Notes

• This collagen calculator is valid for ibidi Collagen, Rat Tail, and Bovine. Using collagen from other manufacturers may result in incorrect pH and gelation behavior.
• Please find the lot-specific collagen concentration here.
• All ingredients are listed in the order of pipetting.
• If no cells are required within the gel, use 1x medium instead of cell suspension.
• Add supplements (e.g., L-glutamine, growth factors, inhibitors, serum, etc.) to the 1x medium without cells in advance.
• Adjust the protocol according to the total volume needed, but avoid pipetting volumes less than 1 µl.
• Note that 10x media typically do not contain NaHCO₃. Add it to the gel as described in the instructions.
• If the “Volume H₂O” becomes negative, either decrease the target collagen concentration or increase the concentration of the collagen solution.
• For PBS applications: PBS gels are suitable only for 2D applications with cells grown on the gel surface. PBS gels allow for the highest possible collagen concentration. When using PBS gels, no cell suspension, 1x medium, or NaHCO₃ are needed.
• This calculator can be used to calculate the volumes of components for making 3D collagen gels (not collagen surface coatings).
• Because of the high viscosity, we highly recommend the use of 5 mg/ml instead of 10 mg/ml collagen, whenever possible.
• For a more detailed explanation, refer to Application Note 26.