Explore our curated collection of protocols for maintenance, passaging, differentiation and characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Whether you’re establishing feeder- or feeder-free cultures, generating embryoid bodies, or reprogramming somatic cells into iPSCs, these workflows provide step-by-step guidance backed by exceptional reagents and best-practice techniques.

Cell reprogramming protocols

Reprogramming somatic cells into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) requires reliable tools and validated workflows. These protocols support every step of the process—from delivering non-integrating Sendai viral vectors and episomal plasmids, to monitoring successful reprogramming with fluorescent reporters and applying genome editing for downstream applications. Whether starting from fibroblasts or blood-derived cells, researchers can access step-by-step guidance designed to generate hiPSCs under feeder-free or feeder-dependent culture conditions.

Cell culture protocols

These PSC protocols offer guidance for transitioning cells between feeder-dependent and feeder-free formats, maintaining healthy PSCs in optimized media such as Essential 8, Essential 8 Flex, StemFlex, and MEF-conditioned systems, and enabling suspension expansion, embryoid body formation, and genome engineering. With matrices, supplements, and transfection methods, this collection offers step-by-step support to streamline hPSC culture.

Mouse protocols

These protocols offer guidance for maintaining healthy mESC cultures on feeder layers, supporting self-renewal with KnockOut Serum Replacement and LIF, generating high-quality embryoid bodies for differentiation studies, and preparing mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) for use as feeders.
 

Cell engineering protocols

These protocols offer guidance for efficient PSC transfection using Lipofectamine Stem Transfection Reagent across multiple commonly used culture systems—including Essential 8 medium, StemFlex medium, mTeSR1 medium on Geltrex matrix, and StemPro medium —for delivery of DNA or RNA into PSCs while preserving cell viability and pluripotent potential.
 

Cell differentiation protocols

Ectoderm

These protocols guide the induction of PSCs into neural stem cells and further differentiation into key neural subtypes, including dopaminergic neurons and glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. With supporting immunocytochemistry kits and streamlined differentiation media—including PSC Neural Induction Medium—assess lineage-specific markers throughout the neural differentiation process.

Mesoderm

These protocols provide guidance for producing high-purity cardiomyocytes and microglia from PSCs, including steps for single-cell dissociation, enrichment, and replating during cardiac workflows. Complementary immunocytochemistry kits and quick-reference guides support efficient validation of lineage-specific markers, helping researchers streamline mesoderm differentiation and confidently advance functional studies.

Endoderm

Directed differentiation of PSCs into definitive endoderm provides a critical starting point for generating liver, pancreas, and other key endoderm-derived cell types used in disease modeling and developmental studies. Read these guides for driving PSCs toward endodermal lineage commitment while maintaining high cell viability and marker expression.

Additional differentiation protocols

This protocol offers guidance on magnetic and tube-based separation, depletion or enrichment of target cells, and sample preparation across human, mouse, and multi-species formats. Isolate CD4⁺ T cells, CD34⁺ hematopoietic precursors, or other cell sub-types.

Characterization protocols

These PSC characterization protocols include methods to validate pluripotency through molecular marker detection, germ-layer differentiation assessment, and functional staining. Read about quick, live alkaline phosphatase assays to targeted immunocytochemistry kits and quantitative hPSC Scorecard analysis.
 
Reprogramming

Cell reprogramming protocols

Reprogramming somatic cells into human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) requires reliable tools and validated workflows. These protocols support every step of the process—from delivering non-integrating Sendai viral vectors and episomal plasmids, to monitoring successful reprogramming with fluorescent reporters and applying genome editing for downstream applications. Whether starting from fibroblasts or blood-derived cells, researchers can access step-by-step guidance designed to generate hiPSCs under feeder-free or feeder-dependent culture conditions.

Culture

Cell culture protocols

These PSC protocols offer guidance for transitioning cells between feeder-dependent and feeder-free formats, maintaining healthy PSCs in optimized media such as Essential 8, Essential 8 Flex, StemFlex, and MEF-conditioned systems, and enabling suspension expansion, embryoid body formation, and genome engineering. With matrices, supplements, and transfection methods, this collection offers step-by-step support to streamline hPSC culture.

Mouse protocols

These protocols offer guidance for maintaining healthy mESC cultures on feeder layers, supporting self-renewal with KnockOut Serum Replacement and LIF, generating high-quality embryoid bodies for differentiation studies, and preparing mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) for use as feeders.
 
Engineering

Cell engineering protocols

These protocols offer guidance for efficient PSC transfection using Lipofectamine Stem Transfection Reagent across multiple commonly used culture systems—including Essential 8 medium, StemFlex medium, mTeSR1 medium on Geltrex matrix, and StemPro medium —for delivery of DNA or RNA into PSCs while preserving cell viability and pluripotent potential.
 
Differentiation

Cell differentiation protocols

Ectoderm

These protocols guide the induction of PSCs into neural stem cells and further differentiation into key neural subtypes, including dopaminergic neurons and glial cells such as astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. With supporting immunocytochemistry kits and streamlined differentiation media—including PSC Neural Induction Medium—assess lineage-specific markers throughout the neural differentiation process.

Mesoderm

These protocols provide guidance for producing high-purity cardiomyocytes and microglia from PSCs, including steps for single-cell dissociation, enrichment, and replating during cardiac workflows. Complementary immunocytochemistry kits and quick-reference guides support efficient validation of lineage-specific markers, helping researchers streamline mesoderm differentiation and confidently advance functional studies.

Endoderm

Directed differentiation of PSCs into definitive endoderm provides a critical starting point for generating liver, pancreas, and other key endoderm-derived cell types used in disease modeling and developmental studies. Read these guides for driving PSCs toward endodermal lineage commitment while maintaining high cell viability and marker expression.

Additional differentiation protocols

This protocol offers guidance on magnetic and tube-based separation, depletion or enrichment of target cells, and sample preparation across human, mouse, and multi-species formats. Isolate CD4⁺ T cells, CD34⁺ hematopoietic precursors, or other cell sub-types.

Characterization

Characterization protocols

These PSC characterization protocols include methods to validate pluripotency through molecular marker detection, germ-layer differentiation assessment, and functional staining. Read about quick, live alkaline phosphatase assays to targeted immunocytochemistry kits and quantitative hPSC Scorecard analysis.
 
Pluripotent Stem Cell Protocol Handbook cover

At the onset of your stem cell research, we understand it can be daunting to know where to begin and what products are needed. The Pluripotent Stem Cell Protocol Handbook will provide you with the fundamental protocols, solutions, and resources needed to get you started in any workflow.

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