Qkine

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

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

11/06/2026

🌟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/Zw4KZ

We have grouped the growth factors needed for astrocyte differentiation into a differentiation kit, saving over 30% on buying them individually > https://zurl.co/F8tcK

Astrocyte differentiation uses
Thermostable FGF-2 (FGF2-G3, Qk052) > https://zurl.co/n0evB
Noggin (Qk034) > https://zurl.co/pyPkP
EGF (Qk011) > https://zurl.co/vLUUd
CNTF (Qk063) > https://zurl.co/7yj4K

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

10/06/2026

GDNF plays a crucial role in the development, growth, and survival of neurons in particular midbrain dopaminergic neurons. GNDF is used to maintain neurons and cortical organoids and to differentiate dopaminergic neurons from human pluripotent stem cell-derived neural progenitors.

Qkine test every lot of their growth factors to ensure consistent bioactivity and high purity. Qkine GDNF is animal origin-free, tag-free and carrier-free to ensure the best results from your neural stem cell cultures.

See more on GDNF and buy online > https://zurl.co/noFrt

Read our GDNF bioactivity technote > https://zurl.co/OCtUX

Read our application note on iPSC neuronal cultures > https://zurl.co/GPA7h

Read our application note on maintenance of iNeurons > https://zurl.co/g4Iq9

09/06/2026

We excited to be exhibiting at the first‑edition of 'Complex Organoid Systems with Multifaceted InteraCtions Symposium'

Organized by the PTL COSMIC of the University of Montpellier this event will be a unique opportunity to foster scientific exchanges between academic researchers and industry partners, highlight cutting‑edge scientific, methodological, and technological advances, and strengthen the PTL COSMIC community.

More details about the event > https://zurl.co/Rr2BG

More information about how Qkine growth factors and cytokines can support your organoid research > https://zurl.co/0JeUm

08/06/2026

🧩New product!

Growth differentiation factor -11 (GDF-11) also known as bone morphogenetic protein 11 (BMP-11) is a member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily, a group of proteins that play key roles in regulating cell growth, survival and differentiation. GDF-11 plays a key role in cardiac and neuronal development.

Qkine recombinant GDF-11 (BMP-11) is provided as a pure 25 kDa dimer with high and consistent bioactivity lot-to-lot.

View and buy online > https://zurl.co/JO9zj

We compare all our proteins against alternatives, view our GDF-11 bioactivity technote > https://zurl.co/pqfM7

04/06/2026

Exciting new data to go with our new products with our partners StemCultures

StemCultures patented microencapsulation technology StemBeads are now available as DISC devices with Qkine growth factors. StemBeads provide a steady release of BDNF and GDNF into cell culture media for more stable and reproducible neural stem cell cultures.

Read the full application note > https://zurl.co/TM8cS

Qkine BDNF and GNDF are now available as StemBeads or DISC devices > https://zurl.co/QfpuC

03/06/2026

Upgrade your iPSC plate coating to Qkine animal origin-free recombinant vitronectin!

Validated for iPSC maintenance > https://zurl.co/FkatE

Differentiation into ectoderm > https://zurl.co/fHVC8 and mesoderm > https://zurl.co/Qy1XV

Differentiation into microglia > https://zurl.co/zyShH and astrocytes > https://zurl.co/MTPN7

Buy online now for next day shipping > https://zurl.co/0bDT6

Contact us for a quote > https://zurl.co/peT10

Also now available - QkPlate© human vitronectin coated 6 well plate for increased reproducibility > https://zurl.co/L6ZPX

28/05/2026

Exciting new data to go with our new products with our partners StemCultures

StemCultures patented microencapsulation technology StemBeads are now available as DISC devices with Qkine growth factors. StemBeads provide a steady release of native FGF-2 into cell culture media for more stable and reproducible stem cell cultures and more successful IPSC derived organoids.

Read the full application note > https://zurl.co/Fpg6D

Qkine FGF-2 is now available as StemBeads or DISC devices > https://zurl.co/GR6j8

27/05/2026

We're happy to introduce Qkine's new product line - QkPlates!

First to launch is our unique product QkPlate© human vitronectin coated 6 well plates.

🧩Pre-coated with our ultra-low endotoxin human vitronectin
🧩Maximum convenience, store at room temperature
🧩 Validated for iPSC maintenance

View and buy online > https://zurl.co/4nEin

Contact us for a sample plate > https://zurl.co/xjO7f

21/05/2026

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.

Our application note 'Differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into dopaminergic neurons' 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 and cytokine supplements at different stages of key differentiation steps.

Read full application note > https://zurl.co/0Ig7I

View and buy our superior quality growth factors for dopaminergic differentiation:
FGF-8a > https://zurl.co/bblLP
BDNF > https://zurl.co/LwpGV
GDNF > https://zurl.co/rXSIl
TGF-β3 > https://zurl.co/CQCKw

Contact us for academic pricing and evaluation discounts > [email protected]

Address

1 Murdoch House
Cambridge
CB58HW

Telephone

+441223491486

Website

http://www.qkine.com/

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