What is a Basement Membrane Extract or Extracellular Matrix?
Cultrex Basement Membrane Extracts (BME) are solubilized extracellular matrices (ECM) purified from the Englebreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) murine tumor and are rich in extracellular matrix proteins, such as laminin, collagen IV, entactin, and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Polymerizing at 37 °C, they provide structural support for cells, plus play an important role in establishing tissue organization by influencing cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Basement membranes are used to promote and maintain a differentiated phenotype in endothelial cells, epithelial cells, smooth muscle cells, glandular cells, and neurons, and are also used for angiogenesis assays, cell invasion assays, neurite outgrowth assays, and in vivo tumorigenicity assays. Multiple different formats of Cultrex Basement Membrane Extract have been qualified for specific 2-D and 3-D cell culture applications. Most formulations are also available with reduced growth factor content and with or without phenol red. Purified extracellular matrix proteins are also available.
Select the ECM Optimized for Your Research
For additional help selecting or learning how to use Cultrex ECM products, visit the Cultrex ECM Selection and Use Guide.
Cultrex Basement Membrane Extracts
Featured Extracellular Matrix:
Cultrex UltiMatrix RGF BME
Cultrex UltiMatrix has been meticulously crafted to cater to the evolving demands of cell culture. With its enhanced consistency and quality, UltiMatrix is rapidly emerging as the hydrogel of choice, offering remarkable efficacy across various applications including organoid cell culture, spheroid formation, induced pluripotent stem cell expansion and differentiation, and more.
Experience the Quality of Cultrex Before You Buy!
Discover your new favorite matrix today! Experience how Cultrex Basement Membrane Extracts can enhance the performance of your cell cultures.
Choose Cultrex: An Extracellular Matrix That Prioritizes Quality
When you choose Cultrex BME matrices, you are choosing a quality reagent. Being able to trust in the efficacy of your starting materials gives your experiments the best chance of success. Cultrex's rigorous quality testing enables you to obtain results that are dependable, representative, and consistent. See the data examples below and have confidence when you choose Cultrex as your cellular matrix.
Consistent Endotoxin Levels and Protein Concentrations
This graph shows consistently low levels of endotoxin across 20 lots of Cultrex UltiMatrix. The graph also demonstrates the consistency of protein concentration from lot to lot, highlighting the product's ability to maintain higher, constant protein levels. Cultrex UltiMatrix is designed to provide consistent protein concentration for reliable experimental outcomes.
Cultrex UltiMatrix Displays Optimized Tensile Strength in 3D Culture Applications
Cultrex UltiMatrix displays consistent gelling rates and tensile strength (storage modulus) compared to competitor ECM.
Protein Composition is Consistent Across Lots
Entactin, Laminin, and Collagen are the three major ECM components of Cultrex UltiMatrix, at 13.3%, 38.8%, and 44.6%, respectively. Samples were run using a WES 66-440 KDa 25 capillary cartridge separation module. Expression of component proteins is more consistent across lots compared with competitors.
Customer Success Stories
Asst. Prof. of Pediatrics at the OSU School of Medicine
CSO of MuriGenics Inc.
F. Widjaja Foundation-IBIRI | Cedars-Sanai Medical Center
University of Georgia
Associate Director | Translational Tissue Modeling Institute
Director of the Stem Cell Core Facility | Salk Institute
Hans Clevers Lab | Hubrecht Institute
Proteins for Organoid Culture
Enhance your research outcomes by designing tailor-made culture conditions with the addition of carefully selected cytokines and growth factors.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSC)
iPSCs possess the remarkable ability to differentiate and consequently can provide a foundation for many types of research. ExCellerate™ iPSC Expansion Media readily functions alongside Cultrex ECMs to support robust expansion and maintenance of iPSCs.
Small Molecules
Stem cell proliferation and differentiation are controlled by signaling pathways and mechanisms that can be readily manipulated with small molecules, whether alone or in combination with growth factors.
