FluxMPS™ Ham's F-12K (Kaighn's) Medium
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- See the table below
FluxMPS™ Ham's F-12K (Kaighn's) Medium
A defined-nutrient modification of R.G. Ham's classic F-12 formulation, F-12K (Kaighn's) Medium was purpose-built to support primary human hepatocytes and select rat and chicken liver cell cultures under reduced-serum conditions. FluxMPS™ brings this hepatocyte-optimized formulation through a 0.04 micron quadruple-stage filtration process engineered for microfluidic, Organ-on-Chip (OoC), and Lab-on-Chip (LoC) platforms.
- One ready-to-use FluxMPS™ configuration: F-12/Kaighn's, 1X Liquid (Catalog No. DCP-H12K1X)
- Modification of Ham's F-12 nutrient mixture, specifically developed to support primary human hepatocytes and certain rat and chicken liver cells in a reduced-serum environment
- Standard glucose concentration of 1260.00 mg/L at 1X
- Formulated with L-Glutamine, Sodium Pyruvate, and Sodium Bicarbonate included as standard; HEPES is not included as standard but is available as a customization
- Purified through FluxMPS™ quadruple-stage 0.04 micron filtration for microfluidic and Organ-on-Chip / Tissue-on-Chip / Lab-on-Chip compatibility
- Validated for CHO cells, cancer cell lines, primary cells, chicken embryonic cells, and — in its Kaighn's modification — primary human hepatocytes and rat/chicken liver cells
- Available in 500 mL and 1000 mL sizes; stored at 2-8°C away from bright light; fully customizable via support@diagnocine.com
- Concentration1X
- Glucose1260.00 mg/L
- L-GlutamineIncluded
- Sodium PyruvateIncluded
- Sodium BicarbonateIncluded
- HEPESNot included (available on request)
- Phenol RedIncluded
- BufferingSodium bicarbonate; 5-10% CO2
- Sizes500 mL / 1000 mL
- Storage2-8°C, protect from light
At-a-Glance Supplement Matrix
Check the supplement(s) you require, press Search to confirm the configuration includes them, then click straight through to the product page via the catalog-number link or the View button.
| Name | Cat No. | L-Glutamine | Pyruvate | Bicarbonate | HEPES | Phenol Red | Product Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-12 / Kaighn's | DCP-H12K1X | check | check | check | remove | check | Viewarrow_forward |
About Ham's F-12K (Kaighn's) Medium
Ham's F-12 nutrient mixture is a widely used basal medium for culturing a range of mammalian cells, including Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, cancer cell lines, primary cells, and chicken embryonic cells. It was developed by R.G. Ham in 1965 as an enhancement over his earlier F-10 nutrient mixture, and carries a more comprehensive set of components — including zinc, putrescine, hypoxanthine, and thymidine — than other basal media such as DMEM.
Ham's F-12K (Kaighn's) Medium is a specific modification of the original F-12 formulation. It was developed to support the growth of primary human hepatocytes, along with certain rat and chicken liver cells, in a reduced-serum environment. Beyond the zinc, putrescine, hypoxanthine, and thymidine already characteristic of F-12, the Kaighn's modification carries higher levels of amino acids and sodium pyruvate, allowing it to be paired with very low levels of serum or defined components for these liver-derived cell types.
Like the parent F-12 formulation, F-12K does not contain proteins or growth factors on its own, so it is commonly supplemented with growth factors and Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS); the FBS concentration is optimized per cell line. The medium relies on a sodium bicarbonate buffer system and requires a 5-10% CO2 environment to maintain physiological pH.
Origins & Development
Richard G. Ham developed the F-series of nutrient mixtures at the University of Colorado to solve the serum-free cloning problem: growing a single mammalian cell into a viable clone without relying on high serum concentrations or feeder cells. Working with the near-diploid Chinese hamster (CHO) cell line established by Theodore T. Puck in 1957, Ham used single-cell plating efficiency — the fraction of individually plated cells that formed visible colonies — as his quantitative benchmark for each successive formulation.
Ham's F-10, published in 1963 in Experimental Cell Research, enabled consistent single-cell cloning of Chinese hamster cells under low-serum conditions and serum-free growth in the presence of defined proteins such as serum albumin and fetuin. It was among the first defined media to incorporate both copper and zinc as trace elements alongside iron, and it introduced hypoxanthine, thymidine, and lipoic acid to the basal formulation.
Ham's F-12, published in 1965 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was developed directly from F-10 to achieve true protein-free clonal growth of CHO cells. The defining change was an approximately 30-fold increase in zinc sulfate content, alongside the addition of putrescine (a polyamine precursor) and linoleic acid (an essential fatty acid), together with substantial increases to several amino acids and two vitamins (choline and myo-inositol). For the first time, Ham demonstrated that single CHO cells could proliferate into clones in a fully chemically defined, protein-free medium.
F-12 subsequently became a medium of choice for myeloma and hybridoma cloning, primary rat hepatocytes, rat prostate epithelial cells, and clonal toxicity assays, and it formed the base of the widely used DMEM/F-12 hybrid medium. It was also the starting formulation from which Ham and colleagues derived the MCDB series of media for specific primary cell types. The Kaighn's (F-12K) modification carries this lineage forward, adapting the F-12 platform specifically for hepatocyte and liver-cell applications.
The Ham's F-12 Family Tree
- Ham's F-10 (1963) — R.G. Ham's improved nutrient solution for diploid Chinese hamster and human diploid cell lines, part of a larger sequentially numbered "F" series developed by Ham in the late 1950s-1960s.
- Ham's F-12 (1965) — developed directly from F-10, retaining the same qualitative amino acid and vitamin profile but with an approximately 30-fold higher zinc sulfate level plus added putrescine and linoleic acid, enabling protein-free clonal growth of CHO cells.
- Ham's F-12K (Kaighn's) Medium — the modification offered here, adapting the F-12 platform specifically to support primary human hepatocytes and certain rat and chicken liver cells in a reduced-serum environment, with elevated amino acid and sodium pyruvate levels.
- DMEM/F-12 hybrid — a downstream 1:1 combination of DMEM and F-12 that pairs DMEM's higher amino acid and glucose content with F-12's trace elements, lipids, and low osmolality; one of the most widely used media in serum-free and stem cell culture.
- MCDB series — F-12 also served as the starting formulation from which Ham and colleagues derived the MCDB family of media for specific primary cell types.
Composition
Ham's F-12K (Kaighn's) Medium is a hepatocyte-oriented modification of the standard Ham's F-12 nutrient mixture. The tables below present the source-verified composition of the parent F-12 formulation (standard nutrient mixture, with L-glutamine, without sodium bicarbonate), followed by the specific modifications and standard glucose level that distinguish the F-12K (Kaighn's) configuration.
| Salt | mg/L |
|---|---|
| Calcium chloride dihydrate (CaCl2 . 2H2O) | 44.100 |
| Copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4 . 5H2O) | 0.0025 |
| Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FeSO4 . 7H2O) | 0.834 |
| Magnesium chloride anhydrous (MgCl2) | 57.650 |
| Potassium chloride (KCl) | 223.600 |
| Sodium chloride (NaCl) | 7599.000 |
| Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous (Na2HPO4) | 142.040 |
| Zinc sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4 . 7H2O) | 0.863 |
| Amino Acid | mg/L |
|---|---|
| Glycine | 7.500 |
| L-Alanine | 8.910 |
| L-Arginine hydrochloride | 210.700 |
| L-Asparagine monohydrate | 15.010 |
| L-Aspartic acid | 13.300 |
| L-Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate | 35.120 |
| L-Glutamic acid | 14.700 |
| L-Glutamine | 146.000 |
| L-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate | 20.960 |
| L-Isoleucine | 3.940 |
| L-Leucine | 13.100 |
| L-Lysine hydrochloride | 36.500 |
| L-Methionine | 4.480 |
| L-Phenylalanine | 4.960 |
| L-Proline | 34.500 |
| L-Serine | 10.500 |
| L-Threonine | 11.900 |
| L-Tryptophan | 2.040 |
| L-Tyrosine disodium salt dihydrate | 7.810 |
| L-Valine | 11.700 |
| Vitamin | mg/L |
|---|---|
| Biotin | 0.0073 |
| Choline chloride | 13.960 |
| D-Ca-Pantothenate | 0.480 |
| Folic acid | 1.320 |
| Nicotinamide | 0.037 |
| Pyridoxine hydrochloride | 0.062 |
| Riboflavin | 0.038 |
| Thiamine hydrochloride | 0.340 |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.360 |
| myo-Inositol | 18.000 |
| Component | mg/L |
|---|---|
| D-Glucose (standard F-12) | 1801.600 |
| Hypoxanthine sodium salt | 4.770 |
| Linoleic acid | 0.084 |
| Lipoic acid | 0.210 |
| Phenol red sodium salt | 1.240 |
| Putrescine dihydrochloride | 0.161 |
| Sodium pyruvate | 110.100 |
| Thymidine | 0.730 |
| Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) | 1176.000 |
Media Lineage Comparison
How the F-10 to F-12 lineage that underlies F-12K compares with DMEM (high glucose), a widely used related basal medium.
| Feature | Ham's F-10 | Ham's F-12 (F-12K parent) | DMEM (high glucose) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer & year | R.G. Ham, 1963 | R.G. Ham, 1965 | Dulbecco & Freeman, 1959 |
| Parent formulation | Earlier "F" series | F-10 (direct) | BME |
| Trace metals (Cu, Zn, Fe) | Cu + Zn + Fe | Cu + Zn + Fe | Fe only (ferric nitrate) |
| Hypoxanthine | Yes, 4.08 mg/L | Yes, 4.77 mg/L | No |
| Thymidine | Yes, 0.73 mg/L | Yes, 0.73 mg/L | No |
| Lipoic acid | Yes, 0.21 mg/L | Yes, 0.21 mg/L | No |
| Putrescine | No | Yes, 0.161 mg/L | No |
| Linoleic acid | No | Yes, 0.084 mg/L | No |
| Biotin | Yes, 0.024 mg/L | Yes, 0.0073 mg/L | No |
| Vitamin B12 | Yes, 1.36 mg/L | Yes, 1.36 mg/L | No |
| Vitamin B6 form | Pyridoxine HCl | Pyridoxine HCl | Pyridoxine HCl (Gibco) |
| myo-Inositol | 0.541 mg/L | 18.0 mg/L | Present (lower) |
| Glucose (standard mixture) | 1100 mg/L (~6.1 mM) | 1801.6 mg/L (~10 mM) | 4500 mg/L (25 mM) |
| Sodium pyruvate | 110 mg/L | 110 mg/L | 110 mg/L (optional) |
| NaHCO3 | 1200 mg/L | 1176 mg/L | 3700 mg/L |
| Serum-free design | Partial (with proteins) | Full (protein-free CHO) | No |
| Osmolality (with NaHCO3) | 300-340 mOsm/kg | 260-300 mOsm/kg | ~320-355 mOsm/kg |
Why FluxMPS™
Quadruple-Stage 0.04 Micron Filtration
Purified finer than any ready-to-use cell culture media currently available, removing particulates and protein aggregates before they reach the chip.
Engineered for Microfluidic Flow
Formulated for Organ-on-Chip (OoC), Tissue-on-Chip (ToC), and Lab-on-Chip (LoC) platforms, where the medium is itself part of the instrument.
Optical Clarity
Supports real-time imaging and integrated biosensing across long-duration culture and perfusion studies.
Hepatocyte-Optimized Formulation
The Kaighn's modification is purpose-built for primary human hepatocytes and rat/chicken liver cells under reduced-serum conditions.
Fully Customizable
Standard 1X concentration and 1260.00 mg/L glucose can be adjusted, along with chemical additions, proteins, supplements, and pH, on request.
Regulatory-Aligned Foundation
Formulated to support FDA-recognized physiological modeling standards for drug discovery, toxicology screening, and translational research.
Quadruple-Stage Filtration
Every FluxMPS™ formulation, including Ham's F-12K (Kaighn's) Medium, passes through a four-stage filtration architecture before reaching your platform.
-
1
0.1µmPre-filtration Stage One
Removes larger particulates and aggregates from the formulated medium.
-
2
0.1µmPre-filtration Stage Two
A second 0.1 micron pass further reduces particulate and aggregate load ahead of sterile filtration.
-
3
0.04µmSterile Filtration Stage One
Fine sterile filtration engineered for microfluidic channel compatibility.
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4
0.04µmSterile Filtration Stage Two
A second 0.04 micron pass for the optical clarity and particulate control that OoC/ToC/LoC platforms require.
Filtration Performance
Validated Cell Lines & Applications
CHO Cells
Ham's F-12's founding application: clonal, protein-free growth of Chinese Hamster Ovary cells.
Primary Human Hepatocytes
The Kaighn's modification's specific design target, supported in a reduced-serum environment.
Cancer Cell Lines
F-12-based formulations are widely used across a range of cancer cell culture applications.
Rat & Chicken Liver Cells
Certain rat and chicken liver cell types are supported by the F-12K modification.
Chicken Embryonic Cells
An established application of the Ham's F-12 nutrient mixture.
Myeloma & Hybridoma Cells
F-12 is a medium of choice for cloning myeloma and hybridoma cells, widely used in monoclonal antibody work.
Scientific Applications
Reduced-Serum Hepatocyte Culture
F-12K allows primary human hepatocytes and liver cells to be cultured with very low levels of serum or defined components.
Single-Cell Clonal Growth
Rooted in Ham's original clonal-growth assay methodology, using single-cell plating efficiency as the quantitative benchmark.
CO2-Buffered Physiological Culture
Sodium bicarbonate buffering requires a 5-10% CO2 environment to maintain physiological pH.
Custom Formulation & FBS Optimization
FBS concentration should be optimized per cell line; custom concentrations, additions, and pH values are available on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
Verified References
- Ham, R.G. (1963). An improved nutrient solution for diploid Chinese hamster and human cell lines. Experimental Cell Research, 29: 515-526. PMID: 13952250. DOI: 10.1016/S0014-4827(63)80014-2.
- Ham, R.G. (1965). Clonal growth of mammalian cells in a chemically defined, synthetic medium. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA, 53(2): 288-293. PMID: 14283412. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.53.2.288.
- Ham, R.G. & McKeehan, W.L. (1979). Media and growth requirements. Methods in Enzymology, 58: 44-93. DOI: 10.1016/S0076-6879(79)58127-2.
- Barnes, D. & Sato, G. (1980). Serum-free cell culture: a unifying approach. Cell, 22(3): 649-655. DOI: 10.1016/0092-8674(80)90540-1.
- McKeehan, W.L., Hamilton, W.G. & Ham, R.G. (1976). Selenium is an essential trace nutrient for the growth of WI-38 diploid human fibroblasts. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 73(6): 2023-2027. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.73.6.2023.
- Yao, T. & Asayama, Y. (2017). Animal-cell culture media: History, characteristics, and current issues. Reproductive Medicine and Biology, 16(2): 99-117. PMC5661806.
FluxMPS™ — Precision Cell Culture Media for Microphysiological Systems
Built for the architecture of the future. Not the flask of the past.
Traditional cell culture media were formulated for static well plates and flasks — environments that tolerate impurities, precipitates, and particle loads that would immediately compromise a microfluidic system. FluxMPS™ was designed from the ground up for Organ-on-Chip (OoC), Tissue-on-Chip (ToC), and Lab-on-Chip (LoC) platforms, where the medium itself is part of the instrument.
Purity That Protects Your Platform
FluxMPS™ is purified to 0.04 microns — finer than any ready-to-use cell culture media currently available. At this level, the microscopic particulates and protein aggregates that silently block micro-channels, disrupt laminar flow, and generate false biological signals are eliminated before the media ever reaches your chip.
The result: your platform stays operational, your data stays clean, and your biology drives the result — not your media.
Engineered for Flow, Not Just Growth
The name FluxMPS™ reflects its core design principle. Every component is optimized for consistent, laminar flow performance across:
- Complex micro-channel geometries
- Capillary-bed and vascular simulations
- Long-term automated perfusion studies running continuously for weeks
Zero-clogging performance is not a feature — it is the baseline specification.
Applications & Performance
| Application | What FluxMPS™ Delivers |
|---|---|
| Microfluidics | Stable shear stress; no channel blockage |
| Metabolic Tracing | Ultra-pure matrix with no contaminant interference |
| Long-term Perfusion | Consistent formulation stability over weeks of continuous flow |
| Organ-on-Chip | Optical clarity for real-time imaging and integrated biosensing |
Regulatory Foundation
FluxMPS™ is formulated to support FDA-recognized physiological modeling standards, providing a validated, reproducible media foundation for drug discovery, toxicology screening, and translational research. When your downstream data needs to stand up to regulatory scrutiny, your upstream media cannot be an afterthought.
The Bottom Line
Microfluidic platforms are precision instruments. They require precision inputs.
FluxMPS™ is the only ready-to-use cell culture medium engineered specifically to meet that standard — protecting your chip, your cells, and your science.
