Episomal iPSC Reprogramming Vectors

Episomal iPSC Reprogramming Vectors are a cost-effective mixture of three vectors designed to provide the optimal system for generating transgene-free and virus-free induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in a feeder-free environment. Originally developed by Junying Yu and James Thomson(1) and further optimized by Cellular Dynamics International, these Episomal iPSC Reprogramming Vectors have proven successful in reprogramming a number of different somatic cell types.
• Safe for all stages of your iPSC research—transgene-free and viral-free reprogramming allows use from basic to pre-clinical research
• Reprogram a variety of somatic cell types—provides flexibility in somatic cell selection
• Optimized for feeder-free reprogramming—allows for defined and feeder-free reprogramming when used with Essential 8™ Medium

Create Transgene- and Virus-free iPSCs
The Episomal iPSC Reprogramming Vectors are a well-described system for producing transgene-free, virus-free iPSCs, providing a source of iPSCs for all stages of your pluripotent stem cell research. Other reprogramming methods, such as lentivirus, contain transgenes that can integrate into the host genome, potentially disrupting the genome or causing unpredictable results. These episomal vectors are introduced into the cell by electroporation. As oriP/EBNA1 vectors, they contain all 6 reprogramming factors (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, Lin28, Klf4 and lMyc) and replicate extrachromosomally only once per cell cycle. At this replication rate, the episomes are lost at a rate of approximately 5% per cell generation.

Generate iPSCs from a Wide Variety of Somatic Cell Types
iPSCs have been generated with episomal vectors from a range of somatic cells including fibroblasts, bone marrow mononuclear cells, PBMCs, lymphoblast B cells, and various disease-type fibroblasts and PBMCs. Each kit provides enough material for 6 reprogramming experiments.

Optimized for Feeder-free Reprogramming with Essential 8™ Medium
The Episomal iPSC Reprogramming Vectors were designed in the laboratories of James Thomson and Cellular Dynamics International for use with Essential 8™ Medium, thus providing an optimal environment for defined, feeder-free reprogramming.

Commercialized in Partnership with Cellular Dynamics International.

For Research Use Only. Not intended for any animal or human therapeutic or diagnostic use.

Reference:
1. Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Free of Vector and Transgene Sequences; Yu J, Hu K, Smuga-Otto K, Tian S, Stewart R, Slukvin II, Thomson J. Science. 2009; 324:797-801.