Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit
- Versatile and excellent for 3D/2D culture, Organoids, Spheroids
- Works with cells cultured in hydrogels or animal-based ECM
- No unevenness and no background staining for clear image resolution
- Fast, one-step staining procedure
- Ready-to-use, no pre-mixing required
- Sensitive
- Cost-effective
The Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit is a versatile live/dead assay for 3D and 2D Cell Culture, Organoids, Spheroids, Stem Cells, and Fluorescence Microscopy. It is used to determine the live/dead nucleated cells using a quick one-step staining procedure for analysis on a dual-fluorescence system. The Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit is recommended for viability analysis of cells/organoids cultured in 3D, 2D coating, and on monolayer and works with cells cultured in animal-based ECMs and other hydrogel systems.
Acridine orange (AO) and propidium iodide (PI), both nuclear staining (nucleic acid binding) dyes, are used in this kit. AO is permeable to live and dead cells and stains all nucleated cells to generate green fluorescence. PI only penetrates the membranes of nucleated cells with compromised membranes and stains the dead cells to generate red fluorescence. Due to the quenching, when cells are stained with both AO and PI, all live nucleated cells fluoresce green and all dead nucleated cells fluoresce red (the PI reduces the fluorescence intensity of the AO by fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)). Non-nucleated materials such as red blood cells, platelets, and debris do not have fluorescence and are ignored by fluorescence microscopes.
Dual-fluorescence viability, using AO and PI, is the recommended viability analysis method for cell lines, primary cells, and stem cells.
Easy setup and use
Specifications
Formulation | Premixed acridine orange (AO) and propidium iodide (PI), nuclear staining dyes |
Use | Live dead cell viability analysis for 3D and 2D cell culture |
Detection Method | Fluorescent |
Excitation/Emission: | AO (494/517nm), PI (535/617nm) |
Standard filters | AO (GFP), PI (Texas Red) |
For use with (Equipment): | Fluorescence microscope, flow cytometer, microplate reader, fluorescence cell counter. |
Storage | 2 to 8°C (Protect from light) |
Shipping Conditions: | Ships at ambient temperature |
Sizes | 1 mL |
Number of reactions | 500 (at 2 µL per 100 µL) |
Protocols / Resources
Resources using Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit
Customer Testimonial
“When we used the Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit, we were able to obtain a very clear image without any unevenness in the well and almost no background staining on the gel.
We tried various reagents, but it was difficult because uneven staining occurred within or between the wells.”
– from a Regenerative Medicine Company
Webinars | Research Highlights | Application Notes
Data and References
Figure 1: Live-dead cell viability images: Intestinal organoids stained with Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit.
Intestinal organoids were cultured in regulated conditions for 2-3 days. Six microliters of Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay reagent were mixed with organoid culture media (each well includes 150 µL of organoid culture media and 150 µL of hydrogel volume). The mixture was incubated at 37°C for 10-15 min, and the cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope. (A) A brightfield image of a young healthy intestinal organoid. Images show live cells (B: Green) and dead cells (C: Red) in a healthy intestinal organoid.
Figure 2: Live-dead cell viability images: Intestinal organoids stained with Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit.
Intestinal organoids were cultured in regulated conditions for 5 days. Six microliters of Cyto3D® reagent were mixed with organoid culture media (each well includes 150 µL of organoid culture media and 150 µL of hydrogel volume). The mixture was incubated at 37°C for 10-15 min, and the cells were observed under a fluorescence microscope. (A) A bright field image of a mature intestinal organoid. Images show live cells (B: Green) and dead cells (C: Red) in a mature intestinal organoid.
Figure 3. Live-dead cell viability analysis by using Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit.
Glioblastoma cells (SF 298, about 60% cell viability) were 3D cultured in VitroGel® system for 2 days. Two microliters (2 µL) of Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay reagent was added to each well containing 50 µL hydrogel and 50 µL cover medium. The mixture was incubated at 37°C for 5-10 min. The cells were then observed under a fluorescence microscope. The images show the Live (green) and Dead (orange) cells within the 3D hydrogel matrix. The z-stack images of cells within hydrogel were then 3D reconstructed and shown in the 4D view images. The live and dead cells at higher levels of the hydrogel are clearly shown in the images using the Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit.
Figure 4. Live-dead cell viability images of stem cell spheroids.
Stem cells were static suspension-cultured in VitroGel® STEM (CAT# VHM02) for 5 days. Two microliters (2 µL) of Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay reagent was added to each well containing 100 µL cell suspension. The mixture was incubated at 37°C for 5-10 min. The cells were then observed under a fluorescence microscope. The images show the Live (green) and Dead (orange) stem cell spheroids cultured in a 3D hydrogel matrix. The live-dead dyes of Cyto3D® Live-Dead Assay Kit can successfully penetrate into large cell spheroids for cell viability analysis.
References/Publications
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