Technical

Extracel™ Hydrogel-24 Product Data Sheet

For research use only

Product Description

The Extracel Hydrogel-24 is a 24-well plate pre-filled with Glycosan’s Extracel hydrogel. It provides a consistent, compliant surface for cell attachment and proliferation and is suitable for a wide range of cell types, both primary and immortalized. Extracel is composed of Glycosil™ (thiol-modified hyaluronic acid), Gelin-S™ (thiol-modified gelatin, denatured collagens), and Extralink™ (polyethylene glycol diacrylate, thiol-reactive crosslinker). 

Storage

  • Store Extracel Hydrogel-24 at 4 ºC for three months.
  • Do not freeze/thaw.
  • Do not break the sealed packaging prior to use since it is required for maintaining the appropriate hydrogel moisture content.
  • Opening the sealed packaging or puncturing it will decrease the shelf life of the product.

Instructions for Use

Extracel Hydrogel-24 is prepared under aseptic conditions. Use it as follows:

  1. Prepare cells for as per standard procedures. Seeding density varies with cell type. Experimentation may be required to find the optimum seeding density for your application.
  2. Prepare one Extracel Hydrogel-24 by removing it from its packaging under aseptic conditions.  
  3. Add 200 µL of cell slurry in media to each well on top of the hydrogel. Be careful not to touch the hydrogel surface with the pipette tip since it can be easily disrupted.
  4. Place in the 37 °C incubator with 5% CO2.
  5. Allow several hours for cell attachment.
  6. Change the media as required, using the following steps:
    1. Carefully aspirate off the media. The hydrogel can easily be removed by the vacuum as well, so this must be done gently and carefully.
    2. Pipette the appropriate amount of media into each well. Try to avoid disrupting the gel.
    3. Return the plate to the 37 °C incubator with 5% CO2
  7. Cells may be easily visualized by a light microscope. However, the hydrogel surface will not be as uniform as a polystyrene surface. There may be some variation in the pattern of cell growth due to hydrogel surface irregularities, especially close to the well walls. This is normal.
  8. Cells may be recovered by trypsinization (see “Cell recovery from Extracel hydrogel surface).

Note: Each hydrogel component has been tested and shows no evidence of bacteria growth.

For more information about the Extracel Hydrogel-24 go to www.glycosan.com/ready_hydrogels.html.