CELL CULTURE SERVICES
ABS has the capacity to grow virtually any cell type or bacteria (Biosafety Level-2) in either large quantities for HTS and bioreagent production or small scale for basic research projects. A brief listing of our services is presented below.
Mammalian Cell Culture
ABS can grow large or small quantities of adherent and suspension cell cultures according to your specifications. We have extensive experience with and expertise in growing all commonly utilized cell lines such as CHO, HEK-293, and HeLa cells and a very wide range of other cells types.
Primarily, we grow large quantities of transfected cells expressing various human genes. For example, we can quickly supply you with cell pellets from hundreds of flasks or roller bottles, or from bioreactors and other apparatus. We can also further process these to produce membranes, other cell fractions, or purified proteins.
Typically, we begin cell culture using a small flask of cells in media or a frozen vial of cells that are supplied by our customers. These cells are the exclusive property of the customer and are never used for any other purpose. At the completion of a study, all cell stocks are either destroyed or banked, as directed by the customer. ABS can also obtained cells from other sources, such as the American Tissue Culture Collection. In addition, as is discussed below, we have capabilities for transient transfections and the capability for establishing stable cell lines.
ABS can follow your cell growth procedures exactly as you specify. Alternatively, we have many years of experience with mammalian cell culture and we can work with you to optimize growth conditions both with respect to maximizing yield and reducing costs. For example, we have very good success at adapting adherent cell lines (e.g., HEK293’s) to suspension culture. This can greatly reduce costs and increase production. Similarly, we can adapt cells to serum free media to facilitate the isolation of secreted proteins.
Cell in Microtiter Plates for HTS
For high throughput screening, ABS will grow and plate cells at specified density and deliver them directly to your laboratory for use. Alternatively, we can grow cells at our facility and plate them at your facility for use. This is a cost-effective alternative to having to undertake this very labor intensive process in-house. Presently, this service is available in New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and Delaware. We are also considering extending it to other locations. Please contact us for information on availability.
Insect Cell Culture
Insect cells (e.g., SF9 cells) Baculovirus transfected with human genes sometimes offer a reasonable alternative to mammalian cell culture production. ABS has the capacity to grow large quantities of such cells and to subsequently purify the proteins that they produce.