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Hanging Cell Culture Inserts

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Merck:/Freestyle/BI-Bioscience/Cell-Culture/cell-culture-images/millicell_hanging_inserts2.jpgMillicell® Hanging Cell Culture Inserts are sterile, general purpose devices for the growth and differentiation of various cell types. Uniquely designed flanges suspend the insert in an off-center position within the culture plate well, facilitating pipetting by creating a larger space to one side. Millicell® hanging inserts make it possible to study both sides of the cell monolayer and are excellent tools in co-culturing and permeability assays. Our inserts also come preloaded in plates for convenience and ease-of-use.

Key Millicell® Hanging Cell Culture Key Highlights

  • For co-culturing and permeability assays
  • Unique design allows easier basolateral access than other hanging inserts with less risk of contamination
  • Available in 5 pore sizes and 3 diameters (for 24-, 12-, or 6-well plates) , including a 1 µm pore size that is optically transparent for better visualization by microscopy. The inserts are easily prepared for SEM and TEM visualizing techniques, and they are compatible with cellular and/or fluorescent stains.
Ordering Information
Recommended Working Volumes
Membrane Properties

CharacteristicsHACMPCFPET
Microscopically Transparent No Yes No 1 µm only
Tissue Culture Treated No No Yes Yes
Membrane Thickness 120 µm 50 µm 10 µm 10 µm
Matrix/ECM Coatable Yes Yes Yes Yes

Membrane Types Available:


Biopore Membrane (Hydrophilic PTFE)
For Low Protein-Binding, Live Cell Viewing, and Immunofluorescent Applications: Compared to other membrane matrices, this membrane exhibits little or no background when using fluorescent stains. It is also transparent to provide for optimum viewing of live cells. Biopore membrane is low protein-binding and requires extracellular matrix (ECM) coating for attachment dependent cells. ECMs are in the Proteins section of this handbook.

MF-Merck Membrane (Mixed Cellulose Esters)
For Exceptional anatomical and Functional Polarization and Growth of Attachment-dependent Cells without Matrix: The surfactant free, mixed cellulose esters membrane can be used for cell surface receptor, in vitro toxicology, microbial attachment and polarized uptake assays. When compared to plastic, cells had two- to three-fold higher densities and a more cuboidal morphology with rounded nuclei.

Isopore Membrane (Polycarbonate)
For Growth of Attachment-dependent Cells without Matri: This track-etched, hydrophilic polycarbonate membrane is tissue culture treated to allow growth of attachment-dependent cells without the use of extracellular matrix (ECM). It is especially recommended for transport/permeability applications. The inserts are available in 5 pore sizes.

PET Membrane (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
For Growth of Attachment-dependent Cells without Matrix: This track-etched, thin film membrane is translucent or microscopically transparent for better cell visualization and monitoring of the cell monolayer. It is tissue culture treated to promote cell attachment and growth.


Membrane Selection Guide
In Vitro Toxicology

Featured Protocols
Co-culturing Protocols
Co-culturing procedures involve growing two or more cell types in culture simultaneously. Two indirect co-culturing methods are described here.
  • Basic Indirect Co-culture on Both Sides of Millicell® Cell Culture Insert Membranes
    Note: Depending on the cell lines and the nature of the co-culture, the researcher can decide which side of the membrane is seeded first. To maintain sterile incubations of cells seeded on the underside of the membranes, use sterile Petri dishes for the Millicell® single-well inserts and sterile feeder trays for Millicell® 24- and 96-well cell culture insert plates.

    1.   Using an optimized seeding density, seed the first cell type in either the apical wells or on the basolateral underside of the membranes. Refer to the recommended working volumes chart (see page 42) for appropriate apical volumes. For basolateral seeding volumes, use approximately 200 ìL for Millicell® 12 mm single-well inserts and Millicell®-24 insert plates, and approximately 30 µL for Millicell®-96 insert plates.
    2.    Incubate in a 37°C CO2 incubator for 1 to 4 hours to allow the cells to attach to the membrane.
    3.    Gently turn the Millicell® device over and seed the second cell type in either the apical well or on the basolateral underside of the membrane.
    4.    Incubate in a 37°C CO2 in the incubator for 1 to 4 hours to allow the second cell type to attach.
    5.    Add appropriate volume of media to the apical or basolateral chambers and return to incubator.


  • Indirect Co-culture of Embryonic Stem Cells with Embryonic Fibroblasts
    A. Day 1
    1.   Coat T-75 flasks with 10 mL of 0.1% gelatin in DPBS and incubate for at least 30 minutes at 37°C.
    2.   Thaw PMEF vial (s) quickly in a 37°C water bath, transfer to 15 mL tube already containing 10 mL warm medium. Gently invert tube, and pellet cells at 4°C, ~1000 rpm for approximately 4–5 minutes.
    3.   Remove supernatant, resuspend cells, remove gelatin from plates/flasks, and aliquote feeder cell suspension per densities recommended below.
    4.   Remove excess gelatin from flask prior to seeding.
    5.   Seed flask with MEF feeder cell suspension: approximately 1.5 × 105 cells per mL MEF should result in 95% confluence within 24 hours.
    6.   Incubate at 37°C overnight.

    B. Day 2
    1.   Coat T-75 flasks with 10 mL of 0.1% gelatin in DPBS and incubate for at least 30 minutes at 37°C.
    2.   Thaw PMEF vial (s) quickly in a 37°C water bath, transfer to 15 mL tube already containing 10 mL warm medium. Gently invert tube, and pellet cells at 4°C, ~1000 rpm for approximately 4–5 minutes.
    3.   Remove supernatant, resuspend cells, remove gelatin from plates/flasks, and aliquote feeder cell suspension per densities recommended below.
    4.   Remove excess gelatin from flask prior to seeding.
    5.   Seed flask with MEF feeder cell suspension: approximately 1.5 × 105 cells per mL MEF should result in 95% confluence within 24 hours.
    6.   Incubate at 37°C overnight.

    C. Day 3
    1.   Feed ESC on MEF feeder layer with fresh ESC media.

    D. Day 4-8
    1.   Feed ESC on MEF feeder layer with fresh ESC media or pass cells, at a 1:2 ratio, if required. (After thawing ESC, 2–3 passages are preferred before seeding onto a Millicell®-24 or Millicell® 96-well plate. Both cell types are lifted at once and passed on to a new T-75 containing inactivated MEF.) ESC colonies grown on Millicell®-96 cell culture insert 1.0 PET membrane, stained for alkaline phosphatase activity, after culturing via indirect co-culture with ESC in apical well, at a 200 cell per well seeding density, and MEF in the single-well feeder tray.

    E. Day 9
    1.   Feed ESC on MEF feeder layer with fresh ESC media.
    2.   Coat Millicell®-24 or Millicell®-96 single-well feeder tray with approximately 5–10 mL of 25 µg/mL fibronectin in DPBS and incubate for 45 minutes at room temperature.
    3.   Remove excess fibronectin from single-well tray.
    4.   Thaw MEF using protocol from Day 1, section A.
    5.   Seed fibronectin coated single-well tray with MEF cell suspension: approximately 1.67 × 106 MEF cells per single-well tray will result in 95% confluence within 24 hours.
    6.   Cover with lid and incubate single-well tray at 37°C overnight.

    F. Day 10
    1.    Lift ESC and MEF feeder cells from T-75 flasks:
    2.   Wash flasks 2X with 10 mL of pre-warmed DPBS (incubate 1–2 minutes per wash).
    3.   Remove DPBS and add 3 mL TrypLE and incubate at room temp for 2–3 minutes.
    4.   Monitor detachment of cells with an inverted microscope and add ESC media to inactivate TrypLE.
    5.   Mix well and wash flask wall to remove all cells from flask.
    6.   Separate ESC from MEF feeder cells:
    7.   Transfer ESC/MEF cell suspension to a new T-75 flask and incubate at 37°C for 45 minutes.
    8.   Remove non-adherent cells (ESC) and transfer to another new T-75 flask and incubate at 37°C for 45 minutes.
    9.   Remove non-adherent cells (ESC) again and seed cell culture filter plate wells with ESC suspension.
    10.   Seed apical wells of the cell culture plates with ESC. Seed approximately 200–500 cells per well in 100 µL ESC media for Millicell®-96 plates and approximately 1000–1500 cells per well in 400 µL ESC media for Millicell®-24 plates.
    11.   Remove media from the MEF seeded single-well trays and replace with approximately 28–32 mL ESC media.
    12.   Combine ESC seeded cell culture filter plates to MEF seeded single-well trays.
    13.   Incubate assembly at 37°C overnight.

    G. Day 12 and Day 14
    1.   Feed ESC and MEF indirect co-culture with ESC media.

    H. Day 16
    1.   Analyze alkaline phosphatase activity to demonstrate that ESC is undifferentiated with an alkaline phosphatase detection kit.

    Note: This protocol is designed to grow undifferentiated embryonic stem cells in an indirect co-culture with the fibroblast feeder layer. Although it is targeted for use with Millicell®-24 and Millicell®-96 plates, this protocol can be used with Millicell® single-well inserts as well.

    Materials and Reagents
    • Millicell®-24 cell culture insert plates — Merck cat. nos. PSHT 010 R5, PSRP 010 R5
    • Millicell®-96 cell culture insert plates — Merck cat. no. MACA C02 B5
    • Primary mouse embryo fibroblasts (DMEF) — Merck cat. no. PMEF-CFL
    • 129/S6 Murine embryonic stem cells (ESC) — Merck cat. no. SCR012
    ESC Media:
    • Knock out DMEM — Merck cat. no. SLM-220-B
    • 20% ES qualified Serum — Merck cat. no. ES-009-B
    • 1% Glutamax-1
    • 1% PenStrep — Merck cat. no. TMS-ABZ-C
    • 1% Non Essential Amino Acids — Merck cat. no. TMS-001-C
    • 0.1% ESGRO® (LIF) — Merck cat. no. ESG1106
    • 0.1% 2-mercaptoethanol — Merck cat. no. ES-007-E
    MEF Media:
    • DMEM — Merck cat. no. SLM-022-B
    • 10% Fetal Bovine Serum — Merck cat. no. ES-009-B
    • 1% Glutamax-1
    • 1% PenStrep — Merck cat. no. TMS-ABZ-C
    • 1% Non Essential Amino Acids — Merck cat. no. TMS-001-C
    • Gelatin 2% Solution — Merck cat. no. SF008
    • Mitomycin C powder — Sigma cat. no. M4287
    • DPBS — Merck cat. no. BSS-1005-B
    • TrypLE™ Select (1X), liquid — Invitrogen cat. no. 12563
    Tissue culture flasks and tubes
    • Fibronectin Solution, 1mg/mL — Merck cat. no. FC010
    Other:
    • Alkaline phosphatase detection kit — Merck cat. no. SCR004


ECM Coating Protocols
Coating of membranes and plastic surfaces with extra cellular matrices (ECMs) promotes cell attachment and monolayer formation. We have developed protocols for four types of ECMs on Millicell®-CM inserts. They are also useful for growing cells on plastic feeder trays in co-culture experiments.
  • Collagen Type 1 Coating
    Materials
    • Millicell® inserts and plates.
    • 70% Ethanol (filter sterilized with a Millex-GP filter unit . Merck cat. no. SLGP 033 RS; or a Stericup-GP filter cup . Merck cat. no. SCG-P U11 RE)
    • Rat Tail Collagen, Type 1, approximately 3 mg/mL (Merck cat. no. 08-115)
    • Sterile pipette syringes and tips

    Note: An alternate collagen source (Type I) of suitable concentration diluted in 0.01 N HCl or acetic acid may also be used.

    Method
    1.    Dilute the collagen 1:4 in 70% ethanol (1 part collagen and 3 parts 70% ethanol) and vortex until the collagen is solubilized.
    2.    Gather the applicable number of Millicell® inserts or plates.
    3.    Using a sterile pipette syringe, add the appropriate volume of the collagen/ethanol mixture to each well.
    4.    Gently shake the cell culture plate until the collagen/ethanol mixture evenly coats the inside of the insert.
    5.    Air dry inserts in a laminar flow hood. Leave cell culture plate cover ajar to allow airflow and prevent condensation. Note: Although drying typically takes anywhere from 3 hours to overnight, overnight drying is recommended.
    6.    Seed the Millicell® insert with appropriate cell density (for example, MDCK cells: approximately 5×104 to 5×105 cells/cm2).

    Volumes for Coating Millicell® Devices
    Coating(24-well)(12-well)(6-well)(Millicell® 24)(Millicell® 96)
    Collagen (Collagen/Ethanol mix) 50 µL 150 µL 400 µL 100 µL 25 µL
    Fibronectin* (Fibronectin/DMEM mix) 100 µL 300 µL 700 µL 200 µL 50 µL
    Laminin* (Laminin/DMEM mix) 100 µL 300 µL 700 µL 200 µL 50 µL
    Matrigel* (Matrigel/H2O solution) 100 µL 300 µL 700 µL 200 µL 50 µL
    *Can be used on any Millicell® membrane
    *Matrigel is a registered trademark of Becton, Dickinson and Company

  • Fibronectin Coating
    Materials
    • Millicell® inserts and plates.
    • Sterile pipette syringes and tips

    Human Fibronectin, 1 mg/mL reconstituted. Handle and store according to manufacturer's instructions.

    Method
    1.    Dilute the fibronectin 1:10 in the serum-free DMEM (1 part fibronectin in 9 parts DMEM) and vortex until fibronectin is solubilized.
    2.    Gather the applicable number of Millicell® inserts or plates.
    3.    Using a sterile pipette syringe, add the appropriate volume of the fibronectin/DMEM mixture to each well.
    4.    Gently shake the cell culture plate until the fibronectin/DMEM mixture evenly coats the Millicell®-CM insert(s).
    5.    Air dry inserts overnight in a laminar flow hood. Leave cell culture plate cover ajar to allow airflow and prevent condensation. Note: Although drying typically takes anywhere from 3 hours to overnight drying is recommended
    6.    Seed the Millicell® insert with appropriate cell density (for example, MDCK cells: approximately 5×104 to 5×105 cells/cm2).


  • Laminin Coating
    Materials
    • Millicell® inserts and plates.
    • Sterile pipette syringes and tips

    Laminin, 1 mg/mL (Catalogue Number: 08-125). Handle and store according to manufacturer's instructions.

    Method
    1.   Dilute the Laminin 1:10 in DMEM (1 part laminin in 9 parts DMEM) and vortex until the laminin is solubilized.
    2.   Gather the applicable number of Millicell® inserts or plates.
    3.   Using a sterile pipette syringe, add the appropriate volume of the laminin/DMEM mixture to each well.
    4.   Gently shake the cell culture plate until the laminin/DMEM mixture evenly coats the Millicell® inserts.
    5.   Air dry inserts overnight in a laminar flow hood. Leave the cell culture plate cover ajar to allow airflow and prevent condensation. Note: Although drying typically takes anywhere from 3 hours to overnight, overnight drying is recommended.
    6.   Seed the Millicell® insert with appropriate cell density (for example, MDCK cells: approximately 5×104 to 5× 105 cells/cm2).


  • Matrigel Coating
    Materials
    • Millicell® inserts and plates.
    • Sterile pipette syringes and tips

    Method
    1.   Dilute Matrigel according to manufacturer’s instructions.
    2.   Gather the applicable number of Millicell® inserts or plates.
    3.   Using a sterile pipette syringe, add the appropriate volume of the Matrigel mixture to each well.
    4.   Gently shake the cell culture plate until the Matrigel solution evenly coats the Millicell® insert.
    5.   Air dry inserts overnight in a laminar flow hood. Leave cell culture plate cover ajar to allow airflow and prevent condensation. Note: Although drying typically takes anywhere from 3 hours to overnight, overnight drying is recommended.
    6.   Seed Millicell®-CM insert with appropriate cell density (for example, MDCK cells: approximately 5×104 to 5×105 cells/cm2).


Fixation and Staining Protocols
Millicell® cell culture inserts, 24-well plates and 96-well plates are designed to support all fixation, staining and immunostaining procedures in a single device. Cells can be visualized by stereoscopic microscopy, phase contrast microscopy, or fluorescent methods. Many staining procedures employ a fixation step first. Fixation is required to stabilize sub-cellular morphology and prevent degradation of antigens during subsequent staining procedures. The following are examples of fixing and staining protocols.
  • Membrane Chemical Compatibility
    Consult the following table for chemical compatibility information with common fixative chemicals. 
    PSHACMPCFPET
    Acetic Acid
    NR
    NR
    NR
    NR
    R
    R
    R
    NR
    NR Acetone
    R
    Acetronite NR NR R NR ND
    Ammonium Hydroxide TST
    R
    TST
    NR
    NR
    NR
    R
    R
    R
    TST
    NR
    R
    ND DMSO
    ND Alcohols
    R
    Formaldehyde NR NR R R R
    Glutaraldehyde RS
    R
    ND
    R
    R
    R
    ND
    R
    ND Glycerol
    R
    Hydrochloric Acid, IN R
    RS
    R
    NR
    R
    R
    R
    R
    R Methanol
    ND Sodium
    Dodecyl Sulfate ND R ND TST ND Sodium
    Hydroxide, 3N R NR R NR TST
    TCA (aqueous solution) ND NR R TST NR
    Triton® x-100 Surfactant R R R R R

    PS = PS (polystyrene) Membrane 
    HA = HA (mixed cellulose) Membrane
    CM = CM (polytetra-fluoro-ethylene) Membrane
    PCF = PCF (polycarbonate) membrane
    PET = PET (polyterepthalate) membrane

    General Considerations
    • Compatibility key:
    • R=recommended
    • NR=not recommended
    • RS=recommended for short term use
    • TST=testing recommended
    • ND=no data available
    • If the chemicals are compatible with the membrane but not the polystyrene housing, remove the membrane from the housing before adding the chemical.
    • Unless otherwise stated, the chemicals listed are at maximum concentration. If the plastic housing and/or membranes are not compatible with the maximum concentration, they might be compatible at lower concentration.



  • Toluidine Blue Staining
    Materials
    • Millicell® inserts or insert plates
    • Milli-Q® water
    • Millex-GP filter unit — Merck cat. no. SLGP 033 RS
    • Toluidine blue (Sigma)
    • 3% glutaraldehyde in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)
    • Triton X-100 (Sigma), 0.5% Method

    Method
    1.   Prepare a 0.3 % solution (gram percent) of toluidine blue in Milli-Q® water, stir, and filter through a Millex-GP filter unit.
    2.   Remove the Millicell® insert from the plate and wash gently with PBS to remove growth media.
    3.   Fix the cells for 15 minutes with 3% glutaraldehyde in PBS.
    4.   Rinse gently with Milli-Q® water. Repeat twice
    5.   Permeabilize the cells with 0.5% Triton X-100 for 5 minutes.
    6.   Rinse gently with Milli-Q® water. Repeat twice.
    7.   Apply stain to the apical cell side of membrane for 30–60 seconds.
    8.   Observe as a wet mount.



  • Hema-3 Quick Stain
    The Hema-3® stain kit is a quick (less than 15 minutes) nuclear staining procedure that can be used with all Millicell® cell culture products. The kit is available through Fisher (cat. no. 22–122911).


  • Wright’s Staining
    Materials
    • Millicell®-CM cell culture plate inserts — Merck cat. nos. PICM 012 50, PICM 030 50
    • 3% glutaraldehyde in Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)
    • Milli-Q® water
    • 100% methanol
    • Wright’s stain

    Method
    1.   Remove the Millicell®-CM insert from the plate and wash gently with PBS to remove growth media.
    2.   Fix the cells for 15 minutes with 3% glutaraldehyde in PBS.
    3.   Rinse gently with Milli-Q® water. Repeat twice
    4.   Rinse once with methanol and incubate in fresh methanol for 5 minutes.
    5.   Aspirate the methanol. Add Wright’s stain to cover the inside membrane.
    6.   Incubate for 30 seconds.
    7.   Rinse gently with Milli-Q® water. Repeat three times.
    8.   Observe as a wet mount.



  • Hematoxylin Staining for Millicell®-HA

    Note: Standard histological hematoxylin and eosin staining techniques can be performed on thin sections.

    Materials
    • Millicell®-HA cell culture inserts — Merck cat. no. PIHA 012 50, PIHA 030 50
    • Millex-GP filter unit — Merck cat. no. SLGP 033 RS
    • 3% glutaraldehyde in PBS, store at 4°C
    • Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)
    • 0.5% Triton X-100 (Sigma) in Milli-Q® water
    • Hematoxylin solution, HHS-1, 7.5 g/L
    • 0.5% Triton X-100 (Sigma) in Milli-Q® water
    • Dilute ammonium hydroxide (8–10 drops concentrated ammonium hydroxide in 100 mL of water)
    • 0.5% hydrochloric acid in 70% ethanol
    • Milli-Q® water
    • Cork borer

    Method
    1.   Filter hematoxylin solution through a Millex-GP unit and cover the cell layer.
    2.   Incubate for 15 minutes at room temperature.
    3.   Rinse the Millicell®-HA insert with Milli-Q® water to remove stain. Repeat twice.
    4.   Destain by adding 0.5% hydrochloric acid in 70% ethanol for 2–3 minutes.
    5.   Rinse with Milli-Q® water. Repeat twice.
    6.   Add dilute ammonium hydroxide into the Millicell®-HA insert to cover the membrane. Incubate for 3 minutes or until a uniform blue color is observed on the membrane.
    7.   Rinse with Milli-Q® water. Repeat twice.
    8.   Using a cork borer remove membrane. Mount membrane on a slide in a commercial mounting medium. Make sure the cell layer is facing the microscope objective.



  • Hematoxylin Staining for Millicell-CM
    Materials
    • Millicell®-CM Culture Plate Inserts — Merck cat. nos. PICM 012 50, PICM 030 50
    • Millex-GP Filter Unit — Merck cat. no. SLGP 033 RS
    • Milli-Q® water
    • Sterile Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS)
    • 3% glutaraldehyde in PBS, store at 4°C
    • Methanol
    • 0.5% Triton X-100 in Milli-Q® water
    • Hematoxylin solution (Gill No. 1), filter sterilized with a Millex-GP unit (Merck cat. no. SLGP 033 RS)
    • 0.5% hydrochloric acid in 70% ethanol
    • Dilute ammonium hydroxide (8–10 drops concentrated ammonium hydroxide in 100 mL of water)
    • Mounting media

    Method
    1.   Remove the Millicell®-CM insert from the plate and wash gently with PBS to remove growth media.
    2.   Add 3% glutaraldehyde (at 4°C) in PBS (pH 7.3) to the inside and outside (cell culture plate well) of the Millicell®-CM device. Leave for 15 minutes.
    3.   Carefully remove glutaraldehyde. Add methanol to the inside and outside (cell culture plate well) of the Millicell®-CM unit. Leave for 10 minutes.
    4.   Carefully remove methanol. Add 0.5% Triton X-100 to the inside and outside (cell culture plate well) of the Millicell®-CM unit. Leave for 5 minutes.
    5.   Carefully remove Triton X-100. Add hematoxylin solution (Gill No. 1, Sigma Chemical, filtered with a Millex unit). Leave for 15 minutes.
    6.   Wash the Millicell®-CM insert gently with Milli-Q® water. Repeat twice.
    7.   Add 0.5% hydrochloric acid in 70% ethanol for 45 seconds to remove excess stain.
    8.   Rinse with Milli-Q® water. Repeat twice.
    9.   Add diluted ammonium hydroxide and leave for approximately 45 seconds.
    10.  Rinse with Milli-Q® water. Repeat twice.
    11.  Store wet or mount for microscopy.



  • General Immunofluorescent Protocol for Millicell® Products
    Immunocytochemical staining is a technique employing fluorescently labeled antibody, by which cells can be localized, labeled, and examined via fluorescent microscopy.

    Materials and Reagents
    • Millicell® Cell Culture Inserts and Insert Plates
    • Sterile Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS)
    • Methanol, 100%
    • Glycerol
    • FITC-conjugated antibody
    • 1% BSA in PBS
    • Glass slides

    Method
    1.   Aspirate cell culture media and wash Millicell® inserts or plates gently on both sides with PBS. Incubate for 5 minutes and repeat 2–3X. Consult the recommended working volumes table for appropriate volumes.
    2.   Add fixative solution (e.g. methanol) for 5–10 minutes. It is not required to treat the underside of the membrane with fixative. Incubate according to protocol instructions.
    3.   After treatment, aspirate fixative and fill filter wells with washing buffer. Repeat 2–3X in order to fully remove the fixative solution from both sides of the filter membrane. Do not allow cells to dry.
    4.   Dilute primary antibody according to vendor recommendations. In order to obtain best results, it is recommended that optimal working dilutions be determined by the user. If permeabilization is required (such as for cytoplasmic or nuclear antigens), saponin can be added to the solution at a concentration of 0.1%
    5.   Add antibody solution to each well then incubate at recommended temperature (typically room temperature or 4°C) with mild shaking or rocking to assure that solution wets out entire filter surface. If antibody is fluorescently labeled (direct labeling), cover plate with foil to protect from light.
    6.   Aspirate antibody solution and wash both sides of membrane as indicated in Step 1 to remove all unbound antibody.
    7.   If performing indirect labeling with a secondary antibody, repeat steps 4 through 6 with the secondary antibody. For visualization using fluorescent antibodies, continue to Visualization and Microscopy procedures. For enzyme linked assays (HRP, etc.), follow vendor procedures for developing.



  • Visualization and Microscopy

    The Microscopic Examination of Samples Can Be Performed in Three Modes:
    1.   Viewing from below the plate (through transparent PET or CM membranes)
    Millicell® devices using PET or CM membrane have been designed to allow visualization of cells from below using an inverted microscope. For viewing live cells, microscopic observations can be made through the receiver or plastic plate containing media. In order to focus on the cells, the microscope objective (typically 5–20X) must have an appropriate working distance. (For objective specifications, visit the websites listed in the Microscope Objective Information section.) Fixed cells that do not require to be visualized in media can be viewed directly without the receiver plate. However, care should be taken not to contaminate the objective with liquid residue (media, mounting fluid) on the membrane.
    2.   Viewing from above the plate (Millicell® 6-well inserts, Millicell®-24 cell culture insert plates)
    Some cell culture platforms can allow the cells to be viewed in a conventional microscope directly from above using low magnification. Cells can be visualized through the lid to maintain sterility or with the lid removed for fixed cells or when maintenance of sterility is not required. Working distances of the objective must be longer when reading from above compared to when reading from below. If using immunofluorescence, it is recommended to use a mounting fluid that contains an anti-fade additive to prevent photobleaching.
    3.   Visualizing membranes on microscope slides (for higher magnification or withobjectives with short working distances [less than 2 mm])
    The membrane can be removed from each well for microscopic evaluation. This allows for higher magnification examination and storage of the slides for future use.

    Merck:/Freestyle/BI-Bioscience/Cell-Culture/cell-culture-images/visualizing-cells.bmp
    For visualizing from above the membrane, typically 5–20X objectives are used that have at least a 13.59 mm (A) or a 18.03 mm (B) working distance when viewing without or with the lid, respectively. For visualizing from below the membrane, 5–20X objectives are used that have at least a 2 mm (C) working distance.

    To prepare membranes on microscope slide
    1.   Remove the membrane from the well using a sharp scalpel to make a small incision in the edge of the membrane. Carefully cut along the inside of the well wall for approximately one quarter of the well diameter. Using forceps (Merck cat. no. XX62 000 06), carefully hold the membrane while continuing to cut around the well diameter to remove membrane. Alternatively, a cork borer may be used to remove the membrane. Note: Use care to prevent membrane from curling.
    2.   Place the membrane disk, cells facing up, onto a microscope slide.
    3.   Add 50 µL mounting fluid to the membrane disk and allow it to wet out in order to prevent bubbles under the disk.
    4.   Slowly lower a cover slip onto the membrane at an angle to allow air bubbles to be removed.

    Microscope Objective Information
    Information regarding microscope objective magnification power and working distances can be obtained from individual optical dealers or from the microscope vendors:

    Note It is assumed that users of this procedure will be knowledgeable in TEM procedures.

    Materials and Reagents
    • Millicell® Cell Culture Inserts
    • Phosphate Buffered Solution (PBS)
    • Glutaraldehyde
    • Osmium tetroxide
    • Sodium cacodylate
    • Sucrose, reagent grade
    • Calcium chloride
    • Lead nitrate
    • Sodium citrate/Sodium hydroxide
    • Uranyl acetate
    • Ethanol
    • Flat embedding trays
    • Embedding Resin (i.e. EPON812)
    • Fine forceps — Merck cat. no. XX66 000 06
    • Diamond Knife
    • Cork Borer
    • Durapore Filter Disk — Merck

    Sample Pictures

    Merck:/Freestyle/BI-Bioscience/Cell-Culture/cell-culture-images/murine.bmp
    Living murine embryonic stem cell derived embryoid bodies visualized in a 1 um PET Millicell®-24 device using an Olympus IMT-2 inverted microscope

    Merck:/Freestyle/BI-Bioscience/Cell-Culture/cell-culture-images/neuron.bmp
    Neuron differentiation of embryonic stem cells in Millicell®-24 1 um PET filter plates. Murine embryonic stem cells were formed into suspended embryoid bodies (EBs), then transferred to 1 um PET Millicell®-24 plates for attachment and differentiation. The photo inset shows the inverted phase contrast through membrane of live EBs in the media. Neural differentiation after netinoic acid treatment of attached EBs was confirmed by anti-neurofilament immunofluoresence.

    A. Processing/Cell Preparation
    Note: Steps 1–5 should be done on an intact Millicell® cell culture insert or plate well.

    1.   Wash cells briefly (2 times for 5 minutes each) at room temperature with phosphate buffered solution without fixative.
    2.   Fix cells in 2% glutaraldehyde in 100 mm sodium cacodylate buffer, pH 7.5, at room temperature from 15 minutes to 2 hours.
    3.   Wash cells (2 times for 5 minutes each) in 100 mm sodium cacodylate buffer at room temperature. Note: At this point, cells can be stored in the above buffer with 7 g sucrose/100 mL buffer at 4°C.
    4.   Fix cells in 1% osmium tetroxide in either 100 mm sodium cacodylate or suitable phosphate buffer.
    5.   Dehydrate cells in the following concentrations of ethanol:

    Ethanol Concentration Kit (%)Time (minutes)
    30 15
    50 15
    70 15
    95 15
    100 3 x 15

    Note: Dehydration of Millicell®-HA units should be performed in a metal pan that will be used as the embedding tray due to the tendency of the cellulosic membranes to be less rigid during the dehydration process. Attempts to transfer the membranes during these steps could lead to mechanical damage to the cells.

    6.   For infiltration, EPON812, an EDPON substitution, or LX112 is suitable for both devices (do not use Spurr’s). The following is a general infiltration scheme:

    Ethanol Concentration Kit (%)/Tray (% Plastic)Time (minutes)
    75/25 30 on a shaker
    50/50 30 on a shaker
    0/100 30 each/3x on a shaker
    0/100 Overnight


    Note: It is not necessary to use any other agent, such as propylene oxide, with plastic. Propylene oxide will dissolve the cellulosic filters. In addition, the standard inversion/rotation of specimens used in these steps is not advised since either (1) damage to the cell layer or (2) stretching of the cellulosic filter may occur. Mild shaking on a gel shaker apparatus is sufficient for successful infiltration.

    Note: Before the next step the membrane must be detached from the surrounding plastic ring. Sometimes this will occur without manipulation since the EPON may loosen the membrane-to-ring bond. If this does not occur, use a sharp scalpel or a cork borer and cut the membrane. It may also help to cut the membrane over a 47 mm filter support disk. Under no circumstances should the membrane be left attached to the ring during polymerization.

    7.   Transfer to fresh plastic and polymerize at 68°C overnight.

    B. Sectioning Notes
    1.   Nitrocellulose (HA), polycarbonate (PC) and polyethylene terepthalate (PET) membrane: These membranes can be sectioned in any plane without difficulty.
    2.   CM (Biopore) membrane: The Biopore membrane must be processed in one of two ways based on the final thickness of the section.