細胞培養是細胞在受控條件下（通常在其自然環境之外）生長的過程。細胞培養中從活組織中分離出目標細胞后，可以將其隨后保持在精心控制的條件下，這些條件因每種細胞類型而異，但通常由合適的容器組成，該容器帶有可提供必需營養素（氨基酸，碳水化合物，維生素，礦物質），生長因子，激素和氣體（CO 2，O 2）的底物或培養基，并且 調節理化環境（pH緩沖液，滲透壓，溫度）。 大多數細胞需要表面或人工底物（貼壁或單層培養），而其他細胞則可以在培養基中懸浮懸浮（懸浮培養）。 大多數細胞的壽命是由遺傳決定的，但是一些細胞培養細胞已經“轉化”為永生細胞，如果提供了最佳條件，它們將無限期繁殖。Cell culture is the process by which cells are grown under controlled conditions, generally outside their natural environment. After the cells of interest have been isolated from living tissue, they can subsequently be maintained under carefully controlled conditions. These conditions vary for each cell type, but generally consist of a suitable vessel with a substrate or medium that supplies the essential nutrients (amino acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals), growth factors, hormones, and gases (CO?, O?), and regulates the physio-chemical environment (pH buffer, osmotic pressure, temperature).