Cell Culture Inserts
Enhance your research using porous membrane cell culture inserts
The porous membrane and unique structure of the Thermo Scientific Nunc cell culture inserts is designed for versatility by allowing the attached surface of your cells to be simultaneously exposed to growth media and to the variable condition(s) called for by your experiment. The carrier plate option makes it easier than ever to carry out these procedures with precision and time-saving convenience.
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Why polycarbonate cell culture inserts?
Our polycarbonate cell culture inserts come packaged with their multiwell plate. Choose from 6-, 12- and 24-well sizes. Simply select the insert membrane pore size best suited for your application. For flexibility, ease of use and time savings, place your 12- and 24- well plates with inserts into our unique carrier plate.
Polycarbonate (PC) inserts have high pore density to allow more exchange through the membrane for transport studies and other applications where optimal cell growth is desired. We tested various materials for a variety of applications, and PC inserts had the best cell attachment property among the materials tested. They’re also well-suited for barrier assays. Our study shows high, sustainable and consistent trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) values for longer periods of time over other membrane materials indicating successful establishment of a cell barrier.
| Cell culture insert applications | 0.4µm | 3µm | 8µm |
|---|---|---|---|
Transport studies
|
X | X | |
Transport studies co-cultivation studies
|
X | X | |
Tissue engineering
|
X | X | |
Chemotaxis studies
|
X | X | |
Invasion studies
|
X | X |
The unique design of Thermo Scientific Carrier Plates enables precise adjustment of height for added versatility and flexibility in your research.
An important consideration for cell culture researchers is the height of the growth surface of the insert within the well, and the resulting volume of media required to grow cells at each height. Media height and volume are variables which may need to be controlled to optimize such things as gas exchange, oxygen tension, availability of growth factors, or pH. Adjustment of the insert allows more than one position relative to the bottom of the carrier plate.
What is a carrier plate?
The Thermo Scientific Nunc Carrier Plate for Cell Culture Inserts is an innovative "add on" that you can choose to include with our standard insert offerings. The carrier plate fits into our 12- or 24-well formats. It's the carrier plate that provides the carefully engineered height-adjusting grooves within each well for use with your inserts. When selecting, you can order with or without the carrier plate addition. For any application that requires a 12- or 24-well plate, your best option is to include the carrier plate to make your procedures easier, more precise and efficient.
- Add the ability to adjust your inserts to various heights within each well; our carrier plate fits perfectly into our 12- or 24-well plates
- Optimize the position of each porous membrane insert and volume of media required for your application
- Save time when feeding cells; with the carrier plate pipetting into each well separately is no longer necessary
- Conveniently adjust media volumes to extend feeding times (great for weekends!)
As shown above, with the one-of-a-kind carrier plate, inserts can be height adjusted inside each well to achieve various, optimal positions relative to the media and bottom of the plate—adding precision and convenience that can be vital to your process.
| Catalog # | Description | Pore size | Pore density | Porosity |
Culture area |
| 140620 | Inserts and multiwell dish | 0.4 | <0.85 x 108 pores/cm2 | <6.8% | 0.47cm2 |
| 140627 | Inserts and multiwell dish | 3.0 | <1.70 x 106 pores/cm2 | <7.7% | 0.47cm2 |
| 140629 | Inserts and multiwell dish | 8.0 | <0.85 x 105 pores/cm2 | <2.7% | 0.47cm2 |
| 141002 | Inserts, multiwell dish, and carrier plate | 0.4 | <0.85 x 108 pores/cm2 | <6.8% | 0.47cm2 |
| 141004 | Inserts, multiwell dish, and carrier plate | 3.0 | <1.70 x 106 pores/cm2 | <7.7% | 0.47cm2 |
| 141006 | Inserts, multiwell dish, and carrier plate | 8.0 | <0.85 x 105 pores/cm2 | <2.7% | 0.47cm2 |
| Catalog # | Description | Pore size | Pore density | Porosity |
Culture area |
| 140652 | Inserts and multiwell dish | 0.4 | <0.85 x 108 pores/cm2 | <6.8% | 1.13cm2 |
| 140654 | Inserts and multiwell dish | 3.0 | <1.70 x 106 pores/cm2 | <7.7% | 1.13cm2 |
| 140656 | Inserts and multiwell dish | 8.0 | <0.85 x 105 pores/cm2 | <2.7% | 1.13cm2 |
| 141078 | Inserts, multiwell dish, and carrier plate | 0.4 | <0.85 x 108 pores/cm2 | <6.8% | 1.13cm2 |
| 141080 | Inserts, multiwell dish, and carrier plate | 3.0 | <1.70 x 106 pores/cm2 | <7.7% | 1.13cm2 |
| 141082 | Inserts, multiwell dish, and carrier plate |
8.0 | <0.85 x 105 pores/cm2 | <2.7% | 1.13cm2 |
Cultivate most cell types without matrix coating when using polycarbonate membrane cell culture inserts. Thermo Scientific Nunclon Delta-treated and tested for cell attachment. Tabs provide better grip and easy handling.
Use up to 24 well inserts at a time with a carrier plate for cell culture inserts, for individual compartment cultures or cultures with shared media. Two formats available that correspond with our 12- and 24-well Nunclon Delta-treated dishes.
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For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.