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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.
Three vial sizes (1 mL, 5 mL, 10 mL) allow you to purchase only the volumes you need.
Geltrex Flex matrix undergoes rigorous testing to offer dependable results, helping give your experiments the best chance of success.
Geltrex Flex matrix is a basement membrane extract that contains laminin, collagen IV, entactin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans It supports growth of a variety of cells in 2D and 3D cell culture, including primary cells, human pluripotent stem cells and the culture of organoids & tumoroids. See our selection guide or contact a specialist.
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.
![]() General cell culture | ![]() Stem cell culture | ![]() Organoid cell culture |
Hepatocytes | hiPSC | Lung cancer organoid |
Use our selection guide to determine the right matrix for your cells.
Application | Product name | Size | Cat. No. | Supports |
---|---|---|---|---|
General cell culture | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 1 mL | A4000046701 |
|
5 mL | A4000046702 | |||
10 mL | A4000046703 | |||
Stem cell culture | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free hESC Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 1 mL | A4000046801 |
|
5 mL | A4000046802 | |||
10 mL | A4000046803 | |||
Organoid cell culture | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Organoid-Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 1 mL | A4000046901 |
|
5 mL | A4000046902 | |||
10 mL | A4000046903 |
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.
Need help or have questions? Contact a specialist
This free course comprises two interactive modules that were developed to help provide a succinct, contextual overview of spheroid and organoid culture model techniques and applications as well as various imaging modalities including high-content analysis. | ![]() |
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.
Cell type | Parameter | Equivalent matrix performance |
---|---|---|
HUVEC | Tube network formation | ✓ |
Primary hepatocytes | CYP3A4 Activity | ✓ |
ATP Assay | ✓ | |
Morphology | ✓ |
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.
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.
Cell type | Parameter | Equivalent matrix performance |
---|---|---|
Human pluripotent stem cell | Morphology | ✓ |
Growth | ✓ | |
Viability | ✓ | |
Pluripotency markers | ✓ | |
Gene expression | ✓ | |
Neural stem cell induction | ✓ |
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.
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).
Cell type | Parameter | Equivalent matrix performance |
---|---|---|
Colorectal cancer organoid (tumoroid)—embedded | Morphology | ✓ |
Growth and expansion | ✓ | |
Gene expression | ✓ | |
Colorectal cancer organoid (tumoroid)—suspension | Single nucleotide variants | ✓ |
Morphology | ✓ | |
Growth and expansion | ✓ | |
Gene expression | ✓ | |
Single nucleotide variants | ✓ |
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).
Product type | Original Geltrex matrix Cat. No. | Geltrex Flex matrix Cat. No. | Geltrex Flex matrix product | Size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | A1413201 | A4000046701 | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 1 mL |
A1413202 | A4000046702 | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 5 mL | |
- | A4000046703 | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 10 mL | |
hESC Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | A1413301 | A4000046801 | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free hESC Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 1 mL |
A1413302 | A4000046802 | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free hESC Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 5 mL | |
- | A4000046803 | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free hESC Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 10 mL | |
Organoid-Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | - | A4000046901 | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Organoid-Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 1 mL |
- | A4000046902 | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Organoid-Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 5 mL | |
- | A4000046903 | Geltrex Flex LDEV-Free Organoid-Qualified Reduced Growth Factor Basement Membrane Matrix | 10 mL |
*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.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.