2/14/96

Dr. Wing-hung Ko wrote:
Where can I get the Cell-Tak and what is the protocol for coating the coverslip? Is it only available from Collborative Biomedicals? I tried to contact them twice to ask for a quotation but they NEVER respond to me.

I have tried Cell-Tak (obtained from Collaborative Biomedicals), a number of commercially silanized slides, super glue and almost everything else we could think of to allow sections to make it through prolonged enzymatic digestion prior to hybridization. So far VECTABOND has been the winning coating. Vector might be easier for you to contact.

Keith Crist

Cell-Tak:
Collaborative BioMedical Products
2 Oak Park
Bedford, MA 01730
Tel: 617-275-0004
Fax: 617-275-0043
Contact: Fran Lindgren (Export Coordinator)..... she WILL get back to you. As far as I know they are not on the Internet.
[NOTE: CBP is a Becton Dickinson company, so you could try both companies.... I had to order via BD].

Coating: there is a comprehensive protocol shipped with the product. If you order via Becton Dickinson, you may not get that protocol - I did not get one from BD, (but I do have one from CBP.. if necessary I can fax it to you). Cell-Tak basically comes in a 5% acetic acid solution, and there are two methods of application:

1. Manual spreading: pread a small amount of the stock solution (which is solubilised in 5% acetic acid) on the slide/coverglass, leave to dry, wash in ethanol and water.

2. Adsorbtion. Upon raisng the pH to neutral the protein adsorbs to the first surface it comes into contact with (the coverglass). Thus to use, neutralise a small amount of Cell-Tak with sodium bicarbonate (0.1M) and coat the glass with that. After 30-60 min you can rinse the coverslip and use it.

I recommend the latter. Used that way, it goes far, is cheap, and better than laminin and other 'substrates' (our experience with cardiac myocytes)..

Ian
IHARPER@EAGLE.MRC.AC.ZA

[Return to Tips & Tricks Menu]