Technical

Extracel-HP™ Hydrogel Kit (12.5 mL) Product Data Sheet

For research use only

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

The Extracel-HP™ Hydrogel Kit is composed of Heprasil™ (CMHA-S, thiol-modified hyaluronic acid with thiol-modified heparin), Gelin-S™ (Gtn-DTPH, or thiol-modified gelatin), Extralink™ (PEGDA, polyethylene glycol diacrylate), and degassed deionized water (DG Water™). Solutions of Heprasil™ and Gelin-S™ form a transparent hydrogel when mixed with Extralink™. All lyophilized solids are blanketed by argon and under a slight vacuum.

STORAGE

Heprasil™ and Gelin-S™

  • Store Heprasil™ and Gelin-S™ in original vials at -20 °C for up to one year.
  • Solutions can be stored at -20 °C for ~1 month if they are frozen immediately after reconstitution in their original argon-blanketed vials.
  • Do not mix Heprasil™ and Gelin-S™ prior to freezing.
  • Freeze/thaw solutions a minimum number of times for best results.
  • Solutions should be thawed at 37 °C on a rocker and used immediately after thawing.
  • During thawing, solutions go through a gel-like phase before returning to their liquid state.
  • Do not uncap the Heprasil™ and Gelin-S™ vials since both materials disulfide crosslink in the presence of oxygen.
  • Use a syringe to add DG Water™ and remove product from the vials.

Extralink™

  • Store Extralink™ in the original vial at -20 °C for up to one year.
  • Reconstituted solutions can be stored at -20 °C for ~1 month.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE

Heprasil™, Gelin-S™ and Extralink™ solutions are prepared by dissolving the lyophilized solids in the DG Water™. When reconstituted, they will be in phosophate-buffered saline (PBS) pH ~7.4. Extracel-HP™ hydrogels (12.5 mL) should be prepared in the following manner:

  1. Remove Heprasil™, Gelin-S™ and Extralink™ vials from the -20 °C freezer and heat them to 37 °C (~30 minutes).
  2. Remove the DG Water™ from the -20 °C freezer and thaw in a 37 °C water bath (~15 minutes).
  3. Under aseptic conditions and using a syringe with the exact amount of liquid, add 5.0 mL of DG Water™ to the Heprasil™ vial. Repeat for the Gelin-S™ vial.
  4. Place both vials horizontally on a rocker at 37 °C (for maximum mixing). It will take <30 minutes for the solids to fully dissolve. Solutions will be clear and slightly viscous. Note: Vigorous shaking will speed up dissolving time.
  5. Under aseptic conditions and using a syringe with the exact amount of liquid, add 2.5 mL of DG Water™ to the Extralink™ vial. Invert several times to dissolve.
  6. As soon as possible, but within four hours of making the solutions, mix equal volumes of Heprasil™ and Gelin-S™. To mix, pipette back and forth or invert the vial.
  7. If adding growth factors, add the appropriate amount of sterile growth factor to the Heprasil™ + Gelin-S™ mix. Pipette to mix.
  8. If encapsulating cells, add 1.0 mL of cells to 10.0 mL of Heprasil™ + Gelin-S™. Pipette back and forth to mix.
  9. To form the hydrogel, add Extralink™ to the Heprasil™ + Gelin-S™ mix in a 1:4 volume ratio (2.5 mL Extralink™ to 10.0 mL Heprasil™ + Gelin-S™). The total hydrogel volume with cells is 13.5 mL.
  10. Gelation will occur within ~20 minutes. Note: Each kit component has been tested and shows no evidence of bacteria growth.