FluxMPS™ MCDB 105 Medium

Product#: MCDB105Medium
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Built on McKeehan & Ham's Landmark Fibroblast Clonal-Growth Platform

FluxMPS™ MCDB 105 Medium

MCDB 105 is a chemically defined medium designed for the long-term survival and rapid clonal growth of human diploid fibroblast-like cells, including WI-38, MRC-5, IMR-90, and low-passage human foreskin fibroblasts. A modification of MCDB 104, it is optimized to support cell growth without the need for serum supplementation. FluxMPS™ delivers this formulation through a 0.04 micron quadruple-stage filtration process engineered for microfluidic, Organ-on-Chip (OoC), and Lab-on-Chip (LoC) platforms.

  • Two ready-to-use FluxMPS™ configurations: MCDB 105 (with sodium bicarbonate) and MCDB 105 w/o Bicarbonate
  • Designed for long-term survival and rapid clonal growth of human diploid fibroblast-like cells (WI-38, MRC-5, IMR-90, low-passage human foreskin fibroblasts)
  • Standard glucose concentration of 0.720 g/L and standard HEPES concentration of 25mM at 1X
  • Both configurations include L-Glutamine, Sodium Pyruvate, HEPES, and Phenol Red as standard, plus a trace-element supplement; Sodium Bicarbonate is included in the standard configuration and omitted in the w/o Bicarbonate configuration
  • Purified through FluxMPS™ quadruple-stage 0.04 micron filtration for microfluidic and Organ-on-Chip / Tissue-on-Chip / Lab-on-Chip compatibility
  • Ready-to-use, buffered, and sterile-filtered, meeting stringent quality standards for the absence of bacteria, yeast, and fungi; can be further enhanced with FBS, growth factors, trace elements, or antibiotics
  • Available in 500 mL and 1000 mL sizes; stored at 2-8°C away from bright light; fully customizable via support@diagnocine.com
DCP-M105H...
FluxMPS™ MCDB 105 Medium Family — 1X Liquid
  • Concentration1X
  • Glucose0.720 g/L
  • HEPES concentration25mM (standard)
  • L-GlutamineIncluded (both)
  • Sodium PyruvateIncluded (both)
  • Sodium BicarbonateVariant-dependent
  • Phenol RedIncluded (both)
  • SpecialWith Trace Elements
  • Sizes500 mL / 1000 mL
  • Storage2-8°C, protect from light
RUO MCDB 104-Derived Foundational Customizable
Configuration

At-a-Glance Supplement Matrix

Check the supplement(s) you require, press Search to confirm which configuration(s) include them, then click straight through to the product page via the catalog-number link or the View button.

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MCDB 105 Medium Family — Configurations
At-a-glance supplement matrix — click to view product page.
Name Cat No. L-Glutamine Pyruvate Bicarbonate HEPES Phenol Red Special Product Page
MCDB 105 DCP-M105H1X check check check check check With Trace Elements Viewarrow_forward
MCDB 105 w/o Bicarbonate DCP-M105H-B1X check check remove check check With Trace Elements Viewarrow_forward
Customization: Standard configuration is 1X concentration with 0.720 g/L glucose and 25mM HEPES. Please contact support@diagnocine.com to inquire about other concentrations, additions of chemicals, compounds, proteins, or supplements, a different pH, and other modifications as needed.
Family Overview

About MCDB 105 Medium

MCDB media were developed for the culture of specific cell types without a serum supplement. The media were supplemented with growth factors, hormones, trace elements, or low levels of dialyzed fetal bovine serum protein (FBSP), and each MCDB medium was formulated for a specific cell type: MCDB 105 and 110 for rapid clonal growth of normal human diploid cells, MCDB 131 originally for human micro-vascular endothelial cells (HMVEC), and MCDB 151, 201, and 302 originally for human keratinocytes, clonal growth of chick embryo fibroblasts, and CHO cells respectively.

MCDB 105 medium is a specialized cell culture medium designed for the long-term survival and rapid clonal growth of human diploid fibroblast-like cells, including WI-38, MRC-5, IMR-90, and low-passage human foreskin fibroblasts. It is a modification of MCDB 104, optimized to support cell growth without the need for serum supplementation, although it can be further enhanced with the addition of fetal bovine serum, growth factors, trace elements, and antibiotics depending on specific experimental requirements.

This ready-to-use medium is buffered and sterile-filtered, ensuring it meets stringent quality standards for the absence of bacteria, yeast, and fungi. MCDB 105 has been widely used in cell biology research for many years, contributing to numerous publications and forming a reliable foundation for in vitro culture experiments. Its versatility and effectiveness in supporting cell proliferation, plating, and migration make it a valuable tool for researchers studying human fibroblasts and related cell types.

Origins & Development

MCDB media are a family of chemically defined, cell-type-specific basal formulations developed at the Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology (MCDB) at the University of Colorado, Boulder, primarily by Richard G. Ham and Wallace L. McKeehan during the 1970s and 1980s. The department acronym gives the series its name; the department itself was founded in 1968 by pioneering cell biologist Keith Porter, its first chair. Unlike the classical Eagle-lineage media (BME, MEM, DMEM), which were designed as general-purpose basal formulations to be supplemented with serum, each MCDB medium was engineered from the ground up, qualitatively and quantitatively, to support the clonal growth and long-term maintenance of one specific, defined cell type.

The MCDB program was catalyzed by a 1976 discovery: McKeehan, Hamilton, and Ham reported in PNAS that selenium is an essential trace nutrient for clonal growth of WI-38 diploid human fibroblasts at minimal serum-protein concentrations, and that higher serum levels had simply been masking the requirement by supplying selenium as a contaminant. This finding showed that systematic trace-element supplementation could substantially reduce serum dependence and directly stimulated the formal MCDB series, beginning with MCDB 104 in 1977, published by McKeehan, McKeehan, Hammond, and Ham in In Vitro (13(7): 399-416; PMID 301851). MCDB 104 supported clonal growth of WI-38 cells at serum-protein concentrations as low as 25 µg/mL (approximately 0.05% serum), through systematic quantitative adjustment of all nutrient concentrations in the parent medium Ham's F-12, supplementation with a trace-element mixture including selenium, replacement of hypoxanthine and folic acid with adenine and folinic acid, and polylysine coating of the culture surface.

MCDB 105 (developed circa 1978-1980) was a modification of MCDB 104, optimized for long-term survival and rapid clonal growth of human diploid fibroblast-like cells, including WI-38, MRC-5, IMR-90, and low-passage human foreskin fibroblasts. It differs from MCDB 104 principally in its salt system, further-adjusted amino acid concentrations, and the use of folinic acid in place of folic acid. MCDB 110 was developed in close succession to MCDB 105 and became the basis for the landmark 1981 serum-free system reported by Bettger, Boyce, Walthall, and Ham in PNAS.

In 1979, Ham and McKeehan codified the principles, nomenclature, and nutritional basis of the entire MCDB program in "Media and growth requirements," Chapter 5 of Methods in Enzymology (58: 44-93), which remains a key primary reference for the series.

Lineage

The MCDB Series Family Tree

MCDB 105 is a direct modification of MCDB 104 and is itself the direct parent of MCDB 110, both fibroblast-focused media within the broader F-12-derived MCDB nutritional-optimization program.

Medium Year Primary Developers Primary Target Cell Parent Medium
MCDB 104 1977 McKeehan, McKeehan, Hammond, Ham WI-38 human lung fibroblasts Ham's F-12
MCDB 105 ~1978-1980 Ham, McKeehan WI-38, MRC-5, IMR-90 fibroblasts MCDB 104
MCDB 110 ~1980-1981 Bettger, Boyce, Walthall, Ham Human diploid fibroblasts (serum-free) MCDB 105
MCDB 131 1987 Knedler, Ham Human microvascular endothelial cells MCDB 402
MCDB 151 1980 Peehl, Ham Human epidermal keratinocytes (low-serum) Ham's F-12
MCDB 152 1982 Tsao, Walthall, Ham Human keratinocytes (defined) MCDB 151
MCDB 153 1983 Boyce, Ham Human epidermal keratinocytes (serum-free) MCDB 151/152
MCDB 201 1977 McKeehan, Ham Chick embryo fibroblasts Ham's F-12
MCDB 301/302 1977 Hamilton, Ham CHO cells (protein-free) Ham's F-12
MCDB 120 1988 Ham et al. Human muscle satellite cells Ham's F-12
Composition

Composition

MCDB 105 provides a carefully balanced mixture of inorganic salts, amino acids, vitamins, and other nutrients tailored to human diploid fibroblast requirements, supplied with a trace-element supplement ("Special: with Trace Elements") and, in the standard configuration, sodium bicarbonate. The tables below present the full source-verified composition of the standard MCDB 105 nutrient mixture.

MCDB 105 — Source-Verified Configuration Facts
Standard concentration 1X
Standard glucose concentration 0.720 g/L
Standard HEPES concentration 25mM
L-Glutamine Included (both configurations)
Sodium Pyruvate Included (both configurations)
Sodium Bicarbonate Included in MCDB 105 (DCP-M105H1X); omitted in MCDB 105 w/o Bicarbonate (DCP-M105H-B1X)
Phenol Red Included (both configurations)
Special With Trace Elements (both configurations)
Sizes 500 mL, 1000 mL
Storage 2-8°C, away from bright light
MCDB 105 — Inorganic Salts
Ingredient mg/L
Ammonium metavanadate 0.000585
Calcium chloride dihydrate 147.000
Cupric sulfate pentahydrate 0.00025
Ferrous sulfate heptahydrate 1.390
Magnesium sulfate (anhydrous) 120.380
Manganese sulfate 0.000151
Molybdic acid ammonium tetrahydrate 0.00124
Nickel chloride 0.00012
Potassium dihydrogen phosphate 408.270
Sodium chloride 6546.000
Sodium metasilicate nonahydrate 0.1421
Sodium selenite 0.0052
Stannous chloride monohydrate 0.000113
Zinc sulfate heptahydrate 0.144
MCDB 105 — Amino Acids
Ingredient mg/L
Glycine 7.510
L-Alanine 8.910
L-Arginine hydrochloride 210.700
L-Asparagine monohydrate 15.000
L-Aspartic acid 13.310
L-Cysteine hydrochloride monohydrate 8.780
L-Glutamic acid 14.710
L-Glutamine 365.300
L-Histidine hydrochloride monohydrate 20.970
L-Isoleucine 3.940
L-Leucine 13.120
L-Lysine hydrochloride 36.540
L-Methionine 4.480
L-Phenylalanine 4.960
L-Proline 34.530
L-Serine 10.510
L-Threonine 11.910
L-Tryptophan 2.040
L-Tyrosine disodium salt dihydrate 7.840
L-Valine 11.720
MCDB 105 — Vitamins
Ingredient mg/L
Choline chloride 13.960
D-Biotin 0.007339
D-Calcium pantothenate 0.238
Folinic acid (calcium salt) 0.000512
Niacinamide 6.110
Pyridoxine hydrochloride 0.0617
Riboflavin 0.113
Thiamine hydrochloride 0.337
Vitamin B12 0.136
myo-Inositol 18.020
MCDB 105 — Other Components
Ingredient mg/L
Adenine hydrochloride 1.720
D-Glucose 720.640
HEPES buffer 5958.000
Linoleic acid 0.0028
Phenol red sodium salt 1.242
Putrescine dihydrochloride 0.000161
Sodium pyruvate 110.000
Thioctic acid (alpha-lipoic acid) 0.00206
Thymidine 0.0727
Data note (from Diagnocine's source materials): Several MCDB 105 micro-component values above — putrescine dihydrochloride (0.000161 mg/L), linoleic acid (0.0028 mg/L), thioctic acid (0.00206 mg/L), and folinic acid calcium salt (0.000512 mg/L) — appear roughly 10 to 1000 times lower than the corresponding values documented for MCDB 153 and Ham's F-12 in the same source materials. This pattern of clean factor-of-10/1000 differences suggests a possible decimal or unit inconsistency in the source datasheet; these particular values should be verified against the primary literature (McKeehan, Hammond & Ham, 1977; Ham & McKeehan, 1979) before use in a critical application. Researchers requiring a full Certificate of Analysis should contact support@diagnocine.com.
Comparison

Media Lineage Comparison

How MCDB 105 compares to two other F-12-derived MCDB-series media, and how the series as a whole differs from classical Eagle-lineage basal media.

Feature MCDB 105 MCDB 153 MCDB 131
Primary developer & year McKeehan, Ham (~1978-1980) Boyce & Ham (1983) Knedler & Ham (1987)
Target cell type Human diploid fibroblasts (WI-38, MRC-5, IMR-90) Human epidermal keratinocytes Human microvascular endothelial cells
Parent formulation MCDB 104 → Ham's F-12 MCDB 151/152 → Ham's F-12 MCDB 402 → Ham's F-12
Glucose 720.64 mg/L (~4.0 mM) 1081.0 mg/L (~6.0 mM) 1000 mg/L (~5.5 mM)
Calcium (CaCl2.2H2O) 147.0 mg/L 4.411 mg/L (very low) 235.2 mg/L
Magnesium MgSO4 120.38 mg/L (~1 mM) MgCl2.6H2O 122.0 mg/L MgSO4 1204.0 mg/L (10 mM)
Selenium (Na2SeO3) 0.0052 mg/L 0.0038 mg/L 0.0038 mg/L
Iron source FeSO4.7H2O 1.390 mg/L FeSO4.7H2O 1.390 mg/L FeSO4.7H2O 0.283 mg/L
Glutamine 365.3 mg/L 877.2 mg/L Listed separately; not in base
Folinic acid Yes (calcium salt) No (folic acid 0.790 mg/L) Yes (calcium salt)
Biotin 0.007339 mg/L 0.0146 mg/L 0.0073 mg/L
Vitamin B12 0.136 mg/L 0.407 mg/L 0.0136 mg/L
Adenine 1.720 mg/L 30.880 mg/L 0.135 mg/L
Phosphate source KH2PO4 (408.27 mg/L) Na2HPO4 (284.088 mg/L) Na2HPO4
HEPES 5958 mg/L (25 mM) 6600 mg/L (28 mM) No HEPES; bicarbonate only
Sodium bicarbonate Without (HEPES-buffered) Without (add 1.176 g/L for CO2 system) 1.176 g/L (requires 5-10% CO2)
Sodium pyruvate 110.0 mg/L 55.0 mg/L 110.0 mg/L
Serum requirement Low-serum (dFBS ~25 µg/mL) or serum-free with supplements Serum-free with EGF, insulin, hydrocortisone, BPE 0.7% dFBS + EGF + hydrocortisone
pH ~4.6-5.2 (unadjusted powder, no bicarbonate) 6.40-7.00 (with NaHCO3) ~7.4
Osmolality 240-280 mOsm/kg (without NaHCO3) 320-360 mOsm/kg (with NaHCO3) 280 ± 20 mOsm/kg

Distinguishing Features Documented Across the MCDB Series

  • Comprehensive trace-element panel covering selenium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, nickel, tin, and silicon — elements absent from DMEM, MEM, BME, and RPMI 1640, and present in MCDB 105's own inorganic-salts profile above
  • Folinic acid (leucovorin) used in place of folic acid in MCDB 105 and MCDB 131, bypassing the dihydrofolate reductase activation step, a feature MCDB 153 (which uses folic acid instead) does not share
  • Adenine supplementation as a free purine source (1.72 mg/L in MCDB 105 to 30.88 mg/L in MCDB 153), absent from classical Eagle media (DMEM, MEM)
  • Thymidine inclusion as a preformed pyrimidine nucleoside (0.0727 mg/L in MCDB 105), allowing cells to bypass de novo synthesis
  • Putrescine dihydrochloride, a polyamine growth factor and precursor to spermidine and spermine, present in MCDB 105 and absent from DMEM, MEM, BME, RPMI 1640, and IMDM
  • HEPES as a flexible buffering strategy. MCDB 105 and 153 are supplied without sodium bicarbonate and rely on HEPES (25 mM and 28 mM respectively); bicarbonate (1.176 g/L) and CO2 are added by the user when a bicarbonate co-buffer is desired
  • Calcium and adenine as key discriminating factors between MCDB 105 (fibroblast-selective) and MCDB 151/153 (keratinocyte-selective) when culturing mixed foreskin inocula

MCDB Composition vs. Classical Media: Key Distinctions

Feature DMEM (high-glucose) MEM MCDB 105 MCDB 153 MCDB 131
Amino acids 15 (no Asn, Asp, Glu, Pro, Ala) 13 20 (all proteinogenic) 20 19
Selenium Absent Absent 0.0052 mg/L 0.0038 mg/L 0.0038 mg/L
Folinic acid Absent Absent Present Absent (folic acid) Present
Adenine Absent Absent 1.72 mg/L 30.88 mg/L 0.135 mg/L
Thymidine Absent Absent 0.0727 mg/L 0.727 mg/L Present
Putrescine Absent Absent Present 0.161 mg/L Present
Linoleic acid Absent Absent 0.0028 mg/L Absent Absent
Multi-trace elements Absent (Fe(NO3)3 only) Absent Multi-element Multi-element Multi-element
HEPES Absent Absent 25 mM 28 mM Absent
Glucose 4500 mg/L 1000 mg/L 720.64 mg/L (~4 mM) 1081 mg/L (~6 mM) 1000 mg/L
Calcium 265 mg/L 200 mg/L 147 mg/L 4.411 mg/L 235.2 mg/L
Vitamin B12 Absent Absent 0.136 mg/L 0.407 mg/L 0.0136 mg/L
Biotin Absent Absent 0.0073 mg/L 0.0146 mg/L 0.0073 mg/L
Serum requirement 10% FBS typical 5-10% FBS Low-serum or serum-free Serum-free with supplements 0.7-2% dFBS or defined
FluxMPS™ Advantage

Why FluxMPS™

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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.

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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.

visibility

Optical Clarity

Supports real-time imaging and integrated biosensing across long-duration culture and perfusion studies.

science

Fibroblast Clonal-Growth Heritage

Rooted in a defined nutritional environment validated for long-term survival and rapid clonal growth of human diploid fibroblasts.

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Fully Customizable

Standard 1X concentration, 0.720 g/L glucose, and 25mM HEPES can be adjusted, along with chemical additions, proteins, supplements, and pH, on request.

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Regulatory-Aligned Foundation

Formulated to support FDA-recognized physiological modeling standards for drug discovery, toxicology screening, and translational research.

Manufacturing

Quadruple-Stage Filtration

Every FluxMPS™ formulation, including MCDB 105 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.

  • 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

4
Sequential filtration stages
0.04µm
Finest sterile-filtration pore size
FluxMPS™ MCDB 105 Medium Quadruple-stage filtration system diagram ? two 0.1 micron pre-filtration stages followed by two 0.04 micron sterile-filtration stages, engineered for organ-on-a-chip (OoC), tissue-on-a-chip (ToC), and lab-on-a-chip microfluidic cell culture media applications by Diagnocine.
Validated Use

Validated Cell Lines & Applications

biotech

WI-38 Fibroblasts

A primary validated human diploid lung fibroblast cell type for MCDB 105 / 110.

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MRC-5 & IMR-90 Fibroblasts

Additional human diploid lung fibroblast lines supported for long-term survival and rapid clonal growth.

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Low-Passage Human Foreskin Fibroblasts

Includes fibroblast-like cells from amniotic fluid, fetal lung, and newborn foreskin.

vaccines

Vaccine Production

Vaccine production from human diploid cells (WI-38, MRC-5) in MCDB 105/110-based serum-free systems.

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Cell Proliferation, Plating & Migration Studies

Its versatility and effectiveness in supporting these processes make it a valuable tool for fibroblast research.

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Broader MCDB / F-12 Lineage Applications

Direct parent of MCDB 110, and part of the F-12-derived MCDB series that also supports keratinocytes, endothelial cells, and CHO cells in related family members.

Scientific Use

Scientific Applications

science

Serum-Free / Low-Protein Mechanistic Research

Replacing undefined, lot-variable serum with defined components eliminates serum-derived biological variability and enables precise manipulation of specific growth factors and nutrients.

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Quality-Controlled In Vitro Research

Ready-to-use, buffered, and sterile-filtered to meet stringent quality standards for the absence of bacteria, yeast, and fungi, forming a reliable foundation for in vitro culture experiments.

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Bicarbonate / HEPES-Buffered Culture Options

The standard MCDB 105 configuration includes sodium bicarbonate; the w/o Bicarbonate configuration is available for workflows relying on its standard 25mM HEPES buffering.

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Custom Formulation Studies

Standard glucose, HEPES, concentration, and supplement levels can be customized, with additions of chemicals, compounds, proteins, or a different pH available on request.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Both configurations share the same L-Glutamine, Sodium Pyruvate, HEPES, Phenol Red, and trace-element supplementation. The standard MCDB 105 (DCP-M105H1X) includes sodium bicarbonate; MCDB 105 w/o Bicarbonate (DCP-M105H-B1X) omits it for workflows using a different buffering approach.
MCDB 105 is designed for the long-term survival and rapid clonal growth of human diploid fibroblast-like cells, including WI-38, MRC-5, IMR-90, and low-passage human foreskin fibroblasts.
Yes. FluxMPS™ purifies this formulation through a quadruple-stage filtration process down to 0.04 microns, engineered for Organ-on-Chip (OoC), Tissue-on-Chip (ToC), and Lab-on-Chip (LoC) microfluidic platforms.
MCDB 105 is optimized to support cell growth without the need for serum supplementation, although it can be further enhanced with the addition of fetal bovine serum, growth factors, trace elements, and antibiotics depending on specific experimental requirements.
Yes. MCDB 105 is a ready-to-use medium that is buffered and sterile-filtered, meeting stringent quality standards for the absence of bacteria, yeast, and fungi.
The standard configuration is 1X concentration with 0.720 g/L glucose and 25mM HEPES. Contact support@diagnocine.com to inquire about other concentrations, additions of chemicals, compounds, proteins, supplements, or a different pH.
Both MCDB 105 configurations are available in 500 mL and 1000 mL sizes. Store at 2-8°C, away from bright light.
MCDB 105 is a modification of MCDB 104 and is itself the direct parent of MCDB 110, part of the systematic MCDB nutritional-optimization program that Ham, McKeehan, and colleagues derived from Ham's F-12.
Bibliography

Verified References

  • McKeehan, W.L., McKeehan, K.A., Hammond, S.L. & Ham, R.G. (1977). Improved medium for clonal growth of human diploid fibroblasts at low concentrations of serum protein. In Vitro, 13(7): 399-416. PMID 301851. DOI 10.1007/BF02615100.
  • 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.
  • Hamilton, W.G. & Ham, R.G. (1977). Clonal growth of Chinese hamster cell lines in protein-free media. In Vitro, 13(9): 537-547.
  • McKeehan, W.L. & Ham, R.G. (1977). [MCDB 201 reference] Dev. Biol. Stand., 37: 97-98.
  • Ham, R.G. & McKeehan, W.L. (1979). Media and growth requirements. Methods in Enzymology, 58: 44-93.
  • Peehl, D.M. & Ham, R.G. (1980). Clonal growth of human keratinocytes with small amounts of dialyzed serum. In Vitro, 16(6): 526-540. PMID 6156122. DOI 10.1007/BF02626466.
  • Bettger, W.J., Boyce, S.T., Walthall, B.J. & Ham, R.G. (1981). Rapid clonal growth and serial passage of human diploid fibroblasts in a lipid-enriched synthetic medium supplemented with EGF, insulin, and dexamethasone. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 78(9): 5588-5592. PMID 7029539. DOI 10.1073/pnas.78.9.5588.
  • Tsao, M.C., Walthall, B.J. & Ham, R.G. (1982). Clonal growth of normal human epidermal keratinocytes in a defined medium. J. Cell Physiol., 110(2): 219-229. PMID 7040427. DOI 10.1002/jcp.1041100217.
  • Boyce, S.T. & Ham, R.G. (1983). Calcium-regulated differentiation of normal human epidermal keratinocytes in chemically defined clonal culture and serum-free serial culture. J. Invest. Dermatol., 81(1 Suppl): 33s-40s. PMID 6345690. DOI 10.1111/1523-1747.ep12540422.
  • Knedler, A. & Ham, R.G. (1987). Optimized medium for clonal growth of human microvascular endothelial cells with minimal serum. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol., 23(7): 481-491. PMID 3301790. DOI 10.1007/BF02628418.
  • Ham, R.G. et al. (1988). Improved media for normal human muscle satellite cells. In Vitro Cell. Dev. Biol., 24(8): 833-844. PMID 3045074. (MCDB 120.)
  • McKeehan, W.L. & Ham, R.G. (1976). Stimulation of clonal growth of normal fibroblasts with substrata coated with basic polymers. J. Cell Biol., 71: 727-734.
FluxMPS™ Platform

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.

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