MaxGel Human ECM

Produced in vitro, MaxGel human ECM provides a rich three-dimensional environment to promote cellular proliferation. MaxGel ECM contains extracellular matrix components including collagens, laminin, fibronectin, tenascin, elastin, a number of proteoglycans and glycosaminoglycans. The cell-cultured derived ECM effectively reproduces the cooperative interaction of epithelia and mesenchyme during development and in organotypic cell culture of skin. The human MaxGel ECM promotes cell growth and migration and has been shown to support the proliferation of many cell types, including neural stem cells, neurons, glia, astrocytes, fibroblasts, hepatocytes and keratinocytes.

MaxGel in Stem Cell Applications
Stem cell research has demonstrated the need for human ECM proteins in cell culture as 3-D support matrices for stem cells. The proteins provide the cues necessary to expand stem cell in culture and to guide them through the process of differentiation into many cell types to treat different diseases, such as Pancreatic islets for diabetes and neuronal cells for repair of neurological disorders.

MaxGel contains reduced amounts of growth factors since it is a derived basement membrane extract cultured in vitro, which supports lot-to-lot consistency. Other ECM products are solubilized basement membrane preparations extracted from mouse tumor and include high quantities of endogenous growth factors.

MaxGel ECM Matrix enables improved expansion of Adult Keratinocytes. HaCaT cells (derived from human adult skin keratinocytes) were grown for 24 hours after plating on tissue culture plastic (A) and on 1% human ECM (B), which demonstrate that HaCaT cells proliferate better on ECM.

MaxGel ECM Matrix enables improved expansion of Fetal Lung Fibroblasts. MRC-5 cells (derived from human fetal lung fibroblasts) were grown for 24 hours after plating on tissue culture plastic (A) and on 1% human ECM (B). As seen with other cells, MRC-5 cells propagate better on ECM.