Collagen, Type I from Rat Tail is at a concentration of approximately 4 mg/mL in a 0.2M acetic acid solution (pH 3.0). Rat Tail collagen is soluble telo-collagen. This collagen product is provided in user-friendly packaging for use and storage. This product is sterile filtered and is supplied as a ready to use solution.

This product is ideal for coating of surfaces, providing preparation of thin layers for culturing cells, or use as a solid gel.  Rat Tail Collagen is suitable for applications using a variety of cell lines including hepatocytes, fibroblasts and epithelial cells.

Note: Employ aseptic practices to maintain the sterility of the product throughout the preparation and handling of the collagen and other solutions.

1. Transfer desired volume of collagen solution from the bottle to a dilution vessel if required. Further dilute to desired concentration using sterile 0.1% acetic acid solution. A typical working concentration may range from 10 to 100 ug/mL. Note: Use these recommendations as guidelines to determine the optimal coating conditions for your culture system.
2. Add appropriate amount of diluted Rat Tail collagen to the culture surface.
3. Incubate at room temperature or 37°C, covered, for 1-2 hours.
4. After incubation, aspirate any remaining material.
5. Rinse coated surfaces carefully with sterile medium or PBS, avoid scratching surfaces.
6. Coated surfaces are ready for use. They may also be stored at 2-8°C damp or air dried if sterility is maintained.

Note:  It is recommended that the collagen and other working solutions be chilled and kept on ice during the preparation of the collagen.

1. Place the following reagents on ice: – Type I Rat Tail collagen (4 mg/mL) – Sterile PBS (10X) – Sterile Cell Culture Water (dH2O) – Sterile 1 N NaOH
2.  Determine the final volume and concentration required of Rat Tail collagen required.
3.  Determine the amounts of reagents required to yield Rat Tail collagen at the concentration and pH required: a. Volume of Collagen needed = (Final Concentration) X (Total Volume) (Initial Concentration of Collagen)
4. Volume of 10X PBS needed = Total Volume 10 c. Volume of 1N NaOH needed = Volume of Collagen X 0.017 mL
5. Volume of dH2O needed = Total Volume – (Sum of a + b+ c)
6.  Mix the volumes calculated for 10X PBS, NaOH and dH2O in a sterile tube.
7.  Add Rat Tail collagen to the tube with the reagents and pipet up and down to mix. Vortexing is not recommended.
8. Dispense the Rat Tail collagen mixture in the desired sterile plates or culture vessels.
9. Incubate at 37°C for 1 hour for gel formation