TECH BULLETIN: Dispensing Matrigel with the I.DOT

Dispensing Matrigel with the I.DOT

Matrigel is a solubilized basement membrane matrix secreted by Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) mouse sarcoma cells. The major components include laminin, collagen IV, entactin and heparin sulfate proteoglycan which provide the foundation for 3D culture studies.

Matrigel is used as a substrate for a broad range of applications for example, cell culture, tumor cell invasion assays or cancer drug screenings. There, Matrigel not only supports cells and cell layers, but also plays an essential role in tissue organization that affects cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation.

LIQUID CLASS CREATION
Experiments with the I.DOT showed a successful dispensing of Cultrex® Matrigel. Here Cultrex® with a concentration of 50% was used. We successfully created a Liquid Class for the S.100 wells with a droplet volume range from 15,4 to 36,5 nl and a pressure range from 100 to 250 mbar*ms. Two source plates were stored in the fridge and filled with cold Matrigel immediately after transferring the source plate to the I.DOT. The Liquid Class values were then measured by the Liquid Class Manager.

MATRIGEL DISPENSING
With temperatures above 10 °C the Matrigel with proteins start to polymerize. Therefore it is recommended to put the source plate either in the fridge or in a freezer before the dispense run. Dead volume could be observed in the well after dispensing.

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