Gelatin

Catalog Numbers G6650, G9382, G1393, G9391,

G6144, G2625, G2500, G8150, G1890, G9136, G0411,
G7765, and G7041

CAS RN 9000-70-8 Bloom number:

Synonyms: Gelatine, Teleostean gelatin (G7765 and The Bloom number, as determined by the Bloom
G7741) gelometer, is an indication of the strength of a gel
3
formed from a solution of known concentration. The
Product Description Bloom unit is a measure of the force (weight) required
Gelatin is a heterogeneous mixture of water-soluble to depress a given sample area of gel a distance of
proteins of high average molecular masses, present in 4 mm; the higher the Bloom number, the stronger the
collagen. The proteins are extracted by boiling skin, gel. A method of determining Bloom strength has been
tendons, ligaments, bones, etc. in water.1 Type A described.4 Bloom number is proportional to the
gelatin is derived from acid-cured tissue and Type B average molecular mass:
gelatin is derived from lime-cured tissue.2
Bloom Number Average Molecular Mass
Applications using gelatin include coating cell culture 50−125 (Low Bloom) 20,000−25,000
plates to improve cell attachment for a variety of cell 175−225 (Medium Bloom) 40,000−50,000
types, addition to PCR to help stabilize Taq DNA 225−325 (High Bloom) 50,000−100,000
polymerase,7 and use as a blocking reagent in
Western blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry.8 Precautions and Disclaimer
In bacteriology, gelatin can be used as a component of This product is for R&D use only, not for drug,
culture media for species differentiation.9 Additionally, household, or other uses. Please consult the Material
as a biocompatible polymer, gelatin has been used as Safety Data Sheet for information regarding hazards
a delivery vehicle for the release of bioactive and safe handling practices.
molecules11 and in the generation of scaffolds for
tissue engineering applications.12 Storage/Stability
Dry gelatin stored in airtight containers at room
Industrial applications include the use of gelatin as a temperature remains unchanged for many years.
stabilizer, thickener, and texturizer in foods and in the
manufacture of rubber substitutes, adhesives, When heated at 100 °C in the presence of air it swells,
cements, lithographic and printing inks, plastic becomes soft, and disintegrates to a carbonaceous
compounds, artificial silk, photographic plates and mass with evolution of pyridine bases and ammonia.
2

films, matches, and light filters for mercury lamps.1 In Below 35−40 °C gelatin swells in and absorbs
the pharmaceutical industry, gelatin is used as a 5−10 times its weight of water to form a gel. Gelatin is
suspending agent, encapsulating agent, and tablet soluble in glycerol and acetic acid, and more soluble in
binder; and in veterinary applications it is used as a 1
hot than in cold water. It is practically insoluble in
plasma expander and hemostatic sponge.1 most organic solvents such as alcohol, chloroform,
carbon disulfide, carbon tetrachloride, ether, benzene,
Physical Properties: acetone, and oils.5
Isoelectric point (pI): The charge on a gelatin molecule
and its isoelectric point are primarily due to the
carboxyl, amino, and guanidino groups on the side
chains. Type A gelatin has 78−80 millimoles of free
carboxyl groups per 100 g of protein and a pI of
7.0−9.0; type B has 100−115 millimoles of free
carboxyl groups per 100 g of protein and a pI of
4.7−5.2.2,3 The pH of a 1.5% solution at 25 °C is
3.8−5.5 for Type A and 5.0−7.5 for Type B.2
Sterile solutions of gelatin, stored cold, remain 9. Levine, M., and Carpenter, D.C., Gelatin
unchanged indefinitely, but at elevated temperatures liquefaction by bacteria. J. Bacteriol. 8, 297,
hydrolysis or rupture of peptide bonds occurs, (1923).
increasing the number of free amino groups. Gel 10. Sakai, Y., et al., Non-antigenic and low allergic
strength and viscosity gradually weaken upon gelatin produced by specific digestion with an
prolonged heating in solution above 40 °C; this enzyme-coupled matrix. Biol. Pharm. Bull. 21, 330,
degradation is accelerated by extremes in pH, (1998).
proteolytic enzymes, and bacterial action.2 Gelatin has 11. Young, S. et al., Gelatin as a delivery vehicle for
been autoclaved at 121 °C for 15−20 minutes with the controlled release of bioactive molecules. J.
appreciable hydrolysis.2,6 Control Release 109, 256-274 (2005).
12. Huang Y, et al. In vitro characterization of
Procedure chitosan-gelatin scaffolds for tissue engineering.
Cell Culture Using 2% Solution (Catalog No. G1393) Biomaterials 26, 7616-7627 (2005)
Optimal conditions for attachment must be determined
for each cell line and application. Related Products
1. Allow gelatin solution to completely liquefy at • Gelatin Blocking Buffer, for molecular biology,
37 °C. powder blend, (Catalog No. G7663) provides 1
2. Coat culture surface with 5−10 µl gelatin liter of blocking buffer after reconstitution.
solution/cm2 (i.e., 0.1−0.2 mg/cm2 gelatin). • Glycerol Gelatin (Catalog No. GG1), prepared with
3. Allow surface to dry at least 2 hours before gelatin, glycerol, and phenol, is an aqueous slide
introducing cells and medium. mounting medium for histological use.
• Gelatin Veronal Buffer (Catalog No. G6514)
References • Inositol Gelatin Medium, BioChemika, for
1. Merck Index, 12th Ed., S. Budavari, Ed., p. 742, microbiology, (Catalog No. 17155), for the
#4388 (1996). cultivation of Plesiomonas shigelloides from foods
2. Supplier data. • Gelatin Iron Medium, BioChemika, for
3. Standard Methods for the Sampling and Testing of microbiology (Catalog No. G0289)
Gelatins, Gelatin Manufacturers Institute of • Lactose Gelatin Broth (Base), BioChemika, for
America, Inc., 501 fifth Ave., Room 1015, New microbiology (Catalog No. 61348)
York, NY. • Gelatin Hydrolysate Enzymatic (Catalog No.
4. United States Pharmacopeia XX, p. 1017 (1990). G0262)
5. Martindale The Extra Pharmacopeia, 29th Ed., p. • Nutrient Gelatin, BioChemika, for microbiology
818, J.E.F. Reynolds, Ed., The Pharmaceutical (Catalog No. 70151)
Press, London (1989). • Nutrient Gelatin Special Grade, BioChemika, for
6. Sigma data. microbiology (Catalog No. 70198)
7. PCR Primer: A Laboratory Manual, C. Dieffenbach
and G. S. Dveksler, Eds., Cold Spring Harbor, NY CS,MAC,KTA,MAM 11/08-1
(1995).
8. Vogt, R. F., Jr., Quantitative differences among
various proteins as blocking agents for ELISA
microtiter plates. J. Immunol. Methods 101, 43,
(1987).
Gelatin Selection Guide

Catalog Description Bloom Storage

Notes Applications
Number Temperature
Gelatin from porcine Room Derived from acid-cured Recommended for use as a cell
G6144
skin, Type A 90−110 temperature tissue culture substratum.*
Gelatin from porcine Room Derived from acid-cured Recommended for use as a cell
G2625 ∼175
skin, Type A temperature tissue culture substratum.*
Gelatin from porcine Room Derived from acid-cured Recommended for use as a cell
G2500 ∼300
skin, Type A temperature tissue culture substratum.*
Gelatin from porcine
skin, Type A, Room Derived from acid-cured Recommended for use as a cell
G1890 ∼300
powder, temperature tissue culture substratum.*
cell culture tested
Gelatin from porcine Room Derived from acid-cured
Suitable for use as a blocking
G8150 skin, Type A, ∼300 temperature
tissue.
reagent for Western blots.
for electrophoresis Protease, none detected
Gelatin from porcine
skin, Type A, Room Derived from acid-cured Recommended for use as a cell
G9136 lyophilized powder, ∼300
temperature tissue culture substratum.*
γ-irradiated,
cell culture tested
Prionex® Highly Aseptically processed;
Room A protein stabilizer, an alternative
G0411 purified Type A, derived from porcine
temperature to BSA and HSA.
aqueous solution source
Gelatin from bovine Room Derived from lime-cured Recommended for use as a cell
G6650 ∼75
skin, Type B temperature tissue culture substratum.*
Gelatin from bovine Room Derived from lime-cured Recommended for use as a cell
G9382 ∼225
skin, Type B temperature tissue culture substratum.*
2% Gelatin solution, Derived from lime-cured
Type B (from bovine tissue. Prepared in tissue Recommended for use as a cell
G1393 ∼225 2−8 °C
skin), culture grade water. culture substratum.*
cell culture tested Endotoxin tested
Gelatin from bovine
skin, Type B, Room Derived from lime-cured Recommended for use as a cell
G9391 ∼225
powder, temperature tissue culture substratum.*
cell culture tested
Contains 0.15% propyl
Gelatin from cold p-hydroxybenzoate and
Used as a blocking agent in
G7765 water fish skin, 2−8 °C 0.2% methyl p-hydroxy-
immunochemistry.
~45% in H2O benzoate as preservatives;
molecular mass ∼60 kDa
Gelatin from cold Room Used as a blocking agent in
G7041
water fish skin, solid temperature immunochemistry.
2 2
*Recommended for use as a cell culture substratum at 0.1−0.2 mg/cm or 5−10 µl/cm . Optimal concentration will
depend on cell type as well as the application or research objectives.

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