Gibco™ RPMI 1640 Medium, no glutamine, no HEPES

The Gibco™ RPMI 1640 Medium (no glutamine) is a widely used, high-quality cell culture medium originally developed for the growth of human leukemic cells. Today, it is extensively utilized for a broad range of mammalian cell culture applications, including both suspension and adherent cell lines.

This formulation is supplied without L-glutamine and HEPES, allowing researchers the flexibility to supplement according to specific experimental requirements. The medium contains phenol red as a pH indicator and uses a sodium bicarbonate buffering system, requiring a 5–10% CO₂ environment for optimal physiological pH maintenance.

RPMI 1640 is distinguished by its rich vitamin composition and inclusion of glutathione, supporting robust cell growth and metabolic activity in demanding culture conditions.

Key Features

• Classic RPMI 1640 formulation for mammalian cell culture
• No L-glutamine – allows controlled supplementation
• No HEPES buffer – compatible with CO₂-dependent systems
• Contains phenol red for pH monitoring
• Animal origin-free formulation
• Manufactured under cGMP and ISO 13485 standards
• Sterile-filtered for consistent quality and reliability
• Flexible medium for a wide range of research applications

Applications

This medium is ideal for:

• Culture of leukemic and lymphoid cells
• Maintenance of common cell lines such as:
  • HeLa
  • Jurkat
  • MCF-7
  • PC-12
  • PBMCs
  • Astrocytes
• Cancer research and oncology studies
• Immunology and cell signaling research
• General mammalian cell culture workflows

Medium Composition Highlights

RPMI 1640 offers several advantages over other basal media:

• Contains glutathione (reducing agent for cellular protection)
• Enriched with unique vitamins including:
  • Biotin
  • Vitamin B12
  • Para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA)
• High concentrations of:
  • Inositol
  • Choline
• Free from:
  • Proteins
  • Lipids
  • Growth factors

Note: Requires supplementation, typically with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) and L-glutamine, depending on application.

Technical Specifications

Advantages

• Flexible formulation for custom supplementation
• Widely validated across numerous cell lines and applications
• Supports both suspension and adherent cultures
• High reproducibility and batch consistency
• Trusted Gibco™ quality standard

Recommended Supplements

To achieve optimal performance, consider pairing with:

• Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) – typically 5–10%
• L-Glutamine (200 mM stock)
• Penicillin-Streptomycin (100×)
• Optional: HEPES buffer (for enhanced pH stability outside incubator)

Ordering Information

The Gibco™ RPMI 1640 Medium, no glutamine is a versatile and reliable basal medium for mammalian cell culture, offering flexibility, consistency, and broad applicability. Its well-established formulation and compatibility with diverse cell types make it a foundational reagent for cell biology, immunology, and cancer research laboratories.