Optimum CO₂ concentration for RPMI medium is:
RPMI 1640 medium formulated by George Moore and colleagues at Roswell Park Memorial Institute in 1966 specifically for suspension culture of human leukocytes and hematopoietic cells, exhibits unique formulation low in calcium 100 mg per L and magnesium reduced to minimize aggregation, enriched with vitamins and reduced glutathione. Crucially it relies on sodium bicarbonate buffer system 2.0 g per L interacting with gas phase carbon dioxide via equilibrium CO2 plus H2O equilibrates to H2CO3 equilibrates to H+ plus HCO3- described by Henderson-Hasselbalch equation. Five percent CO2 atmosphere pr
Ref: Moore et al. JAMA 1967 RPMI development; Freshney Ch media and supplements; ATCC cell culture guide RPMI buffer.
