Serum-Free Media for HEK293 Cells
Chemically defined, animal-origin-free cell culture media for HEK293, HEK293T, HEK293F and HEK293-EBNA — optimised for adherent and suspension culture, AAV production, lentiviral vector manufacturing and recombinant protein expression.
Two Formats for Every Workflow
Serum-Free Media for Adherent HEK293
Chemically defined formulation for HEK293, HEK293T and HEK293FT in monolayer culture — T-flasks, multi-layer flasks and CellSTACK systems. Optimised for high transfection efficiency with PEI and lipid-based reagents.
| Culture format | Monolayer — T-flask to multi-layer |
| Primary application | AAV, lentivirus, adenovirus production |
| Transfection | PEI, Lipofectamine, Ca-phosphate compatible |
| Key feature | Rapid cell attachment, consistent morphology |
| Animal-origin free | Yes |
Serum-Free Media for Suspension HEK293
High-density suspension medium for HEK293F, HEK293-S and suspension-adapted HEK293T. Compatible with shake flask, wave bag and stirred-tank bioreactor formats for scalable vector and protein production.
| Culture format | Shake flask · Wave bag · Bioreactor |
| Cell density | Up to 8–10 × 10⁶ cells/mL |
| Primary application | Scalable AAV, recombinant protein, VLP |
| Transfection | PEI-Max compatible |
| Animal-origin free | Yes |
Anwendungen
AAV Vector Production
Serum-free HEK293 medium for adeno-associated virus manufacturing via triple transfection. Supports high-titer AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, AAV9 and novel serotypes for gene therapy programs.
Lentiviral Vector Manufacturing
Optimised for HEK293T triple plasmid transfection for lentiviral vector production. Supports 3rd and 4th generation packaging systems for CAR-T and gene correction applications.
Adenoviral Vector Production
Chemically defined medium for adenovirus propagation in HEK293 cells. Compatible with both adherent and suspension production formats for vaccine and gene therapy vectors.
Recombinant Protein Expression
High-yield transient and stable protein expression in HEK293 suspension culture. Protein-free formulation simplifies downstream purification of recombinant antibodies, enzymes and glycoproteins.
VLP & Pseudovirus Production
Supports virus-like particle (VLP) and pseudovirus production for vaccine development, neutralising antibody assays and antigen display platforms.
Cell Line Development
Serum-free medium for stable HEK293 clone selection and expansion. Reduces variability during CHO-like fed-batch development programmes in HEK293-based expression systems.
HEK293 Serum-Free vs Serum-Containing Culture
| Parameter | Serum-Free (SeamlessBio) | FBS-Supplemented |
|---|---|---|
| Batch-to-batch consistency | ✅ Excellent — defined composition | Variable — FBS lot-dependent |
| Downstream purification | ✅ Simplified — no serum proteins | Complex — serum protein contamination |
| Regulatory compliance | ✅ AOF / xeno-free documentation | ⚠️ BSE/TSE risk documentation required |
| Transfection efficiency | ✅ Equivalent or superior | Reference |
| Scale-up to bioreactor | ✅ Direct — suspension format available | Requires adaptation |
| GMP pathway | ✅ In development | ⚠️ Challenging — serum supply variability |
Product Information
| Available formats | Adherent (HEK293, HEK293T) · Suspension (HEK293F, HEK293-S, suspension-adapted) |
| Classification | Serum-free · Chemically defined · Animal-origin-free (AOF) |
| Volumes | 500 mL – 1000 L · Liquid and powder available |
| Transfection compatibility | PEI, PEI-Max, Lipofectamine, Ca-phosphate |
| Production | EU — ISO-controlled conditions |
| Quality documentation | CoA, CoO, endotoxin, sterility, osmolality, cell growth performance |
| GMP pathway | In development — contact us for timeline and requirements |
| Custom formulation | Available — DoE-based optimisation for your specific clone and process |
| Regulatory status | For research use only (GMP pathway in development) |
| Lead time | Standard: 5–10 days · Custom development: 4–16 weeks |
Frequently Asked Questions
What serum-free media is best for AAV production in HEK293?
For scalable AAV production, a suspension-format, chemically defined medium supporting growth to 6–10 × 10⁶ cells/mL with PEI-Max transfection compatibility is recommended. Our formulation is optimised for triple plasmid transfection systems used in standard AAV production workflows.
Can HEK293T cells be adapted to serum-free suspension?
Yes. HEK293T can be adapted to serum-free suspension culture using a stepwise serum reduction protocol over 3–6 passages. Our technical team provides adaptation protocols and technical support throughout the transition.
Is the medium compatible with PEI transfection?
Yes — both the adherent and suspension formats are optimised for PEI (linear 25 kDa) and PEI-Max transfection, which is the standard reagent for HEK293-based vector production at research and pilot scale.
Can you develop a media formulation specific to my HEK293 clone?
Yes. Our custom media development service uses DoE-based screening to optimise formulations for your specific cell line, transfection protocol and target product. Contact info@seamlessbio.de to discuss your requirements.
Related Products & Guides
Request Your HEK293 Serum-Free Medium
Standard formulations or custom development for your clone and process. EU documentation included.
For research use only.
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