[Production of monoclonal antibodies in serum-free medium in dialysis tubing].

A simple procedure for the production of pure monoclonal antibodies (mab) in dialysis tubing has been used. Hybridomas which produce pancreatic islet cell reactive monoclonal antibodies were grown in dialysis tubing containing serum free medium. The dialysis tubing was inserted into a flask with medium containing 7.5% foetal calf serum. The flask was placed on a roller and medium was changed every two days. The optimal time for harvesting the mab could be shown to be after 10 days of culture with a 4 fold increased immunoglobulin concentration in comparison to a conventional hybridoma culture. Immunoglobulin concentrations up to 110 mg/l and cell yields of 1.3 x 10(6)/ml have been obtained. The low concentration of contaminating low molecular weight proteins in the supernatant facilitated or saved purification of mab.