Cell culture is a fundamental research technique in life sciences and has become an important means of modern biomedical research. Cell culture plates are commonly used and important laboratory consumables in cell culture experiments. Choosing the appropriate cell culture plate has a crucial impact on the growth of cells and the accuracy of experimental results. Cell culture plates can be classified into flat-bottom, round-bottom (U-shaped) and V-bottom (V-shaped) types based on the different shapes of their bottoms. The number of culture Wells includes 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 384, 1536 Wells, etc. The surface treatment methods include TC treatment and ultra-low adsorption treatment. The colors include transparent, white, black, etc. So how to choose the appropriate cell culture plate for the experiment from so many specifications？
Selection of Number of Wells
The number of Wells in cell culture plates includes 4 Wells, 6 Wells, 12 Wells, 24 Wells, 48 Wells, 96 Wells and 384 Wells. Culture plates with different numbers of Wells can cultivate different numbers of cells (Table 1), and their final application scenarios will also be different.The selection of the number of Wells mainly depends on the flux level required for the experiment and the specific experimental requirements.The selection of the number of Wells mainly depends on the flux level required for the experiment and the specific experimental requirements.For instance, in experiments related to WB and flow cytometry detection, a large amount of cell samples are required, and the final detection throughput is relatively low. Generally, 6-well plates and 24-well plates are chosen.For instance, CTG experiments, CCK8 experiments, and MTT experiments have relatively high throughput. The final detection methods can be automated, and most can choose 96-well plates or 384-well plates.
Cell Cultrue Plate | Base Area（cm²） | Add the amount of culture medium（mL） | Available cell quantity |
4-well Cell Culture Plate | 28 | 5 | 7×10⁶ |
6-well Cell Culture Plate | 9.6 | 2.5 | 2.5×10⁶ |
12-well Cell Culture Plate | 4.5 | 2 | 10⁶ |
24-well Cell Culture Plate | 2 | 1 | 5×10⁵ |
96-well Cell Culture Plate | 0.32 | 0.1 | 10⁵ |
Table 1 General Information of Different Types of Cell Culture Plates
Selection of Bottom Shape
Cell culture plates are mainly classified into three types based on the different shapes of their bottoms: flat-bottom, round-bottom (U-shaped), and V-bottom (V-shaped).The flat bottom can be used for any type of cell culture and is the most frequently used in our daily cell culture experiments.Generally, for special experimental requirements, round-bottom (U-shaped) and V-bottom (V-shaped) culture plates are used, but they are less frequently employed in daily experiments.Round bottom (U-shaped) plates are mostly used for culturing suspension cells. For instance, when immunological experiments require the mixed culture of two different types of lymphocytes and they need to come into contact to stimulate each other, the round bottom (U-shaped) plate can use gravity to gather cells in a small area.The cells in the V-bottom (V-shaped) plate are in close contact and are generally used in cell killing experiments, which can make the effective target cells closely contact. [A round-bottom (U-shaped) plate can also be used as a substitute. After adding the cells, low-speed centrifugation is sufficient.
Selection of Surface Treatment
The main treatment methods for cell culture plates include TC treatment and non-TC treatment. Which surface treatment method to choose mainly depends on whether the cultured cells are adherent cells or conventional cells. The raw material generally used for cell culture plates is polystyrene, which is hydrophobic. For adherent cells, they need to adhere to the hydrophilic surface and grow laterally. Cell culture plates treated with TC, after surface modification, are more suitable for adherent cell culture.
Selection of Color
The color of cell culture plates is closely related to their application.The colors of cell culture plates mainly include transparent, white and black.
If cells are observed with a phase contrast microscope or the naked eye, transparent cell culture plates can be chosen. For applications outside the visible light spectrum (such as cold light or fluorescence), colored cell culture plates (such as white or black) must be used.When using an instrument that reads from the top, the bottom should be opaque. However, when using a microscope or an instrument that reads from the bottom, a culture plate with a transparent bottom should be selected.Cold light samples usually have a white surface to maximize the reflectivity of the signal, while for fluorescence applications larger than 300nm, a black surface is typically used to absorb the excitation signal.Meanwhile, the colored surface can also prevent signal crosstalk between adjacent holes. The different color culture plates adopted in specific applications are summarized as follows:
- Luminescence detection (cold light) – White cell culture plate So as to maximize the reflectivity of the signal.
- Fluorescence detection (fluorescence) – Black cell culture plate To absorb the excitation signal, it can prevent signal crosstalk between adjacent holes.
- Top reading – opaque cell culture plate at the bottom.
- Microscope or bottom reading – cell culture plates with transparent bottoms
Order Information
Catalog Number | Product Name | No. of wells | Color | Qty/Pk | Qty/Cs |
C1501X | Ucell™ 1 well Cell Culture Plate | 1 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs |
4 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
6 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
12 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
24 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
48 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | White and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Black and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
384 well | White and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
384 well | Black and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
384 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
C1001X | Ucell™ 1 well Cell Culture Plate | 1 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs |
4 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
6 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
12 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
24 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
48 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | White and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Black and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | White and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
96 well | Black and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
384 well | White and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
384 well | Black and clear | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
384 well | White | 1/Pk | 100/Cs | ||
384 well | Black | 1/Pk | 100/Cs |
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