Cell culture medium is a crucial element in cell culture and has a wide range of applications in numerous fields. The following is a detailed introduction:

Study of Cell Physiological Functions
By providing the nutrients necessary for cell growth, cell culture medium can maintain the survival and normal metabolism of cells, enabling researchers to study various physiological functions of cells. For example, in the study of nerve cells, neurons are cultured in a specific nerve cell culture medium. This allows the observation of electrophysiological characteristics of neurons, the synthesis and release of neurotransmitters, and other processes, facilitating in – depth understanding of the working principles of the nervous system.
Investigation of Disease Mechanisms
Regarding the study of the mechanisms of disease occurrence and development, cell culture medium can be used to culture diseased cells. For instance, in cancer research, cancer cells are inoculated in a suitable culture medium to observe their behaviors such as proliferation, migration, and invasion. Additionally, by adding or removing certain components in the culture medium to simulate changes in the in – vivo environment, the impact of these changes on cancer cells can be studied, thus exploring the pathogenesis of cancer. Meanwhile, it can also study the effects of drugs on diseased cells, providing an experimental basis for drug development.

Drug Screening Platform
Cell culture medium provides a cell model for drug screening. Researchers can expose candidate drugs to cells cultured in the medium and evaluate the efficacy of the drugs by observing cell responses, such as cell viability, apoptosis, and changes in gene expression. For example, in the development of antibiotics, bacteria are inoculated in the culture medium, and then different compounds are added to observe the growth inhibition of bacteria, thereby screening out compounds with antibacterial activity.
Drug Toxicity Testing
Human cells, such as liver cells and cardiomyocytes, are cultured using cell culture medium to test the toxicity of drugs on these cells. The safety of the drugs is evaluated by detecting indicators of cell damage, such as cell membrane integrity and the release of intracellular enzymes. This in – vitro cell toxicity testing can screen out drugs with potential toxicity in the early stages of drug development, reducing the risks that may occur in animal experiments and clinical trials.

Vaccine Production
Many vaccines are produced through cell culture. The cell culture medium provides nutrients for the host cells used in vaccine production (e.g., Vero cells are used for the production of certain virus vaccines), enabling the cells to multiply in large numbers and be infected by the virus. After the virus infects the cells, the virus particles are collected and processed through a series of steps to produce the vaccine. For example, in the production of COVID – 19 vaccines, some vaccines are based on cell culture technology. Suitable cell culture media are used to culture host cells, which are then inoculated with the SARS – CoV – 2 virus, ultimately resulting in the production of the vaccine.
Monoclonal Antibody Production
Monoclonal antibodies are important products in the biopharmaceutical field. In the production of monoclonal antibodies, hybridoma cells that produce antibodies need to be cultured first. The cell culture medium provides the conditions required for the growth and antibody synthesis of hybridoma cells, enabling the cells to continuously secrete monoclonal antibodies. These antibodies can be used to treat various diseases, such as cancer and autoimmune diseases.

Stem Cell Culture
For stem cell therapy, cell culture medium is crucial for the expansion and differentiation of stem cells. For example, mesenchymal stem cells can be cultured in a specific culture medium. By adjusting the components in the culture medium and the culture conditions, the stem cells can be induced to differentiate into specific cell types, such as osteoblasts, adipocytes, and nerve cells. These differentiated cells can be used to treat a variety of diseases, such as bone injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.
Immune Cell Therapy
In immune cell therapy, such as CAR – T cell therapy, immune cells need to be cultured and modified in vitro. The cell culture medium can provide nutrients and a suitable environment for immune cells, enabling them to be genetically edited and expanded. The modified immune cells are then reinfused into patients to treat diseases such as cancer.

Gene Editing Experiments
When conducting gene editing experiments, such as using the CRISPR – Cas9 technology, the cell culture medium provides a stable environment for cells, allowing the cells to survive during the gene editing process and carry out subsequent repair and expression processes. By culturing gene – edited cells in the medium, the impact of gene editing on cell phenotypes and functions can be observed, thus studying the functions and mechanisms of genes.
Construction of Genetic Disease Models
Cells with specific gene mutations are cultured using cell culture medium to construct genetic disease models. These model cells can simulate the cell phenotypes of genetic diseases and are used to study the genetic basis and pathogenesis of the diseases. For example, neurons carrying the gene mutation of Huntington’s disease are cultured to observe the abnormal behaviors of neurons, providing a cell model for the study of this disease.