Irgacure, UV Photocrosslinker (365nm)

Irgacure 2959 is a highly efficient non-yellowing radical photoinitiator for the UV curing of systems, such as hydrogels and bioinks. Irgacure is most efficiently activated using 365nm wavelength UV light. Irgacure must be solubilized in methanol, as it is not water soluble (such as LAP and Ruthenium).

This irgacure product is considered non-sterile. Adding antibiotics to your cell culture system, or sterile filtering is recommended. To sterile filter, resuspend the desired quantity of irgacure and filter through small 0.2 micron button filters. Use the sterile photoinitiator within 2 weeks.
This product comes with 5 grams of dry powder.

Directions for Use:
· To solubilize the photoinitiator, solubilize irgacure in neat methanol in a 10% solution (100 mg/ml).Note: The photoinitiator in solution has a shelf life of 2 weeks. Only dissolve required amount of photoinitiator required. Store remaining photoinitiator (powder or solution) at 2 to 10°C.
· Calculate the volume of the photoinitiator required by multiplying the total volume of solution (ie. methacrylated collagen) required by 0.01. For example, if you are making 10 ml of collagen methacrylate, the calculated volume of the photoinitiator to add is 100 µl.
· Add the calculated volume of photoinitiator to the required volume of crosslinkable solution and mix thoroughly.
· Add your cells to the pre-hydrogel/photoinitiator solution.
· Dispense or bioprint your hydrogel /photoinitiator/cell solution into the desired cultureware (i.e. 6-well plate, 48-well plate).
· For UV-crosslinking, place the pre-hydrogel/printed structure directly under a 365 nm UV light crosslinking source. Note: Longer exposure allows more crosslinking, though each cell type withstands different degrees of UV light and free radical exposure (generated by the photoinitiator) that mediates crosslinking.
You may tune photoinitiator concentration, light intensity and Photocrosslinking time to customize final hydrogel stiffness

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