Product Introduction
Alcian Blue 8GX is a member of the Alcian Blue dye family and is widely used for the staining of acidic polysaccharides, such as glycosaminoglycans in cartilage or other tissues, and exopolysaccharides secreted by cells. Chondrogenic differentiation of hMSC in 3D spheroid culture results in the formation of cartilage with a typical extracellular matrix rich in aggrecan. Aggrecan is a proteoglycan that can be used as an indicator for cartilage formation and can be detected with Alcian Blue, a dark-blue copper-containing dye. Alcain Blue staining is an indication of the formation of mature chondrocytes. The staining intensity can be varied using different conditions of hMSC (e.g., types, age, and passage number).
Product Application
Use for staining of chondrocytes after chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), and recommend especially for staining verification after chondrogenic differentiation using MSCgoTM Chondrogenic XF medium.