Qkine

Name: Qkine
Address: 1 Murdoch House, Cambridge, CB58HW, GB
Telephone: +441223491486

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Qkine manufactures high-purity, animal-free growth factors, cytokines and other complex proteins.

29/10/2026

🌟Application note! Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into astrocytes

Astrocytes are the most abundant glial cells in the human central nervous system and are essential for maintaining healthy brain function. They regulate neurotransmitter uptake, ion and metabolic homeostasis, synaptic activity, and blood–brain barrier integrity, while also contributing to neuroimmune signaling, inflammation, injury response, and neuronal survival.

Increasing evidence links astrocytic dysfunction to the pathogenesis of numerous neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson’s disease, and epilepsy.

Consequently, physiologically relevant human astrocyte models are essential for advancing our understanding of CNS biology, disease mechanisms, and for drug discovery and neurotoxicity testing.

Read our application note using Qkine growth factors to differentiate iPSC into astrocytes > https://zurl.co/pBF3g

We have grouped the growth factors needed for astrocyte differentiation into a kit, saving over 30% on buying them individually > https://zurl.co/kyI5V

Qkine products used in this protocol
Thermostable FGF-2 (FGF2-G3, Qk052) > https://zurl.co/4Gxkm
Noggin (Qk034) > https://zurl.co/LiS9m
EGF (Qk011) > https://zurl.co/o2LKi
CNTF (Qk063) > https://zurl.co/bhlby
SB431542 (Qk1103) > https://zurl.co/xC2tA
Y-27632 dihydrochloride (Qk1104) > https://zurl.co/uvlCm
HiDef® N-2 neural medium supplement > https://zurl.co/hdVWs

All Qkine growth factors are animal origin-free, highly bioactive and guaranteed to be reproducible lot-to-lot.

28/10/2026

🧪NEW DATA - Qkine SB431542 (Qk1103) validated in iPSC differentiation into neuroectoderm.

SB431542 is a potent and selective inhibitor of ALK4, ALK5 and ALK7 receptors which activate the TGF-β/activin/nodal pathway. This pathway is essential for maintaining pluripotency in embryonic (ESC) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC).

In stem cell culture, SB431542 can be used for induced differentiation of ESC and iPSC into mesenchymal lineages, cardiac and neural differentiation.

View and buy SB431542 (Qk1103) > https://zurl.co/H9WEI

View all Qkine small molecules > https://zurl.co/2WVOp

Application note - Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into neuroectoderm > https://zurl.co/VgWY9

Get 30% off Qkine small molecules with our discovery discount! Request a quote > https://zurl.co/G5X5E

27/10/2026

We're excited to be heading to Boston for Therapies USA 2027!

The Advanced Therapies Congress is America's most exciting cell and gene therapy conference and exhibition. The event is designed for the leaders of pioneering ATMP companies and their most senior executives in charge of the latest tech and strategies that are driving the industry forward.

The conference brings together a community of 1,200 global executives at the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, to be inspired by 200 speakers and 50 start-ups over 2 incredible days. The Advanced Therapies Congress features speakers from across the entire value chain of cell and gene therapy development; forward-thinking pharma, biotech and start-up companies, researchers, clinicians, academics, HTAs, payers and regulators.

More about the event > https://zurl.co/fIqFj

We looking forward to talking about our range of animal-free Cell Therapy Grade proteins > https://zurl.co/taYQo

Our Head of R&D and Collaborations Ferrara and Events and CRM Coordinator Alessia Sconza will be at booth #620, come and see us!

26/10/2026

Next week we're looking forward to supporting the Annual Oxford Stem Cell Institute Symposium.

The OSCI Symposium is an international event, unifying scientists and clinicians working in stem cells research in various fields of translational medicine.

This years symposium will be titled 'Stem Cells: From Mechanism to Therapy' and there's a fantastic list of speakers ready to share their expertise on stem cells, regenerative medicine, disease biology and cancer.

More about the event > https://zurl.co/gSyXX

If you're attending see us at our stand to talk to one of team about how we can support your research with the best growth factors and cytokines for stem cell research > https://zurl.co/qG226

We support research with permanent academic discounts - contact us for academic pricelists > https://zurl.co/VdmeV

22/10/2026

🌟Application note - Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into dopaminergic neurons

The ability to generate dopaminergic neurons from iPSCs holds immense potential for both research and therapy. iPSC-derived dopaminergic neurons provide a valuable model for studying the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and the dysregulation of dopaminergic signaling in psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia.

Our growth factors are extensively tested in-house to ensure they perform in differentiation protocols.

This application note describes the method we use to differentiate human iPSCs into functional dopaminergic neurons, using a variety of media types that utilize a series of Qkine growth factors, small molecules and media supplements at different stages of key differentiation steps.

Read full application note > https://zurl.co/bIDOW

View and buy our superior quality growth factors for dopaminergic differentiation:
FGF-8a > https://zurl.co/UiE0J
BDNF > https://zurl.co/L5Lvg
GDNF > https://zurl.co/KuTlL
TGF-β3 > https://zurl.co/5v0hb
SB431542 > https://zurl.co/whwIR
CHIR99021 > https://zurl.co/hcSem
HiDef® N-2 neural medium supplement > https://zurl.co/14Dv5

Contact us for academic pricing and evaluation discounts > https://zurl.co/Swq9w

21/10/2026

🧪NEW DATA - Qkine LY294002 (Qk1102) validated in iPSC differentiation into endoderm and mesoderm.

LY294002 is a broad-spectrum inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks). PI3K is a major regulator of cell proliferation, survival, motility and metabolism.

In stem cell culture, LY294002 can be using in stem cell media to reduce proliferation and self-renewal, promoting differentiation.

View and buy LY294002 (Qk1102) > https://zurl.co/i3w7t

View all Qkine small molecules > https://zurl.co/2WVOp

Application note - Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into mesoderm > https://zurl.co/ShuUF

Get 30% off Qkine small molecules with our discovery discount! Request a quote > https://zurl.co/G5X5E

15/10/2026

🌟Application note!

Generation of a Full Thickness Human Skin Equivalent Using Alvetex Scaffold and Qkine Growth Factor Supplements
From our collaborators at and Durham University

Read the full application note > https://zurl.co/I021v

This application note describes a collaborative study between REPROCELL Europe and Qkine, designed to evaluate the combined application of Alvetex Scaffold Technology and high-purity recombinant growth factors optimal skin model generation and reproducibility.

This application note uses:
Qkine's uniquely animal origin free TGF-β1 PLUS™ > https://zurl.co/Vsv3f
Qkine highly pure and bioactive KGF (FGF-7) > https://zurl.co/J1Jxm
REPROCELL’s Alvetex® Scaffold > https://zurl.co/w0zup

More about REPROSKIN™ > https://zurl.co/oZOyD
More about Professor Stefan Przyborski's research > https://zurl.co/QljLj

Bioengineered human skin equivalents are an important academic, clinical, and industrial tool. They represent a viable alternative to traditional in vitro 2D cell cultures and in vivo animal models, both of which often fail to emulate human anatomy and physiology. In accordance with the principles and guidance from organizations such as the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs) and the European Union (Cosmetics regulation EC No 1223/2009), there is a drive to move away from animal-based models for pre-clinical compound assessment.

REPROCELL’s Alvetex® Scaffold provides an advanced platform for constructing bioengineered skin models that negates the use of exogenous synthetic or animal-derived extracellular matrix components. Alvetex® is a highly porous, inert polystyrene membrane with an architecture that supports natural cell infiltration and proliferation, whilst enabling 3-dimensional (3D) nutrient diffusion. This unique construct enables dermal fibroblasts to grow within a 3D configuration where they deposit de novo ECM and form a dermal equivalent (DE) that is structurally and biochemically comparable to native human skin. This technology is utilized by REPROCELL for the generation of REPROSKIN™, a commercially available, robust and reproducible full thickness skin model.

Qkine are a specialist recombinant protein manufacturer producing completely animal origin-free highly bioactive growth factors and cytokines, including the only commercially available animal origin free TGF-β1. With guaranteed consistency in lot-to-lot bioactivity, high purity and sterility Qkine growth factors are ideal for the culture of complex 3D tissues.

14/10/2026

🧪NEW DATA - Qkine CHIR99021 (Qk1101) validated in iPSC differentiation into endoderm and mesoderm.

CHIR99021 is a potent inhibitor of the serine/threonine kinase glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3. GSK-3 is a key inhibitor of the Wnt pathway, an import regulatory mechanism in stem cell biology, inhibition of GSK-3 with CHIR99021 activates Wnt promoting stem cell maintenance and differentiation.

In stem cell culture, CHIR99021 is used to stimulate neural and cardiac differentiation in pluripotent stem cells, it can also promote self-renewal in embryonic stem cells (ESCs).

View and buy CHIR99021 (Qk1101) > https://zurl.co/GWcMa

View all Qkine small molecules > https://zurl.co/2WVOp

Application note - Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into mesoderm > https://zurl.co/ShuUF

Get 30% off Qkine small molecules with our discovery discount! Request a quote > https://zurl.co/bntFl

08/10/2026

Growth factor stability is an important consideration in all cell culture, but stem cells are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in media composition. Reduced growth factor concentrations in media can cause variability in differentiation protocols or spontaneous unwanted differentiation during stem cell maintenance.

FGF-2 is a key component of stem cell and organoid medias, it is known to be unstable under cell culture conditions, leading to the necessity for daily media changes to maintain culture conditions.

Although the thermo-instability of FGF-2 is well documented, the thermostability of other essential growth factors has not been investigated. This application note reviews the stability of popular Qkine growth factors (GM-CSF, IL-6, IGF-1, IGF1 LR3, GDNF, BMP-4, HGF NK1 and TGF-β1 PLUS™) under cell culture-like conditions.

Qkine prides itself on protein innovation to maximize cost effectiveness and reproducibility in stem cell cultures.

IGF-1 LR3 protein (Qk041) has been engineered to improve biological potency and extend half-life > https://zurl.co/HVrtW

Thermostable FGF-2 (FGF2-G3) has an increased half life in cell culture > https://zurl.co/2Dr2X

Read the full application note determining the stability of common growth factors > https://zurl.co/XOHaV

07/10/2026

Qkine human EGF is animal -origin free, carrier free and tag-free. We test every lot for consistent bioactivity lot-to-lot for long-term reproducible stem cell cultures.

EGF is used in many human and mouse organoid and stem cell culture systems including intestinal and tumor organoid culture.

Read more on Qkine EGF (Qk011) and buy online > https://zurl.co/qkTlG

See our comparative bioactivity technote > https://zurl.co/Qq0HY

Address

1 Murdoch House
Cambridge
CB58HW

Telephone

+441223491486

Website

http://www.qkine.com/

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