StemBeads are a revolutionary controlled-release growth factor technology. The StemBeads product is currently used for improved cell culture in more than 100 scientific laboratories globally.
Scientists at the Neural Stem Cell Institute discovered that short growth factor half-lives were the reason for spontaneous differentiation in human pluripotent stem cell cultures. The short half-life causes variability in growth factor levels, a need for daily feeding, and low-quality cell growth.
To solve these problems, we developed a way to control the release of proteins with biocompatible StemBeads.
StemBeads technology encapsulates a growth factor in a PLGA hydrogel that stabilizes the protein and releases it steadily over several days. With growth factor levels stabilized, spontaneous differentiation is reduced, pluripotency is increased, and feeding schedules are reduced to only 2-3 times per week.
StemBeads are added to your medium to achieve a desired growth factor release, sustained over several days. Following, the beads are washed from the culture, the medium is replaced, and the process repeated as required.
StemCultures currently offers StemBeads for 5 different growth factors (FGF2, EGF, GDNF, BDNF, and Activin A). The most common applications of our products are for human pluripotent stem cell cultures, but any cell line dependent on these growth factors will benefit from StemBeads. We also produce custom beads to fit your specific needs.
Click the appropriate below to explore products.
Stem cells are unique in that they, like humans, possess the ability to choose. They can choose to maintain themselves or differentiate into another cell type in vivo. Stem cells exist in a highly organized niche where secreted factors are maintained at constant levels to ensure stem cells are kept in an undifferentiated state. One critical factor is fibroblast growth factor or FGF2, which eliminates the decision for stem cells when FGF2 is not present or present in low amounts.
Stem cells start differentiating into other cell types in a process called spontaneous differentiation in cell cultures. Scientists try to mimic the in vivo environment by adding soluble FGF2. For pluripotent stem cells this means changing the media every day, including weekends, to ensure adequate FGF2 levels. However, in a recent study it was shown that adding FGF to every day might not be enough.
When FGF2 levels were measured 12 hours after addition to culture no more FGF2 was left. When this is graphed over the course of one week, FGF2 levels looked like a roller coaster ride starting high, going low, then spiking back up before rapidly decaying again. This showed that the current standard stem cell culture techniques using fgf2 were far from optimal.
Our groundbreaking product StemBeads FGF2 provides a sustained release of FGF2 as a result researchers grow stem cells with less differentiation and don’t have to change their culture media every day. What does this mean? You save time – no more having to change your culture media every day, allowing you more time in the lab to focus on what is important: your research. You save money, too. By not changing your media every day, you will reduce your culture media consumption.
Culture media costs as much as 30%, so your precious research dollars will go further. You have the best cells. It’s simple. If you can stabilize the growth environment of stem cells, they will grow and behave much better. That is what stem needs access to – and better cells are the result.
Don’t change your protocol. This is not another media. All you have to do is add stem beads to your cell culture media of choice. Join the growing number of scientists enjoying these benefits. Give it a try and order StemBeads FGF2 today.
