, and 8 vitamins, with a relatively simple composition. It is primarily used for the culture of adherent cells, and modified formulations can support other cell types.
This product contains amino acids, vitamins, inorganic salts, and other components necessary for various cell culture types, but does not contain proteins, lipids, or growth factors. Therefore, this product must be supplemented with serum or serum-free additives before use.
Product Features
1. Classic Basal Formulation: Contains 12 essential amino acids, glutamine, and 8 vitamins, suitable for a broad range of adherent cell types.
2. Earle''''s Balanced Salts: Formulated with Earle''''s balanced salt solution for optimal ionic balance under 5% CO₂ incubation.
3. Low Glucose: Contains 1000 mg/L D-glucose, suitable for slower-growing cell types and primary cultures.
4. Stringent Quality Control: Tested negative for bacteria, fungi, and mycoplasma contamination; endotoxin levels certified <1 EU/mL.
5. Sterile-Filtered: 0.1 µm filtered to ensure sterility for sensitive cell culture applications.
Specifications
Size: 500 mL
Product Form: Liquid
Concentration: 1¡Á
pH: 7.0-7.6
Balanced Salt: Earle''''s Salts
D-Glucose: 1000 mg/L
L-Glutamine: 2 mM
NaHCO₃: 2200 mg/L
Phenol Red: 10 mg/L
HEPES: -
NEAA: -
Endotoxin: <1 EU/mL
Sterility: Negative for bacteria, fungi, and mycoplasma
Storage and Stability
Storage Conditions: Store at 2-8¡ãC, protected from light. Do not freeze.
Shipping Conditions: Ambient temperature
Shelf Life: The product is stable for 18 months from the date of manufacture when stored as directed. After opening, use within 4-6 weeks when stored properly and handled aseptically.
Protocol (For Reference Only)
Important: Use aseptic technique when handling medium to prevent contamination. Warm medium to 37¡ãC before use. This product has been sterilized by 0.1 µm filtration; maintain sterile technique during use.
1. Preparation of Complete Medium: Supplement MEM Medium with fetal bovine serum to a final concentration of 5-10% and add antibiotics (e.g., penicillin-streptomycin) as required for specific cell lines. For certain fastidious cell types, supplementation with non-essential amino acids (NEAA) may be beneficial. Mix gently by swirling.
2. Medium Pre-warming: Place the required volume of complete medium in a 37¡ãC water bath or incubator for 15-30 minutes before use.
3. Cell Feeding: Aspirate spent medium from the culture vessel, replace with fresh pre-warmed complete MEM Medium, and return cells to the incubator maintained at 37¡ãC with 5% CO₂.
4. Subculturing: When cells reach 80-90% confluency, detach adherent cells using trypsin-EDTA, neutralize with complete medium, centrifuge if required, and resuspend in fresh complete MEM Medium for seeding into new vessels.
5. Monitoring: Observe phenol red color indicator daily to assess pH changes; medium should appear pink-red at physiological pH and turn yellow-orange as acidity increases from cellular metabolism.
Precautions
1. This product is for research use only and is not intended for diagnostic or therapeutic use.
2. This product has been sterilized by 0.1 µm filtration; handle aseptically to avoid contamination.
3. To maintain optimal performance, do not freeze-thaw this product. Store at 2-8¡ãC protected from light.
4. This formulation does not contain HEPES; ensure adequate CO₂ atmosphere (5%) for proper pH maintenance during culture.
5. Supplemented complete medium should be used within 2-4 weeks when stored at 4¡ãC as glutamine degrades over time.
FAQ (Simplified)
Q1: What cell types are typically cultured in MEM?
A1: MEM is primarily used for adherent cell types including fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and various established cell lines such as HeLa, HEK293, and CHO cells. It is also suitable for primary cultures with appropriate supplementation.
Q2: Does this medium contain non-essential amino acids (NEAA)?
A2: No. This formulation does not contain NEAA. For cell types requiring NEAA supplementation, add NEAA solution to the complete medium.
Q3: Can this medium be used for suspension cell culture?
A3: MEM is primarily designed for adherent cell culture. For suspension-adapted cell lines, supplementation with higher serum concentrations or additional nutrients may be required.
Q4: What is the difference between MEM and DMEM?
A4: MEM is a simpler basal medium with fewer amino acids and vitamins. DMEM contains approximately 4¡Á more amino acids and vitamins and a higher glucose concentration (typically 4500 mg/L for high-glucose DMEM), making it more suitable for high-density and rapidly proliferating cultures.
Disclaimer
1. For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures.
2. Due to the variable nature of biological research, optimization of culture conditions including serum concentration and supplementation is recommended for specific cell lines.
3. This warranty is limited to the replacement of the product. The manufacturer assumes no liability for incidental or consequential damages, including loss of samples or data resulting from product use or storage.
4. Wear appropriate protective clothing and gloves when handling this product.
Ordering Information
Catalog Number: IC-2020-S
Product Name: MEM Medium
Size: 500 mL
Suggested Retail Price: CNY ¥150.00 / USD $15.00 / EUR €18.00 / JPY ¥2700.00
Note: The specific price is subject to the transaction price in the offline contract.
