Culture plastics

Many different plastic types have been used over the years for cell culture and cell-based assays. These are polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high- and low-density polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polypropylene (PP), but the most frequently used plastic in labs today is polystyrene (PS). The low cost of PS, coupled with its inert chemistry, makes it an optimal choice to use for a disposable culture surface.

In its pure form, PS is hydrophobic, which is ideal for suspension cell culture.  However, the majority of the cells derived from vertebrates, with the exception of hematopoietic cell lines and a few others, are anchorage-dependent and have to be cultured on a surface that is specifically treated to allow cell adhesion and spreading, known as a tissue culture (TC)-
or cell culture–treated surface. This treatment process includes exposing a PS surface to a plasma gas, which partially modifies and cleaves the polymer chain, leaving behind oxygen-containing functional groups such as hydroxyl and carboxyl. The resulting negative charge on the PS surface makes it more hydrophilic and improves the attachment of anchorage-dependent cells.

The properties of PS surfaces can be further optimized by coating the surface, for example using peptides (e.g., poly-D-lysine or PDL), proteins (e.g., collagen), or polysaccharides. PDL is a chemically synthesized, polycationic, extracellular matrix (ECM) that can help mediate the negative charges of both the cell membrane and surface, thereby facilitating cell adhesion to TC-treated plastic.

ECM proteins such as collagen provide an attachment framework for the adhesion and growth of certain cell types that have difficulties growing on the regular TC-treated surface. Collagen I is suitable for endothelial and epithelial cells, muscle cells, and hepatocytes. Collagen type IV is the major constituent of basement membranes and offers conditions more physiologically relevant to cells.

Cell culture dishes are disposable shallow containers specifically designed to support the growth and propagation of cells in culture. They come in a variety of sizes—in single- or multi-well formats—and are usually made of PS or polycarbonate, which allows distortion-free microscopic observation. They are often supplied with lids that provide consistent gas exchange while offering protection from the environment. With dishes, it is significantly easier to select individual colonies from a transfected cell population compared to a flask.

See cell culture dishes

Depending on the application, cell culture flasks are available untreated, TC-treated, or treated with other materials. The size can vary from 12.5 cm² to 300 cm² with either straight or angled necks. Angled necks offer several advantages—they allow easier access to the entire growth surface, help prevent media from reaching the cap, and allow media to be poured from the flask with less dripping.

Roller bottles are developed for applications such as the industrial scale production of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and biotherapeutics, and are made of PS or polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG). Compared to flasks, roller bottles have larger growth surfaces, enable slow and steady mixing of the medium over the cells, and help increase medium-to-surface contact.

Cell culture plates can range from 4 wells to 384 wells, which can be used for multiple cultures at once. Depending on the application, cell culture plates are available untreated, TC-treated, or treated with other materials. For TC plates, treatment involves only the bottom of the well, leaving the walls hydrophobic. TC-treated plates provide uniform and compatible surfaces for cell attachment and growth.

A chamber slide consists of a removable media chamber attached to a slide treated for adherent cell culture. It allows you to seed, incubate, fix, and stain on a single microscope slide. Some chamber slides feature a chemically modified growth surface mimicking the characteristics of PDL coating.

Explore chamber slides

There are different varieties of tubes for culturing, centrifuging, or storing cells. TC-treated tubes can be used for cultivation, and conical tubes can aid in various applications—from sample storage to cell separation.

Find cell culture tubes