Initially developed for the suspension culture of human leukemia cells, RPMI 1640 contains the reducing agent glutathione and high concentrations of vitamins, biotin, vitamin B12, and PABA, components not found in Eagle’s MEM and DMEM. It also contains high levels of inositol and choline. Suitable for various mammalian cells, including HeLa, Jurkat, MCF-7, PC12, PBMC, astrocytes, and cancer cells. RPMI 1640 medium contains glutamine, sodium pyruvate, and HEPES, no proteins, lipids, or growth factors, and typically requires the addition of 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) for use. A variety of modified versions are available to meet different cell culture needs.
