Cultrex 3-D Culture Matrix Reduced Factor Basement Membrane Extract (RGF BME) is a soluble form of basement membrane purified from Engelbreth-Holm-Swarm (EHS) tumor. This extract provides a natural extracellular matrix hydrogel that polymerizes at 37°C to form a reconstituted basement membrane. Cultrex 3-D Culture Matrix RGF BME is produced and qualified specifically for use in 3-D culture studies. It provides the foundation for cells to grow in three dimensions allowing for the formation of complex in vitro structures. To provide the most standardized basement membrane extract for use in 3-D cultures, a special process is employed to reduce growth factors and manufacture matrix at a standard and consistent concentration. This product is then evaluated in 3-D culture assays to validate efficacy. Basement membranes are continuous sheets of specialized extracellular matrix that form an interface between endothelial, epithelial, muscle, or neuronal cells and their adjacent stroma and that play an essential role in tissue organization by influencing cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. The major components of BME include laminin, collagen IV, entactin, and heparin sulfate proteoglycans.
