PEI-Polyethyleneimine: High strength cell attachment factor
Polyethylenimine (PEI) coated coverslips are available from Neuvitro Corporation, the number one manufacturer in the world for cell culture coatings. Sterile ready to use precoated coverslips can be found here at
Product list: Polyethyleneimine (PEI) coated coverslips for hard to attached cells
Polyethylenimine (PEI) is an effective attachment factor for weakly anchoring cell lines and primary cells. It contains many different kinds of molecular weight and structures. PEI is a cationic polymer, the negatively charged outer surfaces of cells are attracted to coverslip surface coated with PEI, facilitating stronger attachments between the cells and the coverslips.
Collection of PEI coating protocols:
Alpha Med Scientific
Recipe:
PEI solution in 25 mM borate buffer
Dissolve 25 mM Na2B4O7/10H2O (MW: 381.4, Sigma: S9640) in distilled water and adjust the pH to 8.4 with HCl. (500 ml borate buffer solution)
1) 4.768g Na2B4O7/10H2O in 450 ml distilled water.
2) Adjust pH to 8.4 with HCl.
3) Add distilled water to 500 ml.
0.05% PEI (polyethyleneimine) solution:
Since a 50% PEI solution (Sigma: P3143) is so sticky, it is recommended to prepare a 1% stock solution first (1 ml 50% PEI to 49 mls 25mM borate buffer). This 1% stock solutions is then diluted to (0.05% PEI) for final use. • The PEI solution can be stored in refrigerator up to 1 month.
Pre-coating with PEI needs to be made on the day before plating cells.
1. Treat the surface of a MED Probe with 0.05% Polyethyleneimine (PEI) in 25 mM borate buffer (pH 8.4) for one hour at room temperature. (Make sure the electrodes are covered by the PEI.)
2. Aspirate the PEI and rinse the MED Probe with DSW 4 times.
3. Dry the MED Probe on a clean bench over night.
