B-27™ Supplement
Quick Facts
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Supplement Type | Chemically defined, serum-free supplement |
| Primary Use | Neuronal survival and maturation |
| Typical Working Concentration | 1× (from a 50× stock) |
| Common Basal Media | Neurobasal, Neurobasal™ Plus, DMEM/F-12 |
| Storage | −20°C (avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles) |
Overview
B-27™ Supplement is a chemically defined, serum-free supplement developed to support the long-term survival, growth, maturation, and function of neurons. It supplies essential nutrients, antioxidants, hormones, lipids, vitamins, and trace components required for healthy neuronal cultures while minimizing glial proliferation.
It is considered the gold-standard supplement for primary neuronal culture and is widely used in neuroscience, stem cell research, brain organoid culture, and neuronal differentiation protocols.
Biological Role
B-27™ Supplement supports neuronal cultures by:
- Promoting neuronal survival
- Reducing oxidative stress
- Supporting neurite outgrowth
- Enhancing synapse formation
- Maintaining long-term neuronal health
- Enabling serum-free neuronal culture
Major Components
| Component | Function |
|---|---|
| Insulin | Glucose metabolism |
| Transferrin | Iron transport |
| Selenium | Antioxidant enzyme cofactor |
| Vitamin E | Antioxidant protection |
| Catalase | Hydrogen peroxide detoxification |
| Superoxide Dismutase | Reactive oxygen species removal |
| Progesterone | Neuronal survival |
| Putrescine | Cell growth and differentiation |
| Lipids | Membrane synthesis |
Note: The complete formulation is proprietary and exact component concentrations are not publicly disclosed.
Typical Applications
B-27™ Supplement is widely used for:
- Primary cortical neurons
- Primary hippocampal neurons
- iPSC-derived neurons
- Neural stem cells (NSCs)
- Neural progenitor cells (NPCs)
- Brain organoids
- Cortical organoids
- Electrophysiology
- Calcium imaging
- Synaptic biology
- Neurodegenerative disease models
Recommended Use
| Parameter | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Stock Concentration | 50× |
| Working Concentration | 1× |
| Typical Dilution | 1:50 into complete medium |
Always prepare complete medium according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
Common Basal Media
| Basal Medium | Typical Application |
|---|---|
| Neurobasal™ | Primary neuronal culture |
| Neurobasal™ Plus | Long-term neuronal maintenance |
| DMEM/F-12 | Neural stem cell culture |
| KnockOut™ DMEM | Neural differentiation protocols |
Advantages
- Chemically defined formulation
- Serum-free
- Supports long-term neuronal survival
- Promotes neurite outgrowth
- Enhances synaptic maturation
- Highly reproducible
- Compatible with electrophysiology and live-cell imaging
Limitations
- Requires a suitable basal medium
- Proprietary formulation
- More expensive than serum-based supplements
- Not intended for use as a standalone culture medium
Comparison with Related Supplements
| Supplement | Primary Use |
|---|---|
| N-2 Supplement | Neural induction and NSC/NPC expansion |
| B-27™ Supplement | Neuronal maturation and maintenance |
| B-27™ Plus Supplement | Enhanced neuronal survival and reproducibility |
References
- Brewer GJ et al. Optimized survival of hippocampal neurons in B27-supplemented Neurobasal medium. Journal of Neuroscience Research (1993).
- Gibco™ B-27™ Supplement Product Information.
- Freshney RI. Culture of Animal Cells: A Manual of Basic Technique and Specialized Applications.