Geltrex Flex Basement Membrane Matrices

We introduced our first-generation of Geltrex product over 15 years ago. Now, our Geltrex Flex matrix options maintain the same high level of quality with an improved product and sizing selection to allow you to order the type of matrix you want in the volumes you need. Geltrex Flex matrix is available in 1 mL, 5 mL and 10 mL sizes in reduced–growth factor, stem cell–qualified and organoid-qualified options. Discover what sets Geltrex Flex matrix apart, explore the products, and see data across multiple applications comparing different basement membrane matrix products.

A basement membrane matrix provides the stable foundation that many cell types need to thrive, making it a critical part of multiple workflows. Geltrex Flex matrix is a cell culture matrix product that supports growth of a variety of cells in 2D and 3D cell culture.

The appropriate matrix supports cell structure, influences functions, and recreates an in vivo environment for more physiological relevance. Explore the data comparing Geltrex Flex, Geltrex and competitor matrices by your research area.

Use our selection guide to determine the right matrix for your cells.

All our matrix products are phenol red-free to minimize the potential for estrogen-like effects and possible interference with downstream imaging applications. Phenol red can be added for customized needs, helping provide you with versatile and reliable cell culture solutions.

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Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix is designed as a supportive substrate for cell attachment, growth, and differentiation, mimicking the extracellular matrix. Explore the representative data comparing Geltrex Flex, Competitor M, and Geltrex matrices in hepatocyte culture and tube formation assays for angiogenesis using Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix.

Table 1. Reduced Growth Factor Geltrex Flex matrix demonstrates the same ability to culture cells as comparable matrices from Competitor M and Geltrex matrix product lines with no statistically significant differences across multiple parameters.

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Using a basement membrane matrix creates a more in vivo-like environment, which is critical for studying liver function, disease mechanisms, and drug responses accurately. Here we show data demonstrating the efficacy of reduced growth factor Geltrex Flex matrix for culture of primary human hepatocytes.

Figure 1. Geltrex Flex matrix supported primary human hepatocyte bile canaliculi formation and metabolic activity for at least 5 days after seeding following 2D sandwich culture method. Gibco Transporter Qualified Human Plateable Hepatocytes were thawed using Gibco Primary Hepatocyte Thawing and Plating Supplements and fed everyday with Gibco Primary Hepatocyte Maintenance Supplements in Gibco Williams’ E Medium. The cells were seeded in a Gibco 24-well Collagen I–coated plate, and a layer of Geltrex Flex and Geltrex matrix were added respectively to create a sandwich culture. (A) On day 5, the sandwich culture was live-stained with carboxy-DCFDA to visualize the formation of bile canaliculi in polarized hepatocytes. Fluorescent images were taken using an EVOS M7000 system and quantified using Invitrogen Celleste software. No significant differences were observed between Geltrex Flex and Geltrex matrices (p-value 0.05) (B) CYP3A4 activity of primary human hepatocytes was measured using a luciferase CYP3A4 assay. No significant differences were observed between Geltrex Flex and Geltrex matrices (p-value 0.05). Scale Bar 100 µm.

Figure 2. Geltrex Flex matrix supported primary human hepatocyte bile canaliculi formation and metabolic activity for at least 5 days after seeding following 2D sandwich culture method. Gibco Transporter Qualified Human Plateable Hepatocytes were thawed using Gibco Primary Hepatocyte Thawing and Plating Supplements and fed everyday with Gibco Primary Hepatocyte Maintenance Supplements in Gibco Williams’ E Medium. The cells were seeded in a Gibco 24-well Collagen I–coated plate and a layer of GeltrexFlex and Geltrex matrix was added respectively to create a sandwich culture. (A) On day 5, the sandwich culture was live stained with carboxy-DCFDA to visualize the formation of bile canaliculi in polarized hepatocytes. Fluorescent images were taken using an EVOS M7000 system and quantified using Invitrogen Celleste software. No significant differences were observed between Geltrex Flex and Geltrex matrices (p-value 0.05) (B) CYP3A4 activity of primary human hepatocytes was measured using a luciferase CYP3A4 assay. No significant differences were observed between Geltrex Flex and Geltrex matrices (p-value 0.05). Scale Bar 100 µm.

A basement membrane matrix helps provide a suitable and supportive environment for studying the complex process of angiogenesis, making it easier to observe and analyze the formation of new blood vessels under controlled conditions.

A qualified stem cell matrix helps ensure cell viability, supports proper differentiation, and maintains pluripotency, helping provide a consistent and optimal environment for reliable and reproducible research outcomes. Our Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free hESC Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix are tested to help ensure they promote hESC and hiPSC stem cell attachment and effectively maintain iPSC in a pluripotent state.

Table 2.Geltrex Flex matrix displays equivalent performance to Competitor M for multiple measurements of healthy stem cell culture. All matrices ​maintained a healthy hiPSC colony morphology, promoted PSC colony expansion measured by cumulative population doublings, population doubling time and viability, demonstrated similar markers of stem cell pluripotency, tested positive for self renewal and were successfully induced into neural stem cells with similar stem cell markers.

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Using a basement membrane matrix enhances reprogramming efficiency, supports self-renewal and maintains pluripotency of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The matrix improves cell attachment, growth, and promotes the formation of homogeneous colonies.

Figure 4. Geltrex Flex matrix maintained a healthy hiPSC colony morphology. Feeder-free hiPSCs were initially grown in Nunc Delta treated plates coated with Geltrex matrix and then transitioned to Geltrex, Geltrex Flex, and Competitor M matrix coated plates, using Gibco StemFlex Medium and single-cell passaged using Gibco TrypLE reagent. Morphology was monitored throughout 5 passages. No changes in morphology were observed across matrices. The presence of defined borders and tight cellular packing are indicative of a healthy pluripotent stem cell colony. The hiPSC line somatic source was BJ fibroblasts and was reprogrammed using Invitrogen CytoTune-iPSC Reprogramming Kit. Images were captured at 10x magnification on an EVOS M7000 system. Scale bar 400 µm.​

Figure 5. Geltrex Flex matrix performed comparable to Geltrex matrix, and Competitor M in promoting hiPSC colony expansion over multiple single-cell passages Feeder-free hiPSCs were initially grown in Nunc Delta treated plates coated with Geltrex matrix and then transitioned to Geltrex, Geltrex Flex, and Competitor M matrix coated plates, using Gibco StemFlex Medium and single-cell passaged using Gibco TrypLE reagent. (A) Colony growth and expansion were monitored over 5 passages. Confluency growth curves were similar across matrices over 5 passages. (B) Quantification of population doublings showed no significant differences between matrices for hiPSC expansion over multiple passages. (C) Cells were recovered from matrix-coated plates with high cell viability (%) across multiple passages. No significant difference between matrices was observed (p-value 0.05).​

Geltrex Flex matrix provides the stable foundation to support neural stem cell induction with PSC Neural Induction Medium.

An organoid-qualified matrix helps in the culture of organoids as it supports their 3D structure, promotes cell viability and growth, facilitates functional differentiation, and helps ensure experimental reproducibility. Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Organoid-Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix supports culture of mouse intestinal, liver ductal, and airway organoids as well as expansion of mouse small intestinal. Geltrex Flex matrix also supports growth of colorectal cancer organoids (tumoroids) in stable 3D dome structures as well as in suspension.

Table 3. Geltrex Flex matrix grows colorectal tumoroids effectively. Similar growth, gene expression and morphology was observed across different matrices (Geltrex matrix and Competitor M).

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Matrices facilitate the study of cell-ECM interactions critical for cancer progression, help provide a realistic platform for drug testing, help maintain tumor heterogeneity, and allow modeling of the tumor microenvironment. Here we demonstrate the growth of colorectal tumoroids on Geltrex Flex Organoid Qualified Matrix.

Figure 8. Morphology of human colorectal cancer organoids grown on different matrices. Human colorectal cancer organoids (HuCo021320) were embedded in Geltrex Flex, Geltrex, or Competitor M matrix and grown for 4 passages using the Gibco OncoPro Tumoroid Culture Medium Kit. The cystic morphology of this donor relies on support from the extracellular matrix and was maintained across all conditions. Images were captured with a 20 µm Z stack distance at 10x magnification on an EVOS M7000 system. Scale bar = 275 µm.

Figure 9. Human colorectal cancer organoids (tumoroids) grown in suspension with Geltrex Flex matrix maintained their characteristic growth rate. Cancer organoids (HuCo021320) were grown suspended in OncoPro Tumoroid Culture Medium supplemented with 2% v/v of Geltrex Flex, Geltrex, or Competitor M matrix for 3 passages. (A) Cumulative population doublings over time in culture, (B) Doubling times for each passage, and (C) cell viability (trypan blue exclusion) at each passage after dissociation using StemPro Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent showed comparable organoid growth between matrices (p-value 0.05).

1. What is Geltrex Flex matrix?
   Geltrex Flex matrix is a basement membrane matrix that helps provide the stable foundation cells need to thrive, by supporting growth of a variety of cells in 2D and 3D. Geltrex Flex matrix comes in reduced growth factor, organoid qualified and stem cell qualified options all in 1 ml, 5 mL and 10 mL sizes.
2. What is Geltrex Flex matrix composition?
   Geltrex Flex matrix composition is a proprietary formulation of laminin, collagen IV, entactin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans to support a variety cell types. Geltrex matrix composition is also proprietary and has similar key proteins in formula.
3. What is the Geltrex Flex matrix coating protocol?
   Reference our Geltrex matrix coating protocol Growing Cells in Geltrex Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix to see how to coat plates with a basement membrane matrix. Geltrex and Geltrex Flex matrix are functionally equivalent. Explore the data.
4. Why don’t you have a phenol red version of Geltrex Flex matrix?
   All our matrix products are phenol red-free to help ensure precise color detection and eliminate estrogenic effects in your research. Phenol red can be added for customized needs, helping provide you with versatile and reliable cell culture solutions.
5. What is a qualified product? How are organoid and stem cell Geltrex Flex matrix options qualified?
   Products are manufactured in the same way and undergo different quality control tests to confirm suitability for specific applications.
   
   • Stem cell growth assay (hESC and hiPSC)—matrix supports growth and expected morphology of iPSC and H1 hESC cell lines over 5 passages
   • Organoid passage assay—matrix supports culture of mouse intestinal, liver ductal, and airway organoids; supports expansion of mouse small intestinal organoids for more than 5 passages
6. I’ve been using Geltrex matrix. What version of Geltrex Flex matrix should I order? 
   The recommended version of Geltrex Flex matrix is listed in the table below depending on the type of Geltrex matrix you utilized. Geltrex Flex matrix is also offered in 10 mL sizes as well as in an organoid qualified version, previously not offered in Geltrex Flex matrix. Data comparing Geltrex to Geltrex Flex matrix can be explored here.

*No purchase necessary. This promotion is available only to life science professionals 21 years or older in the US (excluding Puerto Rico) and Canada. Sample requests must be received by 1/01/2026 or until sample supplies are depleted, whichever comes first. The sample is 1 mL. Limit one free sample per customer. Cannot be combined with other discounts or promotion. Offer void where prohibited, licensed or restricted by federal, state, provincial, or local laws or regulation or agency/institutional policy. Other restrictions may apply.