The Value Of Spent Media Analytics For Optimizing Cell Culture Performance

By Tim Steffens and Katy McLaughlin

Productive cell cultures require a controlled artificial environment, which includes a suitable growth matrix. Consequently, cell culture media are essential in biopharmaceutical applications, offering a valuable opportunity for optimization, process improvement, and troubleshooting.

The manufacturing of biologics involves the utilization of multiple cell lines and processes, each characterized by unique features and requirements that impact cell growth, cell viability, and the functional attributes of the final drug product. To meet yield and quality standards, the medium must effectively cater to the distinct needs of the specific cell type and application. Challenges arise when the media composition fails to meet the metabolic requirements of the cells during growth and production, as it leads to poor productivity. Process and media optimization can be complex and time-consuming due to the multitude of components and process parameters that influence biomanufacturing productivity.

Here, we discuss how the analysis of spent media can provide valuable insights into the status of cells in culture. Furthermore, we explore how this information can be harnessed to support the optimization of the medium formulation or culture parameters, thereby promoting more productive processing.