Type I collagen, rat tail

 A high quality rat tail collagen hydrogel for cell culture applications (for example, 3D gels, scaffolds and coatings)

• Provides in vivo type extracellular matrix (ECM) structures
• Non-pepsinized native collagen for modeling biological ECM in gel matrices
• Rapid gelation facilitates optimal cell distribution in 3D gels

Applications:

• 3D cell culture in vivo matrices
• Imaging living cells in a 3D environment
• Creation of a 3D scaffold for organoids and spheroids
• Chemotaxis assays in 3D collagen gels using the µ-Slide Chemotaxis
• Cell migration assays of suspended cells (for example, leukocytes)
• Coating of cell culture vessels with a thin layer of collagen to promote cell attachment
• Cell differentiation studies in a 2D versus 3D environment
• Ideal for fluorescence microscopy due to low autofluorescence

Technical specifications:

• High quality purified protein from rat tendons
• Highly standardized manufacturing process with rigorous quality control
• Gentle manufacturing process for the highest levels of nativity
• Detailed protocol provided for easy handling
• Shipment in cool packs and storage at -20°C for defined quality and reproducibility
• Available in 2 concentrations: 5 mg/ml for standard applications and a highly concentrated 10 mg/ml solution for special applications
• The highest level of natural cross-linking on the market (highest quality level)
• High viscosity: special pipettes for highly viscous solutions are recommended
• Low autofluorescence

Use of collagen as an in vivo matrix for 3D cell culture

Collagen is the main component of connective tissue and is abundant in the body of mammals. It is widely used in 3D cell culture to model the  biological extracellular matrix, or as a coating to  promote cell attachment. Many cells develop naturally in a three-dimensional environment. When grown in vitro, the cells are attached to a flat 2D surface and can behave differently than when they are inside a matrix of 3D gel In many cases, a 3D environment is more like an  in vivo situation, which must be taken into  account when planning cell culture trials.