Our support pages cover product specific information, technical protocols and detailed examples. For application notes, publications, and other scientific content go to our Resource Center.
Support
Product support
Select the product you are working with from product support. From product specific section you will find instructions for use, MSDS, videos of handling, dilution calculator, FAQs and troubleshooting.
GrowDex hydrogels – technical protocols
GrowDex hydrogels technical protocols cover the handling and pipetting of hydrogels, passaging cells, downstream analysis, staining protocols, dispensing with automated liquid dispensers etc.
Need help setting up your assay or got questions about GrowDex hydrogels, GrowDase, GrowInks, or FibDex?
Nanocellulose Key Material Properties
Make sure to understand these three key properties before heading to the lab.
GrowDex hydrogels and GrowInk bioinks are made of birch and water
GrowDex hydrogels and GrowInk bioinks are produced from birch trees that are first processed into cellulose and further refined into nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC). Our products are manufactured in Lappeenranta, Finland.
1. Ready-to-use & shear-thinning
UPM Biomedicals products are based on plant-based nanocellulose The products are delivered in hydrogel form, they are ready-to-use and do not require gel preparation steps. As a shear-thinning material, nanocellulose hydrogel can be dispensed and pipetted in room temperature. Hydrogel viscosity decreases under shear strain and it recovers back to its semisolid state when the applied stress is removed.
2. Animal-free and reproducible
GrowDex hydrogels* and GrowInk bioinks are animal-free materials consisting of only nanocellulose and water to provide a clean and well-defined 3D matrix. Work with reproducible assays without having foreign DNA, RNA and proteins interfering with readouts or introducing unintended cell behaviour.
*excludes GrowDex-A after addition of biotinylated ligands
GrowDex hydrogels work as a blank canvas when it comes to tuning the cell culturing conditions. Nanocellulose fibers and water do not provide nutrients or growth factors to cells. Cell culture conditions can be defined by using culture media with selected nutrients, growth factors and other necessary components. This allows the user to retain full control over the culturing parameters and resulting in reproducible 3D cell assays.
3. Temperature stable
GrowDex hydrogels* and GrowInks can be stored and handled in room temperature. Handling of the material does not require working on ice. Nanocellulose hydrogels remain as semi-solid at all times and are not dependent on temperature. Hydrogels do not solidify once placing them to +37 °C incubator.
*GrowDex-A should be stored in +4 °C due to avidin component.
How to transfer to 3D cell culture with GrowDex
How to transfer from 2D to 3D?
Why should you transfer your 2D monolayer cultures to 3D and what to take in consideration?
How to transfer from animal-derived matrices to animal-free?
Despite their wide usage, animal derived matrices, such as collagen, gelatin and basement membrane extracts, are notoriously difficult to use. Download our free guide to learn how to transfer to animal-free matrix.
3D cell culture - meet the experts
Welcome to meet our experts in our new 3D cell culture webinar series. 30 min lectures including topics around setting up reproducible 3D assays, drug screening with 3D models, high content imaging of 3D culture and cell specific models.
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