Methyl cellulose

Methyl cellulose is obtained by etherification of cellulose. This commercial cellulose ether exhibits amphiphilic properties and original physicochemical properties. Methyl cellulose is enzyme resistant, non-digestible, non-allergic, and non-toxic.

Methyl cellulose is used to create semi-solid matrices, as a cell culture gel, for culture of colony forming cells such as CFU-G; CFU-GM; cells and other cells used in toxicity assays. Low viscosity, not for plaquing assays or cloning.

Methyl cellulose has been used:

• as a vehicle for metformin drug during oral gavage
• as a component of mammary epithelial cell growth medium for mammosphere culture
• as a supplement in spheroid 3D co-cultures for spheroid invasion assays using hanging drop protocol

Methyl cellulose finds applications in various industries such as in the food industry it is used as an emulsifier, texturing agent, thickener, and gelling additive. Methyl cellulose is also used in various cosmetics and personal care products such as hair shampoos, hair styling products, liquid soaps, body washes, lotions and creams, and toothpaste to yield their characteristic thick consistency. In addition, it serves as an additive for pharmaceuticals and is used in the production of capsules for nutritional supplements. Methyl cellulose is used as an alternative to glycerol in a cryopreservation medium. It is used along with culture supplements to enhance proliferation and differentiation in multiple or single lineage-committed hematopoietic progenitor cells. This cellulose derivative also has the potential to prevent the loss of adhesive properties and cell functions of various cell types including human skin fibroblasts, human melanoma cells, and mouse lung fibroblasts cultured in suspension.