PAN-Biotech - Fetal Calf Serum-Free Cell Culture (FCS-Free)
Serum-free systems from PAN-Biotech help you make the step from classical FBS-based culture to defined, reproducible conditions. With Panserin serum-free media and Panexin serum replacements, you can cultivate many adherent and suspension cell types under FCS-free or serum-reduced conditions, simplify downstream processing and reduce lot testing.
Why go serum-free?
PAN-Biotech’s serum-free systems are designed to reduce dependence on fetal bovine serum and move towards defined, animal-component–reduced culture conditions.
Higher reproducibility: Panexin serum replacements have a defined composition without growth factors, hydrolysates or peptones, so extensive batch testing – typical for FBS – can be largely avoided.
Simplified downstream processing: Reduced serum proteins support easier purification of recombinant proteins, viruses and cell-derived products.
Flexible use: Panexin products can fully replace FBS or significantly reduce serum levels, while Panserin media are formulated for fully serum-free culture.
Transitioning to serum-free culture
Start with serum-reduced media supplemented with Panexin, keeping the basal medium constant.
Gradually reduce FBS concentration while increasing Panexin or moving to Panserin media.
For cells that require specific factors, add defined growth or attachment factors directly to Panserin media, enabling full control of the microenvironment.
Panexin – Defined Serum Replacements
Easy handling, full reproducibility, worry-free transition! Where you prefer to keep your existing basal medium but want to reduce or eliminate FBS, Panexin serum offer a straightforward path.
Efficiency and growth stimulation of Panexin NTA in DMDM/F12 compared to FBS in different cell lines
Panexin basic - versatile
Fully defined serum replacement for adherent and suspension cells (HEK 293, MDCK, MCF-7, U-739 and MDBK), used under serum-free or serum-reduced conditions.
Typically used at a 10 % supplementation level, similar to standard FBS supplementation.
Contains no growth factors, peptones or hydrolysates, enabling high lot-to-lot reproducibility and eliminating extensive batch testing.
Cost-effective allrounder.
Panexin CD
Chemically defined, xeno-free serum replacement for adherent and non-adherent cells (HeLa, L929, HEK 293, Vero and Lymphocytes).
Designed for serum-free or serum-reduced culture, with handling identical to FBS (supplement at ~10 %).
Suitable where reduced animal-derived components and clear documentation are critical, for example in preclinical development or process optimization.
- Available in GMP quality
Panexin NTA
Panexin NTA is a serum substitute which only contains traces of animal-derived components (< 2 % w/v).
Optimized for the cultivation of adherent growing cells such as L929, CHO, HAT-29, HEK 293 and MDCK.
Supports robust growth while maintaining a defined composition.
- Well suited for sensitive applications and scale-up
Panserin – Serum-Free Media for Many Cell Types
Panserin media were developed to support robust cell growth without serum. The allround medium Panserin 401 and several cell-type–tailored variants cover many mammalian cell lines.
Panserin 401 – allround serum-free medium
Fully defined, ready-to-use medium for serum-free cultivation of a wide variety of adherent and suspension cells.
Based on Iscove’s MEM with added trace elements, albumin, cholesterol, soy lipids and vitamins.
Contains no growth factors or attachment factors, making it ideal for studying defined growth factor combinations and signaling pathways.
Very low levels of protein and animal-derived components (<0.2 % w/v) and negligible hydrolysates.
Typical uses
General serum-free culture of many mammalian cell lines
Assays where exogenous growth factors must be controlled precisely
Projects requiring a gradual transition from FBS-containing media to defined conditions
Cell-type–specific Panserin media
For more demanding cell types, PAN-Biotech provides specialized Panserin formulations:
Panserin 293A / 293S – serum-free media for HEK293 cells in adherent or suspension culture; widely used for recombinant protein expression and viral vector production.
Panserin ProVero – medium tailored for Vero cells, suitable for vaccine-related workflows.
Panserin 413 / 701 – formulations for T cells and lymphocytes, supporting expansion and functional studies.
Panserin 801 – serum-free medium for human keratinocytes, based on MCDB-153.
Endopan 300 SL – serum-free medium dedicated to endothelial cells (HUVEC).
These media are ideal when you need cell-specific optimization without the variability introduced by serum.
Serum-free Stem Cell Media - PowerStem MSC1
Stem cells place particularly high demands on culture media. PAN-Biotech’s PowerStem MSC1 is a serum-free, xeno-free and animal-derived component–free (ADCF) medium developed for the in vitro expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC). It supports robust proliferation while maintaining the undifferentiated state and multi-lineage potential, enabling controlled differentiation into tissues such as bone and cartilage.
Ready-to-use, serum-free medium for human MSC
Xeno-free / ADCF formulation for sensitive and translational applications
Promotes long-term growth without unwanted spontaneous differentiation
Preserves MSC multi-lineage potential (e.g. osteogenic, chondrogenic)