Kaighn’s Modification of Ham’s F-12-K Medium ( Essential)

Kaighn’s Modified Ham’s F-12-K Medium is a widely utilized cell culture formulation derived from Ham’s F-12 medium. It was initially developed for the cultivation of primary cell types—such as human oocytes and hepatocytes, as well as liver cells from murine and avian sources—under low-serum conditions. In recent years, however, its application has significantly expanded to support a broader spectrum of cell types.

This medium is enriched with several components that are not present in older formulations.

These include putrescine, thymidine, hypoxanthine, zinc, and elevated concentrations of amino acids and sodium pyruvate, which enhance cellular metabolism and proliferation.

Composition Highlights

F-12K Medium includes the following:

– Glucose at a low concentration: 1.26 g/L
– Sodium bicarbonate: 2.5 g/L

(Note: For use in CO₂ incubators operating above 5%, an increased bicarbonate concentration may be required.)

To accommodate varying pH buffering needs, GMP Bioscienc also manufactures this medium with:

– 1.5 g/L sodium bicarbonate
– 3.7 g/L sodium bicarbonate
– L-glutamine: 2 mM (292 mg/L)
– Enriched levels of amino acids, water-soluble vitamins, inositol, and choline

Recommended Applications

Ham’s F-12K Medium is formulated to minimize cell clumping, making it highly effective for the culture of both primary cells and a variety of established cell lines.

It is particularly suitable for:

– Normal and transformed leukocytes
– HeLa, Jurkat, MCF-7, PC12
– Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs)
– Astrocytes, carcinoma cells
– Bone marrow-derived cells, and hybridoma cells