Production of MAbs in culture bottles is low (5−10μg/ml), thus to increase the yield the hybrid cells are grown as ascites in the peritoneal cavity of mice. The ascitic fluid contains 5−20mg of MAb/ml, which is much superior to the in vitro cultivation techniques. Collection of MAbs from ascitic fluid has a heavy risk of contamination by pathogenic organisms of the animal. Also many animals have to be sacrificed to produce MAbs. Therefore, workers prefer in vitro techniques over using animals.

Encapsulated Hybridoma Cells for Commercial Production of MAbs

To increase the hybridoma cell density in suspension culture, the hybridomas are encapsulated in alginate gels using a coating solution containing poly-lysine (figure); these gels allow the nutrients to enter in and antibodies to come out of the hybridomas. In this way, the yield of MAb production can be increased (10−100μg/ml).