Overview
Cells can be cultured using CytoSoft® products on PDMS substrates with a range of rigidities that cover a wide physiological range, including 0.2, 0.5, 2, 8, 16, 32, and 64 kPa. Ten standard T-25 flasks filled with substrates of a specified stiffness are included with this CytoSoft® product.
The bottom of a typical T-25 Flask has a defined elastic modulus for this CytoSoft® T-25 Flask product. Each flask contains a uniform layer of silicone gel that is about 0.5-mm thick and completely compatible with mammalian cell cultures.
Prior to the addition of cells, the silicone gels are activated and prepared to bind to a purified ECM, such as PureCol® type I collagen (#5005). Each package of the plates contains 10 flasks and is sterilized.
Image Credit: Advanced BioMatrix
Features
- Cell morphology and gene expression can be significantly influenced by how rigid the substrate is to which cells adhere
- A tool for cell culture on substrates with different rigidities that cover a wide physiological range is offered by CytoSoft® products
- Each flask has a thin layer of specially formulated biocompatible silicone on the bottom that has been measured and certified for its elastic modulus (rigidity)
- In CytoSoft® products, the gel surfaces are functionalized to create covalent bonds with protein amines
- The coating of the gel surfaces with matrix proteins and the plating of cells are made easier by the chemical functionalization’s stability and the lack of a catalyst needed for the reaction
Applications
- The silicone substrates used in CytoSoft® products have a low level of auto-florescence and are optically clear
- Each flask has a layer of silicone that is tightly adhered to the base
- Contrary to hydrogels (like polyacrylamide gels), which are prone to hydrolysis, silicone gels are resilient and resistant to tearing or cracking, and their elastic moduli (rigidities) remain almost unchanged over time
- They also do not dry out or swell
- Products made by CytoSoft® allow for cell harvesting using collagenase and trypsin
- The substrate is not biochemically broken down while being treated with enzymes or afterward, and the sample taken from a CytoSoft® plate contains no traces of the substrate
Source: Advanced BioMatrix
| Parameter, Testing, and Method |
CytoSoft® T-25 Flasks |
| Sterilization Method |
Ozone |
| Plate Size |
T-25 |
| Quantity per Package |
10 Flasks |
| Rigidty (Elastic Modulus) |
0.2, 0.5, 2, 8, 16, 32, 64 kPa (exact values provided on the CofA) |
| Storage Temperature |
Room Temperature |
| Shelf Life |
Minimum of 6 months from date of receipt |
| Plate Surface Material |
Functionalized Silicone |
| Growth Area per Well |
25 cm2 |
| Cell Attachment Assay |
Pass |