Cell Culture Ancillary Reagents

We provide a variety of supplemental reagents to help optimize samples for downstream applications, including flow cytometry, cell culturing, and functional assays. This includes reagents for detaching cells from culture flasks (Accutase®), isolating PBMCs from whole blood, staining intracellular cytokines (cell activation beads and transport inhibitors), and lysing red blood cells. Learn more about each of our reagents below.

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Sample Preparation

The treatment and handling of cells prior to the assay can determine whether an assay is successful. For cell lines and adherent cells, Accutase® can be a useful tool for the gentle lifting of cells from culture dishes or flasks as a replacement for Trypsin/EDTA. To isolate mononuclear cells from a cell suspension, we recommend the use of Lymphopure™, a density gradient-based solution (shown on the right). We also provide RBC Lysis Buffer to remove erythrocytes from samples and MojoSort™ Dead Cell Removal Kits to magnetically extricate dead cells from human or mouse samples. For sample handling and processing, we supply PBS, which is used across multiple applications and protocols.

Featured Products

Accutase® Cell Detachment Solution

Lymphopure™

MojoSort™ Dead Cell Removal Kits

PBS, 10x Concentrate

RBC Lysis Buffer (10X)

Image showing the separation of blood components by density gradient centrifugation.
Lymphopure™ uses density-gradient centrifugation to separate mononuclear cells from whole blood.

Activation/Stimulation

Several assays require cells to be stimulated in culture over time to observe the expression of activation markers, production of cytokines and chemokines, or development of a specific functional state. This can be accomplished through different methods that can vary in terms of complexity. On the broad spectrum, a commonly used receptor-independent method involves PMA and Ionomycin, which we offer in our Cell Activation Cocktails.

In addition, we provide Monensin and Brefeldin A, which are regularly used as protein transport inhibitors to ensure secreted proteins like cytokines remain in the cytoplasm for easier identification of their cellular source.

For more specific, receptor-dependent activation, we offer microbeads coated with antibodies for stimulation of markers like CD3, CD28, and CD137. These reagents allow you to stimulate T cells without the need for antigen presenting cells or pre-coated plates.

Image showing cell expansion of T cells after stimulation with activation beads.

Human CD3⁺ T cells were isolated from healthy human PBMCs using the MojoSort™ Human CD3 T Cell Isolation Kit (Cat. No. 480022). Isolated cells were left untreated or either expanded in vitro with BioLegend’s Human CD3/CD28/CD137 T Cell Activation Beads (Cat. No. 422607) or BioLegend’s Human CD3/CD28 T Cell Activation Beads (Cat. No. 422603) at 1:1 particle-to-cell ratio in the absence of human IL-2. On day 7 post-activation with the beads, the number of expanded cells was quantified using AOPI staining. Cell counts for each condition were expressed as a ratio relative to the untreated control.

Featured Products

Cell Activation Cocktail (with Brefeldin A)

Cell Activation Cocktail (without Brefeldin A)

Brefeldin A Solution (1,000X)

Monensin Solution (1,000X)

Human CD3/CD28 T Cell Activation Beads (RUO)

Human CD3/CD28/CD137 T Cell Activation Beads (RUO)

GMP-Grade Activation Beads