Cultrex 3-D Culture Matrix Rat Collagen I

Within the organoid, spheroid, or 3-D culture, cells may be assessed for morphology, apical/basal polarity, protein localization, and relative proliferation. In addition, cells may be isolated from the 3-D culture and evaluated for levels of RNA and protein expression, as well as modifications to DNA.

Cultrex 3-D Rat Collagen I undergoes the same basic purification and efficacy tests as the standard collagen. However, it undergoes additional 3-D culture validation; it has been tested extensively for the ability to promote growth and differentiation of cell types, visualized by morphology in three dimensions in vitro.

3-D cultures are in vitro cultures where immortalized cell lines, primary cell lines, stem cells, or tissue explants are placed within hydrogel matrices, such as Cultrex Basement Membrane Extract, that mimic in vivo cell environments and allow cells to proliferate in three dimensions.

While 2-D culture has been used for studying many aspects of cell function and behavior, the tissue-culture treated plastic environment is unlike anything found within living organisms. As a result, cells in 2-D culture exhibit altered morphology, function, proliferation, and gene expression when compared to their emanating tissues. By placing these cells in a 3-D environment, they assume biological and biochemical characteristics similar to what is observed in vivo.

The major variables associated with 3-D culture are cell type, cell seeding density, composition of hydrogel, thickness of hydrogel, stiffness of hydrogel, composition of cell culture medium, and time of culture.

The two principal methods for performing 3-D culture are the top assay and embedded assay. For the top assay, cells are seeded on a thick gel of Cultrex Basement Membrane Extract (BME) or Extracellular Matrix Protein. A thin overlay of cell culture medium is then applied to the cells. For the embedded assay, cells are resuspended within a thick gel of Cultrex BME or ECM and the culture media is applied on top. The top assay is easier to setup, to control seeding densities, and to keep cells within one focal plane for analysis.

Cells need to be healthy and actively dividing in 2-D culture. Cells should be passaged two or three times after resuspension from cryopreservation, and they should never surpass 80% confluency during each passage. Cells should also be assessed for viability using trypan blue, and they should exhibit less than 5% staining.

This product will likely not form a gel after being frozen.

Cultrex 3-D Culture Matrix Rat Collagen I (Catalog # 3447-020-01) is telocollagen.

The Organoid Harvesting Solution works well with BME (Basement Membrane Extract).  For cells grown on Cultrex Rat Collagen 1, the recommended enzyme to use to dissociate cells is Collagenase. Collagenase treatment at 37^oC for 30 minutes is recommended.

We recommend storing the product at 2-8 °C, and provided it has not been neutralized with NaOH or Sodium Bicarbonate, it should remain stable and perform as expected as long as it is used prior to the expiration date.