Product Description

Poly-L-Lysine is a synthetic amino acid chain that is positively charged having one hydrobromide per unit of Lysine. Poly-L-Lysine is widely used as a coating to enhance cell attachment and adhesion to both plasticware and glass surfaces.  This molecule has been used to culture a wide variety of cell types.  Certain cell types secrete proteases, which can digest Poly-L-Lysine.  For those cell types, Poly-D-Lysine, Catalog # 5049 should be used.

The molecular weight of Poly-L-Lysine can vary significantly with lower molecular weight (30,000 Da) being less viscous and higher molecular weight (>300,000 Da) having more binding sites per molecule.  This product’s molecular weight ranges from 70,000 to 150,000 Da yielding a solution viscosity for easy handling while providing sufficient binding sites for cell attachment.

Poly-L-Lysine surface coatings are designed to improve cell attachment, growth and differentiation of many cell types.  

Coated surfaces will often improve cell attachment in reduced or serum-free conditions.  This product is supplied in a sterile 50 ml package size at a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml.

Parameter, Testing, and Method Poly-L-Lysine #5048
Form Solution
Package Size 50 mL
Storage Temperature 2-10°C
Sterilization Method Filtration
Molecular Weight 70,000 - 150,000 Da
Sterility - USP modified No Growth
Cell Attachment Assay Pass
Source Synthetic
Shelf Life Minimum of 6 months from date of receipt
Concentration 0.1 mg/mL

Directions for Use

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Use these recommendations as guidelines to determine the optimal coating conditions for your culture system.  To maintain sterility, perform all operations in a laminar flow hood.

A typical working concentration is 0.1 mg/mL. If a different concentration is desired, transfer desired volume of solution from the bottle to a dilution vessel.  Dilute to desired concentration using tissue culture grade water or PBS.

  1. Add appropriate amount of diluted material to culture surface. Typically, 1 ml per 25 cm2 is used. Rock gently to ensure uniform coating of culture surface.
  2. After 5 minutes, remove excess solution by aspiration.
  3. Thoroughly rinse surface with tissue culture grade water.
  4. Incubate and allow to dry at room temperature or 37°C, covered, for at least 2 hours.
  5. Introduce medium and cells to the culture surface.
  6. Store remaining Poly-L-Lysine at 2 to 10°C.

Product Q & A

This product is manufactured solely from synthetic materials and does not contain any raw materials or substances derived from animal origin.

Product References

References for Poly-L-Lysine:

Påhlman, Lisa I., et al. "Hypoxia down-regulates expression of secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor in bronchial epithelial cells via TGF-β1." BMC pulmonary medicine 15.1 (2015): 19.

Li, Yun, et al. "Imaging pHluorin-tagged receptor insertion to the plasma membrane in primary cultured mouse neurons." JoVE (Journal of Visualized Experiments) 69 (2012): e4450.

Morand, David-Nicolas, et al. "Active nanofibrous membrane effects on gingival cell inflammatory response." Materials 8.10 (2015): 7217-7229.

Thuault, Sylvie, et al. "The RhoE/ROCK/ARHGAP25 signaling pathway controls cell invasion by inhibition of Rac activity." Molecular biology of the cell 27.17 (2016): 2653-2661.

Popielarski, Marcin, et al. "The role of Protein Disulfide Isomerase and thiol bonds modifications in activation of integrin subunit alpha11." Biochemical and biophysical research communications 495.2 (2018): 1635-1641.

Wu, Kun Lieh, et al. "Effects of culturing media on hepatocytes differentiation using Volvox sphere as co-culturing vehicle." Biochemical and biophysical research communications 458.3 (2015): 620-625.

Santio, Niina M., et al. "The PIM1 kinase promotes prostate cancer cell migration and adhesion via multiple signalling pathways." Experimental cell research 342.2 (2016): 113-124.

Product Certificate of Analysis

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Safety and Documentation

Safety Data Sheet

Certificate of Origin

Product Disclaimer

This product is for R&D use only and is not intended for human or other uses. Please consult the Material Safety Data Sheet for information regarding hazards and safe handling practices.