Cell Culture Vessels and 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 excellent 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 must 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.

When it comes to cell culture, selecting the appropriate vessel affects successful cell growth and downstream experiments. Different types of cell culture vessels are designed to meet various research needs and applications, each offering exceptional features and benefits. From dishes and flasks to spinner flasks, roller bottles, plates, chamber slides, and tubes, these vessels facilitate the necessary environment for cell propagation, maintenance, and analysis. Understanding the characteristics and advantages of each vessel type can help researchers choose the right options for their specific cell culture requirements. Below, we explore the different types of cell culture vessels and their respective uses in more detail.

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 allow for 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.

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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 and help prevent media from reaching the cap and allow media to be poured from the flask with less dripping.

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These single-use, crystal-clear PETG flasks are robust and break-resistant, excellent for mixing and storage. Standard non-vented closures prevent spilling and contamination, while optional vented closures (0.22 µm) enhance gas exchange, benefiting suspension cell culture.

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TripleFlask products feature three parallel growth surfaces, offering a total culture area of 500 cm² within the footprint of a traditional T175 flask. These flasks are designed for efficient gas exchange and ease of use, making them useful for high-density cell culture applications.

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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.

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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. TC plates have uniform and compatible surfaces for cell attachment and growth.

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Cell Factory Systems offer a high-yield, scalable solution for cell culture, featuring multiple layers to maximize surface area within a compact footprint. Designed for efficient gas exchange and ease of handling, these systems are exceptional for large-scale production of cells, viruses, and proteins.

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.

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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.

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