As the technology of stem cell therapy and organoid-based drug development advances, matrix gel, as a nutrient and support carrier for stem cell culture and organoid, 3D cell culture, plays a crucial role, with other applications including angiogenesis, in vivo tumor formation experiments, etc. Matrix gel is a soluble basement membrane preparation extracted from EHS mouse sarcoma rich in extracellular matrix proteins. Its main components include laminin, type IV collagen, nidogen, etc., as well as various growth factors such as TGF-β, EGF, IGF, FGF, etc. At room temperature, matrix gel polymerizes to form a biologically active three-dimensional matrix, mimicking the structure, composition, physical properties, and functions of the in vivo cell basement membrane, facilitating the culture and differentiation of cells in vitro.

Arcegel, developed and manufactured by Arcegen Biotechnology, is a matrix gel that is free of LDEV (lactate dehydrogenase elevated virus), with an ultra-low endotoxin content, and has undergone thorough testing to ensure no mycoplasma contamination, including various types such as basic concentration, high concentration, and low growth factor.

 

Application Directions

 

Product Features

 High safety: Free of LDEV (lactate dehydrogenase elevated virus)

 Concentration versatility: Concentration range between 8~20 mg/ml

 Good batch stability: Strict production quality control processes ensure stable performance between batches

 Low endotoxin: Endotoxin content ≤4 EU/ml

 Contaminant testing: Tested free of mycoplasma, bacteria, and fungal residues

 High batch yield: Batch yield is above the liter level

 Good compatibility: Compatible with any type of cell culture medium

 

Application Validation

Migration and invasion assays

Diluted Arcegel matrix gel is added to the upper chamber of a Transwell, cells are seeded on top, and then incubated at 37°C with 5% CO₂ for 24 hours. After fixation in 4% paraformaldehyde, cells are stained with 0.1% crystal violet dye, observed, and counted under an inverted phase-contrast microscope.

Figure 1. Results of Crystal Violet Staining after Cell Invasion

 

3D Cell Culture

Arcegel matrix gel was gently mixed with a pre-adjusted concentration of single-cell HepG2 suspension at a 1:1 ratio. Using a pre-chilled pipette tip, 50μl of the above mixed single-cell suspension was added to a pre-chilled 24-well plate to form a dome-shaped cell droplet. The plate was then placed in a 37°C, 5% CO₂ cell culture incubator, and observations along with photographic documentation were performed daily.

Figure 2. 3D Cell Culture Results

Table 1: Reference for the Use of 3D Cell Culture Matrix Gel

Culture Plate (Dish) Type	Cell Culture Area (cm2)	Recommended Volume
6-well plate	9.6	200 μL/cm2
12-well plate	4.5	180 μL/cm2
24-well plate	2	180 μL/cm2
96-well plate	0.32	160 μL/cm2
35mm culture dish	11.78	200 μL/cm2
100mm culture dish	58.95	200 μL/cm2

Note: There may be some concentration variation in the matrix gel across different batches; the recommended usage is for reference only.

 

Organoid Culture

 

Figure 3: Organoid Operating Procedure

 

FAQ

01. What is the reason for the color change (from light yellow to deep red) observed in the matrix?

For matrix gel containing phenol red, the primary reason for the color change is the reaction between phenol red and bicarbonate with CO₂. However, the color difference will decrease once equilibrated with 5% CO₂. After thawing, gently shaking the reagent bottle will ensure uniform dispersion of the matrix gel.

02. What should be considered when handling the matrix gel?

All procedures must be conducted under aseptic conditions, and pre-chilled pipettes should be used to ensure the matrix gel is in a homogeneous state.

03. How should the matrix gel be aliquoted, frozen, and used?

After thawing, Arcegel Matrix LDEV-Free matrix gel can be aliquoted into multiple tubes using pre-chilled cryovials. All aliquoting should be done using pre-chilled cryovials, quickly frozen, and stored to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. All items involved in the procedure should be pre-chilled, including pre-chilled pipettes, tips, and tubes used for handling the matrix gel.

 

Related Products

Product Type	Product Name	Catalog Number	Specification
Basic Concentration	Arcegel Matrix LDEV-Free	C231001	5/10 mL
	Arcegel Matrix Phenol Red-Free, LDEV-Free	C231002	5/10 mL
Low Growth Factor	Arcegel Matrix GFR, LDEV-Free Matrigel	C231003	5/10 mL
	Arcegel Matrix GFR, Phenol Red-Free, LDEV-Free	C231004	5/10 mL
High Concentration	Arcegel Matrix High Concentration, LDEV-Free	C231005	5/10 mL
	Arcegel Matrix High Concentration, Phenol Red-Free, LDEV-Free	C231006	5/10 mL
	Arcegel Matrix High Concentration, GFR, LDEV-Free	C231007	5/10 mL
Stem Cell Specialized	Arcegel Matrix hESC-Qualified, LDEV-Free	C231008	5/10 mL
Organoid Specialized	Arcegel Matrix for Organoid culture, Phenol Red-Free, LDEV-Free	C231009	5/10 mL