The recommended volume of the gel discs depends on your experimental needs, e.g. number of gels and required number of cells per gel in order to perform the different investigations planned (conditions, replicates, ...), as well as the time required to complete the casting of the discs before liquid solution gels.

 We would suggest to make gel discs of 30uL to 60 uL. The resulting gel discs present a diameter of 5 to 8.25 mm and a height of 1.5 mm (which is approximatively the height of the QGel™ 3D Disc Caster). After incubation in liquid, such as cell culture media, the gel discs will swell slightly. For more information on swelling properties, please refer to the the FAQ that addresses the swelling of QGel™.

Therefore, using QGel™ MT 3D Matrix (vials of 500uL gel solution each) and the QGel™ 3D Disc Caster, you can cast between 8 to 16 gels together depending on their individual volume. A good video to watch is How to encapsulate cells in QGel.

Detailed instructions on the gel disc casting method can also be found in p.08-09 of the QGel™ Product Information brochure (see also figures below).

In any case, it is strongly recommended that you perform some preliminary tests to define the best conditions for your experimental needs.