Neuroscience includes several areas of research such as molecular and cellular neuroscience, neurooncology, and developmental neuroscience. It seeks to understand the function or development of the nervous system in healthy conditions and in neurodegenerative diseases, neurological and psychiatric disorders, and brain cancer.

Although the field of neuroscience has made significant advancements in recent years, shedding light on many aspects of brain function, it is still challenged by the complexity of neural tissue and the availability of model systems. Advances in stem cell research have provided better models of the unique features of the brain using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). hiPSCs can be differentiated into many neural and glial cell types including cortical or dopaminergic neurons, astrocytes, and microglia. More complex 3D modelling using brain organoids can be generated to better recapitulate the environment of the brain and to study the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions.

High-quality growth factors are essential for developing and maintaining robust, reproducible, and physiologically relevant neural cultures. Growth factors developed in an animal-free expression system have a higher lot-to-lot consistency and fewer contamination risks from viruses, prions, and other animal-derived ingredients. All growth factors and cytokines from Qkine pass stringent biochemical and bioactivity quality control testing, ensuring you complete confidence in the reagents for your neural stem cell cultures.

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Growth factors for neural stem cell culture

Resources

Qkine Neural A4 Poster v1.2 2025_Page_1 web

Poster: Growth factors for neural and glial cell maintenance and differentiation

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

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; FGF8a (Qk059), BDNF (Qk050), GDNF (Qk051)  and TGF-ß3 (Qk054) at different stages of key differentiation steps.

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Application note: Animal origin-free BDNF and GDNF neural growth factors for enhanced iPSC-derived neuronal cultures

This collaborative study compares BDNF (Qk050) and GDNF (Qk051) from Qkine and R&D Systems in their ability to support the differentiation and maintenance of iPSC-derived motor neurons.

Recent publications

Proximity proteomics of primary cilia in human hypothalamic neurons
Macarelli V, Sroka TJ, Hansen JN, Axelsson U, Mick DU and Merkle FT
From the lab of Florian T. Merkle, University of Cambridge, UK

Featuring Qkine BDNF (Qk050)

Synchronous 3D patterning of diverse CNS progenitors generates motor neurons of broad axial identity
Buchner F, Dokuzluoglu Z, Thomas J et al.
From the lab of Dr. Natalia Rodriguez-Muela, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases e.V. (DZNE)

Featuring Qkine GDNF (Qk051) and BDNF (Qk050)

Parkinson’s associated protein DJ-1 regulates intercellular communication via extracellular vesicles in oxidative stress
Page T, Musi CA, Bakker SE et al.
From the lab of Mariaelena Repici, Aston University

Featuring Qkine GDNF (Qk051) and BDNF (Qk050)

Animal origin-free growth factors for neural stem cell research

Our science team is here to help, please contact us if you have any questions.

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