Products include a full range of basement membrane extracts (BME) and purified extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including Laminin I, Collagen I, Collagen IV, and Vitronectin. Select Cultrex BME and ECM products undergo additional qualification for use in 3-D cultures, stem cell cultures, and cell invasion assays.
Cultrex BME Cultrex ECM Proteins
MUC2 (magenta) Expression in Human Intestinal Organoids Grown Using Cultrex UltiMatrix RGF BME. Video obtained by LifeCanvas Technologies.
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Cultrex: Your Extracellular Matrix Solution
Cultrex BMEs are a mixture of specialized protein extract purified from the Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) murine tumor. These extracts provide a natural extracellular matrix hydrogel that polymerizes at 37 °C to form a reconstituted basement membrane that is used to promote and maintain a differentiated phenotype of cell cultures such as epithelial cells, endothelial cells, glandular cells, neurons, and smooth muscle cells. BME can also be utilized in cell attachment, neurite outgrowth, angiogenesis, in vitro cell invasion and in vivo tumorigenicity assays.
Product Features
- Rapid - gels within 30 minutes at 37 °C.
- Reliable - maintains gelled form in culture medium for 14 days.
- Sterile - screened for bacteria, fungi, and mycoplasma.
- Specific - available with reduced growth factor content, with or without Phenol Red
Our most advanced extracellular matrix, Cultrex UltiMatrix RGF BME, is specially formulated with higher extracellular protein content, consistency, and clarity for optimal organoid, spheroid, and pluripotent stem cell culture.
Cultrex Basement Membrane Extracts
Cultrex BME Matrices for 2-D and 3-D culture are offered in multiple formats to support application-specific needs. Cultrex Reduced Growth Factor (RGF) BME, which is processed to reduce matrix-associated growth factors, is ideal for research that requires a more defined model system. Cultrex UltiMatrix, as our most advanced matrix, is recommended for all below applications since its enhanced composition and consistency can benefit many types of cultures.
For additional guidance on matrix selection and protocols for use, including handling tips, see the Cultrex ECM Selection and Use Guide.
| Name | Application | Description | RGF Version Available? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cultrex UltiMatrix RGF BME | Organoids and Stem Cells | Soluble form of basement membrane that provides high tensile strength, enhanced levels of entactin/nidogen, elevated protein concentration, and robust clarity and purity. | Yes | This matrix contains compositional enhancements and performance benefits for organoid and stem cell culture |
| Cultrex RGF BME, Type 2 Select | Organoid | Specifically qualified to support the establishment and expansion of robust organoid cultures. It's composition mimics the in vivo microenvironment to improve take rate and growth of organoids. | Yes | Robust and established organoid systems |
| Cultrex Stem Cell Qualified BME | Stem Cells | Provides an effective feeder-free surface for the attachment and maintenance of stem cells in an undifferentiated state, enabling growth promotion or study of stem cell differentiation. | Yes | Attachment and maintenance of stem human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells |
| Cultrex ReadyBME, Stem Cell Qualified | Stem Cells | Pre-diluted, pre-qualified ready-to-use basement membrane extract for feeder-free pluripotent stem cell maintenance and differentiation. | Yes | Improves experiment consistency and success by minimizing user handling and coating matrix dilution variability |
| Cultrex 3-D Culture Matrix BME* | 3-D Tissue Spheroids | BME used for modeling the morphological effects of early oncogenesis on 3-D microenvironments, wherein healthy, differentiating cells exhibit a structured, polarized morphology that is critical for tissue formation and function. Specifically produced for and qualified in 3-D culture studies. | Yes | 3-D cell cultures |
| Cultrex Organoid Qualified BME, Type 2* | Organoid | A Reduced Growth Factor BME that has been developed and qualified specifically for robust organoid cultures. | Yes* | Robust organoid cultures |
| Cultrex Organoid Qualified BME, Type R1 | Organoid | A Reduced Growth Factor BME that has been developed and qualified specifically for difficult organoid cultures. | Yes | Difficult to culture organoids |
| Cultrex BME, Type 3* | Cancer/Tumorspheres | BME Type 3 helps cells to adapt to in vivo transplantation. Mimicking the in vivo microenvironment, including low glucose and low pH, to improve take rate and growth of implanted cells for xenograft and tumorgraft models. | No | Xenograft/Tumorgrafts |
| Cultrex BME* | General | Consists of laminin I, type IV collagen, entactin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan. | Yes | General use including 2-D cultures, 3-D cultures, cell attachment and cell invasion |
*product available with or without Phenol Red
Cultrex ECM Proteins Portfolio
Cultrex ECM Proteins provide a defined substrate for cell adhesion in culture. Many proteins of the ECM interact with cells via cell surface integrin family receptors. The resulting focal contacts are important for the maintenance of tissue architecture and for supporting a variety of cellular processes. ECM molecule/integrin binding may initiate a complex network of signal transduction cascades that, depending on the context, play an important role in cell spreading, migration, proliferation, and differentiation during embryogenesis, wound healing, and tumor development. To accommodate a variety of different models, we have developed a full range of ECM component proteins including Laminin I, Collagen I, Collagen IV, and Vitronectin. These include purified proteins that have been qualified for 3-D or stem cell cultures.
Cell Matrices Best Practices
| Name | Description | Catalog # |
|---|---|---|
| Mouse Laminin I | A purified basement membrane protein that has been developed, produced and qualified specifically for cell culture studies where the presence of pathogens may cause concern. | View All |
| Mouse Collagen IV | Used for coating of tissue culture surfaces to promote cell attachment and proliferation and to study its effects on cell behavior. | View All |
| Rat Collagen I | Major structural component of extracellular matrices found in connective tissue and internal organs, used to promote cell attachment, growth, differentiation, migration, and tissue morphogenesis during development. The 5 mg/ml concentration is very viscous for researchers wanting a thicker Collagen. | View All |
| Rat Collagen I, Lower Viscosity | Diluted to a lower concentration (3 mg/ml); it is less viscous and easier to handle. A major structural component of extracellular matrices found in connective tissue and internal organs, but is most prevalent in dermis, tendons, and bone. It promotes cell attachment, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and tissue morphogenesis. | View All |
| Vitronectin | Vitronectin is a large glycoprotein found in blood and the ECM. Vitronectin contains multiple binding sites for a variety of structures. | View All |
| 3-D Culture Extract Laminin I | 3-D Culture Matrix™ Mouse Laminin I may be used as a gel on which to grow cells, as a media additive alone or in concert with other basement membrane components, or to study cellular growth and differentiation in three dimensions in vitro. | View All |
| 3-D Culture Extract Rat Collagen I | The 3-D Culture Matrix™ Collagen I may be used as a gel on which to grow cells or a media additive alone or in concert with other basement membrane components to study cellular growth and differentiation in three dimensions in vitro. | View All |
- Completely animal-free
- All-in-one formulation
- Stable cell integrity over long term culture