Worldwide Provider of Cell Culture and Antibody Products and Services
Cell-based experiments have played an essential role in many of today’s medical breakthroughs. Drug screening, toxicity tests, cancer research, virology, cell-based manufacturing, model systems, and gene therapy depend on a superior cell culture system, the removal of cells from a physiological environment and the establishment of a growing cell population in a highly controlled artificial environment.
The cell type used for these experiments is critical. Immortalized cell lines are relatively easy to grow and use, but it is not uncommon for these cells to have lost physiological properties, as they have been modified and passaged indefinitely. Comparative studies show, for example, that endothelial cell lines lack the distinctive phenotypes of primary endothelial cells1. A laboratory that uses cell lines takes on considerable risk by investing time and resources on a potentially irrelevant result.
Primary cells are derived directly from living tissue, and are more likely to represent physiological behavior. However, because primary cell isolation, purification, and determination of optimal growth conditions can be a costly endeavor in and of itself, scientists still use cell lines despite the potential pitfalls of cell line usage.
Specialties
Pre-Screened Primary Cells & Antibodies, Endothelial Cells
