3D and 2D Cell Harvesting – How Cell Harvesting Works in VitroGel®

Cell harvesting from most hydrogel matrices is not an easy task. Using harsh chemical solutions, strong enzymes, or changing the temperature may damage your cells. The yield rate of cell recovery is low with these methods.

With the VitroGel® system, harvesting cells from the hydrogel matrix is as easy as it is to perform 3D cell culture. Using our enzyme-free VitroGel® Cell Recovery Solution, scientists can recover cells at neutral pH and 37°C for the operating temperature. The solution can maintain high cell viability during the recovery process. Cells can be sub-culture in both 2D and 3D cultures after recovery.

The VitroGel® Cell Recovery Solution helps to release the ionic molecules from the hydrogel matrix, converting the solid hydrogel back to the soft hydrogel state. At this state, the hydrogel maintains the unique shear-thinning properties; it can further transform into a liquid state with a little mechanical disruption (such as rocking or shaking the tube) and dilution. Once the hydrogel dissolves as a liquid form, cells can be harvested by centrifuging.

Technical Tips:

  • KEEP SOLUTION WARM: It is important to keep the cell recovery solution and the mixture warm at 37°C during the whole process. The warm temperature is essential to accelerate molecular exchanges to release the ionic molecules from the solid hydrogel, which can transform into a soft hydrogel.
  • APPLY MECHANICAL FORCE: The mechanical force such as rocking or shaking the centrifuge tube or using a serological pipette to mix the hydrogel with the cell recovery solution helps to transform the hydrogel into the liquid state.
  • DILUTION: Adding the cell recovery solution at a volume of 10X  or higher than the hydrogel maintains the dissolved hydrogel in a liquid state.
  • CENTRIFUGE AT ROOM TEMPERATURE

Watch the videos for cell recovery protocol
VitroGel® Organoid Recovery Solution
VitroGel® Cell Recovery Solution