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Animal-free and ready-to-use hydrogels for 3D cell culture

We offer a range of products for scalable animal-free 3D cell culture applications, providing convenience and consistent results. GrowDex® hydrogels are natural nanofibers of cellulose extracted from wood and sourced from sustainable and responsibly managed forests. Supplied as ready-to-use, prepacked syringes, GrowDex mimics the extracellular matrix and supports cell growth and differentiation. These animal-free matrices are a proven solution for automation and high throughput screening. They can be used for 3D cell culture for spheroids and organoids, in personalised medicine, regenerative medicine, organ-on-a-chip models, drug release studies and more.

Cells can be recovered from GrowDex for downstream processing, with a one-step enzymatic process using our GrowDase™.

Benefits of GrowDex hydrogels:
  • Animal-free: No animal biomolecules interfering with readouts.
  • Reproducible: Comprising nanofibrillar cellulose and purified water only, GrowDex hydrogels are manufactured to the highest standards with strict quality control criteria to ensure lot-to-lot reproducibility.
  • Reliable: Robust and sustained performance regardless of the production lot ordered.
  • Stable: Used and stored at room temperature, GrowDex hydrogels can be used in liquid handling systems.
  • Ready-to-use: Simplified protocol in which GrowDex hydrogels are mixed with media and cells.
  • Tunable: Optimal gel stiffness is achieved by dilution with cell culture media. Matrix composition can be optimized easily by supplementing cell culture media with specific biomolecules such as growth factors.
  • Compatible with high-content screening systems: No auto-fluorescence and transparency.
  • Compatible with liquid handling workstations: The unique shear-thinning properties of GrowDex enable automated dispensing (such as with JANUS® G3 workstation) for high-throughput applications.
Why choose animal-free hydrogels for cell culture?

Despite being widely used, animal derived matrices are often poorly defined, contain contaminating molecules (RNA/DNA), suffer from lot-to-lot variability, and can be difficult to use. With animal free hydrogels, like GrowDex, you can benefit from:

  • Reproducible assays with no lot-to-lot variation
  • Temperature stability allowing room temperature handling
  • Defined composition without unknown protein composition
     


For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

GrowDex Hydrogels
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GrowDex

The original animal-free 3D hydrogel for cell culture, used in a wide range of cell-based assays. It has been validated on various cell models and applications.

The original animal-free 3D hydrogel for cell culture, used in a wide range of cell-based assays. It has been validated on various cell models and applications.

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GrowDex-T

  • Transparent hydrogel that has been specifically developed to offer superior imaging properties, without compromising any of the advantages of the original GrowDex hydrogel for 3D cell culture.
  • Ideal for use in brightfield, phase contrast and confocal microscopy applications as well as high content imaging.
  • Transparent hydrogel that has been specifically developed to offer superior imaging properties, without compromising any of the advantages of the original GrowDex hydrogel for 3D cell culture.
  • Ideal for use in brightfield, phase contrast and confocal microscopy applications as well as high content imaging.
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GrowDex-A

  • Customizable transparent hydrogel, modified by the addition of an avidin group, that can be used to bind different biotinylated molecules.
  • Prescence of biotinylated molecules may enhance cell culture conditions for specific 3D applications.
  • Customizable transparent hydrogel, modified by the addition of an avidin group, that can be used to bind different biotinylated molecules.
  • Prescence of biotinylated molecules may enhance cell culture conditions for specific 3D applications.
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GrowDase

Cellulase enzyme that breaks down GrowDex hydrogel to form a solution in an easy one-step efficient cell recovery process, with no impact on cell viability or functionality.

Cellulase enzyme that breaks down GrowDex hydrogel to form a solution in an easy one-step efficient cell recovery process, with no impact on cell viability or functionality.

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GrowDase Cellulase enzyme

GrowDase™ enzyme breaks down GrowDex® hydrogel to form a solution in an easy one- step efficient cell recovery process. 3D cell structures such as spheroids, organoid or biopsies are retained with no impact on cell viability or functionality. Liberated cells can be used in gene or protein expression studies or for future experiments.

Part Number: 900102001, 900102002
USD 145.96 - 192.11
GrowDex-T Hydrogel - 2.5 ml

GrowDex®-T is an animal-free ready to use hydrogel that has been specifically developed to offer superior imaging properties, but without compromising on any of the advantages of the original hydrogel GrowDex. GrowDex-T can be mixed directly with cells and culture media, no gelation or cross-linking step required. Ambient handling and shear thinning properties of GrowDex-T enable easy dispensing and use in automated systems.

Part Number: 200103002, 200103005, 200103010
USD 207.13 - 543.07
GrowDex Hydrogel - 2.5 ml

GrowDex® is an animal-free hydrogel that enables complete control over the culture environment for cells.

GrowDex can be used in a wide range of cell-based assays such as microscopic imaging or metabolic activity measurement. GrowDex has been validated on various cell models and applications including primary hepatocytes, patient derived cells, 3D organoid formation, hepatocyte toxicity, stem cell proliferation and differentiation, tumour cell migration and invasion, neurite outgrowth and network formation.

Part Number: 100103002, 100103005, 100103010
USD 166.35 - 400.32
GrowDex-A Hydrogel - 2.5 ml

GrowDex®-A is a ready to use, transparent hydrogel that has been specifically developed to bind different biotinylated molecules, whose presence may enhance cell culture conditions for specific 3D applications. GrowDex-A consists of avidin conjugated nanofibrillar cellulose which can be customized by binding different biotinylated molecules e.g. proteins or peptides, to create a cell specific matrix.  Ambient handling and shear thinning properties of GrowDex-A enable easy dispensing and use in automated systems.

Part Number: 300103002, 300103005, 300103010
USD 233.97 - 606.39
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Brochure
Brochure
3D cell culture workflow solutions

More than ever, researchers are turning to 3D cell cultures, microtissues and organoids to bridge the gap between 2D cell cultures and in vivo animal models. Our solutions-based approach is designed to support you at every step of the cell culture workflow so you can seamlessly culture, treat, and analyze 3D cell cultures. Begin generating more physiologically relevant data to better understand biological processes and make informed decisions with our solutions. For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures

Application Note
Application Note
3D in vitro culture of the neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y is sustained in GrowDex®

Here we establish methodologies for 3D cell culture of the common neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y within the GrowDex® hydrogel to provide a more biomimetic set of environmental cues with which to promote cell migration and neurite outgrowth, whilst sustaining the viability of the population.

Application Note
Application Note
Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells: Investigating sphere formation in relation to seeding density and hydrogel concentration

Here, adipose derived MSCs (ADMSCs) were cultured in nanofibrillar cellulose, GrowDex®, under various conditions for 1 week to characterise their behaviour ahead of use in the development of further cell based assays.

Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Assessing juvenile batten disease on Brain Development in In Vitro 3D organoid models

Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL) is a complex, rare, and fatal disease belonging to a larger group of lysosomal storage disorders that presents with nervous system symptoms. Batten disease – or CLN3 disease – is another name given commonly to Juvenile NCL (JNCL). Dr. Gomez-Giro and her team focused on understanding the neurodevelopmental process of JNCL utilizing healthy hiPSCs introduced with a disease-causing c.1054C→T pathologic variant into the CLN3 gene. Read the whitepaper to find out more about Dr. Gomez-Giro's research.

Technical Note
Technical Note
Automated high-content assay using GrowDex-embedded spheroids dispensed on JANUS G3 automated liquid handling workstation

When working with 3D cell models, high heterogeneity between samples can pose a challenge - either biological or technical. In this application note, we demonstrate how a JANUS G3 liquid handling workstation can be used to improve throughput as well as assay statics by automating the liquid handling steps of 384-well, hydrogel-based high-content toxicity assay.

Application Note
Application Note
Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF7 3D Culture Demonstrated in GrowDex® and Matrigel

In this study, the morphology development of MCF7 cells in wood-derived nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel GrowDex® (3D), and in mouse tumor basement membrane extract (BME) Matrigel overlay culture (2.5D) are presented.

Application Note
Application Note
Diffusion rates for small drug molecules studied in GrowDex®-T hydrogel

'In this study diffusion rates of small drug molecules, namely nadolol, ketoprofen and metronidazole, through GrowDex-T were evaluated.

Application Note
Application Note
Evaluating HTRF and AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra detection methods in GrowDex-supported 3D MCF7 cell cultures

In our application note, we evaluate the compatibility of GrowDex, a wood-derived nanofibrillar cellulose hydrogel 3D cell culture matrix , with Revvity’s HTRF and AlphaLISA SureFire ® Ultra ™ lysis buffers and cell-based assay kits, using cell lysate samples from MCF7 3D cell cultures. The results demonstrate that HTRF and AlphaLISA cell lysis buffers effectively lyse MCF7 3D cells embedded and cultured in GrowDex. The effectiveness of different lysis buffers is confirmed by measuring total cellular protein using the BCA protein kit, as well as the expression and phosphorylation of Retinoblastoma protein pRb using HTRF or AlphaLISA SureFire Ultra kits. For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.

Product Info
Product Info
GrowDase Instructions

This data sheet provides instructions for use for GrowDase cellulase enzyme.

Flyer
Flyer
GrowDex Hydrogels for Reproducible 3D Cell Culture

Product Info
Product Info
GrowDex Instructions

This data sheet provides instructions for use for GrowDex hydrogel.

Guide
Guide
GrowDex Product Selection Guide Summary

This is a guide for selecting the right GrowDex hydrogel for your application.

Guide
Guide
GrowDex Technical Protocols

This guide describes a number of experimental protocols performed using GrowDex hydrogels.

Application Note
Application Note
GrowDex-A Functionalized with Biotinylated Fibronectin and Vitronectin Promotes 3D Culture of Fibroblasts

Here we describe how GrowDex-A can be functionalized with biotinylated proteins that provide cell adhesion motifs.

Product Info
Product Info
GrowDex-A Instructions

This data sheet provides instructions for use for GrowDex-A hydrogel.

Product Info
Product Info
GrowDex-T Instructions

This data sheet provides instructions for use for GrowDex-T hydrogel.

Application Note
Application Note
GrowDex® Supports Human iPSCderived Neural Progenitor Differentiation in vitro

Here we establish methodologies for 3D cell culture of human iPSC-derived neural progenitors within nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) hydrogel, GrowDex®-T.

Application Note
Application Note
GrowDex® Supports Human iPSCderived Neural Progenitor Differentiation in vitro

Here we establish methodologies for 3D cell culture of human iPSC-derived neural progenitors within nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) hydrogel, GrowDex®.

Application Note
Application Note
GrowDex® Supports Robust Human Neuronal Network Formation in vitro

In this study pre-differentiated human pluripotent stem cell derived neurons where encapsulated within GrowDex and cultured.

Guide
Guide
Guide to reducing the cost and time to set-up reproducible HTS/HCS with 3D cell models

Download our guide to reducing the costs and time required to set up reproducible high-throughput and high-content screens using 3D cell culture models. Topics include: Opportunities and challenges in 3D cell culture models for HTS and HCS Challenges of scaling up 3D HTS/HCS assays using animal-derived matrices Comparison of the costs and time required for running 3D cell culture HTS assays with animal-derived matrices and animal-free GrowDex hydrogel

Application Note
Application Note
Guidelines for using GrowDex® in cell-based assays

Here we provide guidelines for using GrowDex® in cell-based assays.

Application Note
Application Note
High Throughput Cytotoxicity Testing with HepG2 Cells Grown in 3D Culture

Here we have started addressing some of these challenges using GrowDex® hydrogel as a 3D cell culture matrix for growing liver-derived HepG2 cells in 384 well microtiter plates.

Guide
Guide
How to transfer from animal-derived matrices to GrowDex - 3D cell culture matrix

Animal-derived matrices for 3D cell culture are often poorly defined and suffer from lot-to-lot variability. This variability ultimately affects the reproducibility of the experiment, which is an essential element for reliable research studies. Natural, reliable and ready-to-use, GrowDex ® is the next generation solution for reproducible and scalable animal-free 3D cell culture applications providing consistent results with convenience. GrowDex is produced from wood-derived nanofibrillar cellulose which guarantees its pure and clean structure as well as reproducible lots. Download our guide to learn how to transfer your 3D cell culture to GrowDex from animal-derived matrices.

Application Note
Application Note
Long-term Culture of Human Biopsies in Nanofibrillar Cellulose Hydrogel

In this study, our aim was to establish long-term tissue cultures from human biopsy pieces, and to evaluate the preservation of tissue-typical protein expressions

Application Note
Application Note
Novel NRAS mutated human melanoma cell line MUG-Mel2 3D culture in GrowDex®

In this application note, 3D culture of novel NRAS mutated human melanoma cell line MUG-Mel2 in GrowDex® is presented.