A brief overview of the basic instructions on how to use our products.
Remove your StemCultures product from its storage in a 4 °C fridge. Prepare your culture wells with your medium of choice.
Add the StemCultures product to the culture well at the product's recommended concentration.
Culture your cells but reduce the number of medium changes to 2 or 3 times per week. Note: StemBeads® are washed and re-added into the medium during each medium change. A DISC™ can remain in the well during media changes and replaced every week or when you passage cells.
Repeat the process as needed for your culture. StemCultures products control the release of growth factors to make culturing cells easier, with fewer medium changes and higher quality outcomes.
No, all StemCultures products supplement your media of choice. Your media will not change, but your feeding schedule will be reduced.
If you are using StemBeads®: The protein concentration can be adjusted based on the number of StemBeads® added. The release rate has a linear correlation with the amount of StemBeads®. For example, 8 µL of StemBeads® per mL of media releases at a concentration of 10 ng/ml while half the amount, 4 µL of StemBeads® per mL, releases at a concentration of 5 ng/mL.
If you are using DISC™ Devices: The protein concentration can be adjusted based on the number of DISCs™ added and the medium volume. For example, placing one FGF2 DISC™ into 2 mL of media will release FGF2 at 10 ng/mL. Adding an FGF2 DISC™ to 4 mL of medium will half the release to 5 ng/mL. Similarly, adding 2 FGF2 DISCs™ to 2 mL of medium will double the release to 20 ng/mL.
If you are using StemBeads®: Cells with StemBeads® have been used in downstream applications, including immunofluorescence, FACS, RNA/DNA extraction, nucleofection, differentiation, etc. without negative effects. If necessary StemBeads® can be removed prior to analysis by .
If you are using DISC™ Devices: Cells cultured with DISC™ have been used in a variety of downstream applications, including FACS, RNA/DNA extraction, nucleofection, differentiation, organoid generation, and others with no negative effects. If necessary for differentiation protocols, DISCs™ can be cleanly removed using a low powered vacuum tip.
Cultures should be monitored, and additional medium changes performed as needed, particularly for high density cultures that may require more frequent medium changes i.e. 3x rather than 2x a week. Additional buffers, such as sodium bicarbonate or HEPES, are rarely needed to maintain pH levels in very dense and metabolically active cultures.
DISCs are hydrogels and readily absorb moisture, which can cause them to stick and become more difficult to handle. We recommend storing DISCs™ at 4 °C in a moisture free environment. If DISCs do absorb moisture, e.g. if they were left out on a humid day, they should be re-dried by placing the packaging with the lid ajar for 15-30 minutes in a cell culture hood with the blower on.
