Matrices, Scaffolds & Hydrogels
Increase the accuracy of in vitro models with realistic culture microenvironments
Metatissue uses ethically sourced human proteins, from blood & placentas, to produce biomaterials (hydrogels, sponges & bioinks) with mechanically tunable properties.
Use these biomaterials to create next-generation xeno-free biomimetic 3D cell culture platforms, personalised to experimental needs & without animal-derived supplements.
✨ Batch-to-batch variability remains a major challenge for Matrigel, often affecting experimental consistency. A recent study demonstrates that hPLMA maintains reproducible cell performance across different batches, supporting sustained hASC viability, proliferation and metabolic activity while promoting a more homogeneous cell distribution.
These findings highlight the potential of hPLMA as a reliable human-derived alternative for robust and reproducible 3D cell culture. Read the full paper. ✨
Maintain the in vivo morphology of your cells & improve research relevance
Gelatex manufactures Gelacell™, a non-woven, highly porous nanofiber-based scaffold for in vitro 3D cell culture, tissue engineering & organoid scaffolds.
Gelacell™ is produced using halospinning technology – the fastest and most cost-effective solution-spinning process – and offers exceptional biocompatibility and non-toxicity across a variety of cell types.
Simulates the microenvironment of human tissue using synthetic biological materials
Leadgene® ScaffoldForm 3D Culturing Gel is a 3D cell culture hydrogel system that enhances cell growth and viability, providing you with more reliable and reproducible results.
It is stable, adjustable, easy to operate, and has high biological compatibility, which can be applied in 3D cell & organoid culture, tumour formation, tumour angiogenesis and invasion studies.
Media (inc. specialised formulations)
Pioneering chemically-defined, animal-free tissue culture to empower stem cell research, regenerative medicine and advanced cell-based applications
CELLnTEC‘s product highlights for organoid culture include:
CnT-NX-E – The next-generation successor to CELLnTEC’s market-leading precision media, CnT-07 and CnT-PR, designed for the isolation and expansion of epithelial cells from skin, Eye, gingiva, mammary, and bladder tissue. CnT-NX-E offers markedly improved expansion rates, robustness, and versatility across primary cells, iPSC-derived cells, and cell lines. For differentiation experiments, switching to CnT-PR-D or CnT-PR-3D differentiation media is recommended.
CnT-PR-AD – A chemically defined formulated medium designed for the differentiation of large airway epithelial cells in 2D or 3D culture. CnT-PR-AD is completely free of animal- or human-derived components and does not contain phenol red or antibiotics/antimycotics. It is used for differentiating airway epithelial cells that have been expanded in CnT-PR-A or CnT-17 media.
Enable long-term organoid culture
Wnt3a is a common growth factor for organoid cultures, but this lipid-soluble protein tends to aggregate over time in serum-free media, leading to a loss of activity. Mihara et al. found that Afamin, a component of serum, forms a complex with Wnt3a to maintain Wnt3a’s high activity. The use of an Afamin-Wnt3a complex enables the long-term culture of organoids.
Utilising this knowledge, MBL has developed an Afamin/Wnt3a Conditioned Media to be added to the culture media of intestinal organoids! Also available is a high-concentration version, for higher density, higher activity and reduced costs in organoid culture.
Media & supplements for the culture of Stem Cells
Choosing the right products for your experiments is crucial to ensuring your cells grow well and maintain activity. With Caltag, gain access to high-quality culture media and supplements from a range of suppliers to ensure you can find the right formulation for your stem cells’ needs.
Biological Samples
The building blocks of organoids
Stem Cells derived from the adipose, hepatic, nervous, oral, placental, pulmonary, skeletal, skeletal muscle and umbilical cell systems.
Progenitor Cells derived from the dermal, hepatic, nervous, ocular, oral and urinary systems.
Epithelial Cells derived from the auditory, dermal, endocrine, gastrointestinal, hepatic, lymphatic, mammary, nervous, ocular, oral, placental, pulmonary, reproductive and urinary cell systems.
✨ Use our Primary Cell Finder Tool to browse all the cell types available! ✨
iPSCs & hPSCs including astrocytes, neural stem cells, neurons, endothelial cells and more.
The one-stop hepatic in vitro model
HepaRG® from Biopredic International is a reliable, robust, and well-published human hepatic stem cell line with unique abilities to fully differentiate into mature and functional hepatocytes.
- HepaRG® cells are metabolically competent, express the main hepato-biliary transporters and develop bile canaliculi under 2D and 3D configurations.
- HepaRG® cells conserve full expression of hepatic functions up to 4 weeks, making them suitable for long-term exposure.
- Sustainability ensured by a well-established HepaRG® bank providing cells at affordable prices.
Growth Factors
Recreate the biochemical environment of natural tissues
Growth factors are essential components of organoid cultures that recreate the niche signals of the in vivo environment, for example:
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs) promote cell proliferation and survival, supporting the formation and maintenance of organoid structures.
Wnt3a and R-spondin drive the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway for the maintenance, self-renewal, and expansion of adult tissue stem cells in 3D culture.
Activin A and BMP-4 are used to induce differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into definitive endoderm, mimicking in vivo embryonic development.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) stimulates the formation of blood vessel networks to ensure sufficient oxygen supply and nutrient diffusion for long-term organoid viability.
✨Animal-free growth factors eliminate batch-to-batch variability and contamination risks inherent in animal-derived products, ensuring highly reproducible and chemically defined experimental results.
- ORF Genetics is a global leader in the production of bioactive, animal-free recombinant Growth Factors and Cytokines, leveraging their proprietary production technology using barley plants to build the premium ISOkine product range.
- AdipoGen Life Sciences develops their InVivoKineTM recombinant proteins using the mammalian cell lines CHO and HEK 293 in serum-free (animal-component-free) media conditions.
- ProSci produces a range of recombinant proteins, including growth factors, using E.coli expression systems and animal-component-free media. ✨
Small Compounds
Regulate specific signalling pathways
Precisely controlling signalling pathways using inhibitors and agonists enables researchers to drive stem cell differentiation, maintain 3D structures, and model drug responses or disease mechanisms in organoids. TargetMol has a vast catalogue of inhibitors and agonists, including compounds used in stem cell & organoid culture.
Caltag is the distributor of these products in the UK and Ireland. If you have any questions about these products, please contact us.