Product Description
HyStem®-C Hydrogel Kits - The starter matrix.
HyStem®-C hydrogels provide an excellent starting point for optimizing the matrix for cell culture. HyStem-C is fully chemically-defined and based on three biocompatible components: thiol-modified hyaluronan (Glycosil), thiol-reactive crosslinker, PEGDA (Extralink), and thiol-modified denatured collagen (Gelin-S®). Gelin-S provides basic cell-attachment sites for a wide variety of primary cells and cell lines and is therefore recommended as an ideal substrate for adherent cell types and for cell culture optimization. In some cases, HyStem-C hydrogels can be further enhanced by the addition of ECM proteins to match native signals.Features
- Hydrogels are suitable for culturing primary cells, stem cells and cell lines.
- Cells can be encapsulated or grown on the hydrogel surface in any format, including culture flasks, 6- to 384-well plates or tissue culture inserts.
- Hydrogels can be easily customized by the user to possess the desired stiffness and gelation time by manipulating component concentration and mixing ratios.
- Customizable gelation properties including gelation time and hydrogel stiffness.
GelationReconstituted HyStem-C components remain liquid at 15 to 37°C. The hydrogel is formed when the crosslinking agent, Extralink®(PEGDA) is added to a mixture of Glycosil®(thiol-modified hyaluronan) and Gelin-S®(thiol-modified gelatin). Gelation occurs in about twenty minutes after all three components are mixed. No steps depend on low temperatures or low pH. Diluting the components with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or cell-culture medium can increase the gelation time.3D Cell Recovery MatrixFor application where cell recovery is critical, the alternative crosslinker PEGSSDA is available for use with all HyStem, HyStem-C and HyStem-HP kits. This crosslinker provides the same advantages offered by Extralink with the additional benefit of containing easily reducible internal bonds. This allows for fast, easy recovery of single cells or clusters from the hydrogel for applications like RNA analysis or flow cytometry instead of slow enzymatic methods that can impact cell viability. Researchers are encouraged to contact us to determine the compatibility of particular cell types or culture systems with PEGSSDA.
Directions for Use
Download the HyStem®-Chydrogel kit instructions for:
Catalog #GS312 2.5 mL Trial Kit
Catalog #GS313 7.5 mL Kit
Catalog #GS1005 12.5 mL Kit
Product Q & A
Globular particles less than 75 kDa should be able to freely diffuse through a HyStem hydrogel.
When reconstituted using DG water, the pH of each HyStem component will be approximately 7.4-7.6.
One year from the date of receipt, if stored properly.
Any sterile, deionized, degassed water can be substituted for reconstitution. However, in order to ensure accurate and predictable dissolution and gelation times, our DG Water is highly recommended, as it is degassed, blanketed in argon, and has undergone validation testing with each HyStem component.
Gelin-S provides cellular attachment sites when incorporated in the hydrogel. Gelin-S is thiol-modified, denatured collagen I, derived from either bovine or porcine sources. Gelin-S is included in all HyStem-C and HyStem-HP kits.
Gelin-S has been thiol-modified in the same manner as the hyaluronan in Glycosil (or Heprasil), so that it covalently crosslinks with the Extralink in the HyStem hydrogels.
Yes. Peptides that contain a cysteine residue can be used. The cysteine residue must be present for the peptide to be covalently bonded to the hydrogel substrate.
Yes. ECM proteins, such as laminin, collagen, fibronectin, or vitronectin can be non-covalently incorporated into the hydrogel prior to crosslinking.
HyStem hydrogels and sponges differ in hydration and homogeneity. HyStem sponges are typically polymerized hydrogels that are subsequently freeze-dried. The resulting sponge is a fibrous, mesh network with pores and niches that enable cells to infiltrate and adhere. A true HyStem hydrogel is an encapsulating liquid that polymerizes around suspended cells in culture.
No. The compliance of the hydrogels is set by the amount of Extralink crosslinker added, the concentration of Glycosil (or Heprasil) and Gelin-S used, and the ratio of Glycosil (or Heprasil) to Gelin-S. Once this chemical structure of the hydrogel is fixed, it is not altered by prolonged exposure to cell culture medium.
HyStem sponges can be terminally sterilized by E-beam. HyStem hydrogels have not yet been validated for use with E-beam sterilization methods. HyStem hydrogels are not terminally sterilized by gamma irradiation.
Gelation time is affected by multiple aspects of the gel’s composition.One way to change the gelation time of a hydrogel is to vary the amount of crosslinker used. Gels with a lower amount of Extralink crosslinker will have a longer gelation time than those with a higher amount of crosslinker. Changing the amount of crosslinker will produce slight changes in gelation time.Gelation time can be dramatically changed by varying the Glycosil (or Heprasil) and Gelin-S concentrations. Concentrated solutions of Glycosil (or Heprasil) and Gelin-S will create a solution with a much shorter gelation time. This can easily be done by reconstituting the components in a smaller volume of DG Water. Alternatively, diluting these components in larger volumes of DG Water will dramatically increase the total time to form the hydrogel.
HyStem Hydrogels are virtually transparent and should not interfere with microscopy.
HyStem hydrogels may generate mild inflammation as part of the body’s natural healing process in response to injury. HyStem hydrogels do not trigger immune response when used in vivo. (These products are not for human use)
HyStem is degraded in vivo by matrix metalloproteinases (collagenases) and hyaluronidases.
Trypsin, Dipase, collagenase, and hyaluronidase have been used to help detach cells from the surface or from within HyStem hydrogels.
In general, the pore size for HyStem-C and HyStem-HP hydrogels is ~17 nm.
Product Applications
Click on the title of the desired protocol to learn more:
2D Cell Growth on HyStem Hydrogels
HyStem 3D Cell Encapsulation for Cell Delivery Applications Guide
HyStem 3D Cell Encapsulation in hydrogels using 96-well plates
HyStem 3D Cell Encapsulation in hydrogels using TC Inserts
Enzyme Digestion of HyStem Hydrogels for Recovery of Encapsulated Cells
Fluorescent Labeling of HyStem Hydrogels
Cell Recovery from Surface of HyStem Hydrogels
HyStem ECM Incorporation
HyStem Gelation Time Variation
HyStem Stiffness Variation Protocol for 7.5 mL kit
HyStem Stiffness Variation Protocol for 12.5 mL kit
Product References
References for HyStem®:
Gaetani, R., et al. (2015) Epicardial application of cardiac progenitor cells in a 3D-printed gelatin/hyaluronic acid patch preserves cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Biomaterials 61: 339-348.PMID: 17335875.Prestwich, G.D., et al. (2007) 3-D culture in synthetic extracellular matrices: new tissue models for drug toxicology and cancer drug discovery. Adv Enzyme Regul 47: 196-207.PMID: 17335875.Shu, X.Z., et al. (2006) Synthesis and evaluation of injectable, in situ crosslinkable synthetic extracellular matrices for tissue engineering. J Biomed Mater Res A 79: 901-912.PMID: 16941590.Shu, X.Z., et al. (2003) Disulfide-crosslinked hyaluronan-gelatin hydrogel films: a covalent mimic of the extracellular matrix for in vitro cell growth. Biomaterials 24: 3825-3834.PMID: 12818555.
S. Cai, et al. (2005)Injectable glycosaminoglycan hydrogels for controlled release of human basic fibroblast growth factor.Biomaterials, 26, 6054-6067.D. B. Pike, et al. (2006)Heparin-regulated release of growth factors in vitro and angiogenic response in vivo to implanted hyaluronan hydrogels containing VEGF and bFGF.Biomaterials, 27, 5242–5251.G. D. Prestwich, et al. (2007)3-D Culture in Synthetic Extracellular Matrices: New Tissue Models for Drug Toxicology and Cancer Drug Discovery.invited, Adv. Enz. Res., in press (2007).X. Z. Shu, et al, (2006)Synthesis and Evaluation of Injectable, In Situ Crosslinkable Synthetic Extracellular Matrices (sECMs) for Tissue Engineering.J. Biomed Mater. Res. A, 79A(4), 901-912.
Shu, X.Z., et al. (2004) In situ crosslinkable hyaluronan hydrogels for tissue engineering. Biomaterials 25: 1339-1348.PMID: 14643608.Mehra, T.D., et al. (2006) Molecular stenting with a crosslinked hyaluronan derivative inhibits collagen gel contraction. J Invest Dermatol 126: 2202-2209.PMID: 16741511.Shu, X.Z., et al. (2004) Attachment and spreading of fibroblasts on an RGD peptide-modified injectable hyaluronan hydrogel. J Biomed Mater Res A 68: 365-375.PMID: 14704979.Ghosh, K., et al. (2007) Cell adaptation to a physiologically relevant ECM mimic with different viscoelastic properties. Biomaterials 28: 671-679.PMID: 17049594.
Product Certificate of Analysis
Safety and Documentation
Certificate of Origin
Safety Data Sheet
Product Disclaimer
This product is for R&D use only and is not intended for human or other uses. Please consult the Material Safety Data Sheet for information regarding hazards and safe handling practices.
