Serum free media for the growth on insect cells and expression of products thereby

A serum free medium which supports the large scale growth of insect cells, excluding monolayer culture, and the production thereby of recombinant and viral products at levels comparable to those achieved in serum containing media, the serum free medium comprises:

• (a) a basal medium;
• (b) a lipid component;
• (c) a peptone component;
• and
• (d) a protective agent;
• wherein:
• the lipid component is in the form of a microemulsion;
• the basal medium comprises a nutrient mixture of inorganic salts, sugars, amino acids, optionally also containing vitamins, organic acids and/or buffers;
• the protective agent comprises an emulsifying, non-toxic, water soluble compound that protects the insect cells from damage and death under well-aerated culture conditions, wherein the protective agent is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyethyl starch, methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, dextran sulfate, polyvinylpyrrolidone, ficoll, alginic acid, polypropyleneglycol and non-toxic polymeric detergents;
• the lipid component further comprises an emulsifier, an organic solvent, and lipids essential for the growth of insect cells;
• the emulsifier of the lipid component comprises a phospholipid and/or a non-toxic, nonionic polymeric detergent;
• the organic solvent comprises an alcohol containing from one to three carbon atoms;
• the lipids of the lipid component are selected from the group consisting of fatty acids, steroids and lipid soluble vitamins;
• and
• the peptone component comprises a hydrolyzed protein product or a mixture of hydrolyzed protein products, the peptone component is at a total concentration of from about 1 g/l to about 12 g/l.