Description
Product Overview
BSA Fatty Acid Free — Bovine Serum Albumin for CHO, Vero & MDCK Cell Culture is a highly purified, charcoal-delipidated bovine serum albumin with >99% fatty acid removal (<0.01 mol FA/mol BSA, GC-MS validated), purity ≥98%, and endotoxin <5 EU/mg (LAL-tested per lot). Sourced from cattle in Australia, New Zealand, and the USA — OIE-certified BSE/TSE-negligible-risk regions — with full traceability and GC-MS fatty acid analysis per batch.
The preferred BSA grade wherever exogenous fatty acids would compromise cell line performance, lipid assay accuracy, or regulatory compliance. Browse our full BSA Fatty Acid Free product page or compare grades in our BSA & Albumin portfolio.
Why Fatty Acid Free BSA?
Standard BSA contains 0.5–2 mol of naturally bound fatty acids per mol BSA (palmitate, stearate, oleate, linoleate). In most applications these are harmless — but in three specific scenarios they create measurable problems:
- CHO, Vero, MDCK cell culture — exogenous fatty acids alter glycosylation patterns, disrupt membrane composition, and reduce viral titre; FA-free conditions are preferred by FDA/EMA for GMP bioproduction
- Lipid metabolism research — native FA bound to BSA interfere with CD36/FATP uptake assays, beta-oxidation measurements, and lipoprotein binding studies, creating uncontrolled background signal
- Hormone & drug-binding studies — fatty acids compete for the same albumin binding sites as thyroid hormones (T3/T4), steroids, and small-molecule drugs, distorting binding affinities and pharmacokinetic measurements
Fatty Acid Free BSA is produced by activated charcoal delipidation, removing >99% of bound fatty acids (confirmed by GC-MS) while maintaining the protein’s structural integrity and binding capacity. See our BSA Grades Guide for a full selection matrix.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Bovine plasma (AU / NZ / US) | Certificate of Origin |
| Purity | ≥98% | Electrophoresis |
| Albumin content | ≥98 g/L | Bradford / BCA assay |
| Fatty acid content | <0.01 mol FA/mol BSA | GC-MS (>99% removal) |
| Endotoxin | <5 EU/mg | LAL (FDA/USP standard) |
| Monomers (SEC-HPLC) | ≥95% | Size exclusion chromatography |
| pH | 6.8–7.5 | pH meter |
| Format | Lyophilised powder | — |
| Storage | RT sealed; 2–8 °C after opening | — |
| Shelf life | 3 years from manufacture | — |
| BSE/TSE status | Free (OIE-certified regions) | Origin certificate |
Standard BSA vs. Fatty Acid Free BSA
| Property | Standard BSA | Fatty Acid Free BSA |
|---|---|---|
| Fatty acid content | 0.5–2 mol FA/mol BSA | <0.01 mol FA/mol BSA |
| Purity | ≥96% | ≥98% |
| Endotoxin | <10 EU/mg | <5 EU/mg |
| Ideal for | Western blot, ELISA blocking, protein standard | CHO/Vero/MDCK, lipid studies, hormone assays, drug binding |
Applications
- CHO biomanufacturing (mAbs, recombinant proteins) — 0.5–2 g/L in serum-free media; prevents FA-induced glycosylation disruption; preferred for GMP production per FDA/EMA guidance
- Vero cell vaccine production (Polio, Rabies, Rotavirus, Dengue) — WHO-certified cell line; FA-free conditions required for regulatory compliance; improved virus titres
- MDCK influenza vaccine production — FA-free BSA increases hemagglutinin (HA) yield; FDA preference for serum-free, FA-free supplements
- Lipid transporter & beta-oxidation assays — CD36, FATP, FABPpm uptake studies; ¹⁴C-palmitate beta-oxidation; lipoprotein metabolism (HDL/LDL, CETP) — no background from native FA
- Adipocyte differentiation (3T3-L1) — controlled FA addition without background; clean Oil Red O staining
- Hormone & drug-binding studies — T3/T4 binding, steroid assays (estrogen, testosterone, cortisol), pharmacokinetic drug-albumin binding — uncompromised binding sites
- Serum-free media formulation — precise control over lipid composition; targeted addition of defined fatty acids for reproducible, GMP-compliant media
Available Formats
| Format | Size | Ideal for |
|---|---|---|
| Lyophilised Powder | 10 g | Method development, small labs |
| Lyophilised Powder | 50 g | Routine research |
| Lyophilised Powder | 100 g | High-throughput labs |
| Lyophilised Powder | 500 g | Bioproduction, GMP manufacturing |
Bulk orders ≥1 kg and custom formats available on request — contact us for a tailored quote.
Key Benefits
Batch Reservation
Reserve validated lots up to 36 months for reproducible long-term workflows.
Full Documentation
CoA, GC-MS fatty acid analysis, LAL endotoxin certificate, BSE/TSE statement, Certificate of Origin — ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certified partner facilities.
EU & Swiss Supply
Sourced from certified EU and Swiss partner facilities — fast delivery across EU, UK and Switzerland, full documentation included.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do CHO cells specifically require Fatty Acid Free BSA rather than standard BSA?
CHO cells are highly sensitive to exogenous fatty acids: native FA bound to standard BSA are released into the culture medium, where they integrate into cell membranes and alter N-glycosylation patterns of secreted proteins — a critical quality attribute for monoclonal antibodies and recombinant biopharmaceuticals. FA-free BSA eliminates this variable, giving tighter control over product quality. FDA and EMA guidance for GMP mAb production increasingly favours FA-free or chemically defined media supplements for this reason.
What method is used to remove fatty acids, and how is removal validated?
Fatty acids are removed by activated charcoal delipidation — the BSA solution is incubated with activated charcoal, which adsorbs the hydrophobic FA from the protein. After delipidation, residual FA content is measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Each lot is certified at <0.01 mol FA/mol BSA, corresponding to >99% FA removal. The GC-MS analysis report is included with every batch.
Can Fatty Acid Free BSA be used to deliver specific fatty acids to cells?
Yes — this is one of its primary uses. Because FA-free BSA has unoccupied fatty acid binding sites, it serves as an ideal carrier for delivering defined, exogenously added fatty acids (e.g., oleic acid, palmitate, linoleic acid) to cells in a controlled and reproducible manner. This is the standard approach in adipocyte differentiation, beta-oxidation assays, and serum-free media formulation where precise lipid control is required.
Is BSA Fatty Acid Free suitable for GMP vaccine production in Vero or MDCK cells?
Yes — Fatty Acid Free BSA is the preferred BSA grade for Vero-based (Polio, Rabies, Rotavirus, Dengue) and MDCK-based (influenza) vaccine production. The WHO-certified Vero cell line and influenza vaccine processes developed for FDA submission both recommend FA-free supplements in serum-free media. FA-free conditions have been associated with improved viral titres and higher hemagglutinin (HA) yield in MDCK influenza processes. Full regulatory documentation (CoA, GC-MS, BSE/TSE, Certificate of Origin) is available for GMP raw material qualification.
What documentation is supplied, and is batch reservation available?
Every order includes: Certificate of Analysis (CoA), GC-MS fatty acid analysis (<0.01 mol FA/mol BSA confirmed), LAL endotoxin test certificate (<5 EU/mg), BSE/TSE freedom declaration, and Certificate of Origin (AU/NZ/US). Batch reservation is available for up to 36 months — contact our team with your volume and timeline. Bulk orders ≥1 kg are available with custom pricing. There is no fixed minimum order quantity.
Request a Quote or Sample
48h response · EU & Swiss Supply · Batch reservation available · GC-MS validated per lot
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