Millicell® Cell Culture Inserts and Plates

Millicell® cell culture inserts are designed to maximize biological relevance and user convenience in cell culture applications. In vivo, cells live in a three-dimensional environment and can access nutrients from all directions – a design that allows access to both the basolateral and apical surfaces of cell layers. This promotes natural, multidimensional growth and provides more relevant in vitro models, leading to more biologically relevant results for applications including toxicity screening, primary and secondary screening, cell signalling, cell proliferation, transport assays, and ADME/Tox drug safety studies.

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Advanced permeable support systems for more biologically relevant cell culture models.

Millicell® cell culture inserts and plates are designed to support more physiologically relevant in vitro models by allowing cells access to media from both the apical and basolateral sides. This promotes improved cell attachment, differentiation, polarization, and function compared to traditional two-dimensional culture systems. Millicell® systems are widely used in transport studies, co-culture models, permeability assays, toxicity screening, and advanced cell biology applications.

Why Choose Millicell® Inserts?
  • More in vivo-like cell growth: supports natural cell morphology and function
  • Apical and basolateral access: ideal for transport and permeability studies
  • Multiple membrane options: PTFE, polycarbonate and PET membranes available
  • Excellent optical clarity: suitable for microscopy and imaging applications
  • Optimised for differentiation: supports epithelial and endothelial cell models
  • Sterile, ready-to-use formats: simplifies workflow setup
  • Wide range of pore sizes and formats: suitable for diverse applications

Common Applications

  • Cell migration and invasion assays
  • Drug transport and permeability studies
  • ADME/Tox workflows
  • Air-liquid interface culture
  • Co-culture and organotypic models
  • Barrier integrity studies
  • Immunocytochemistry and fluorescence imaging

Technical Advantages of Millicell® Systems

Traditional cell culture plates force cells into flat two-dimensional growth, which can alter morphology and reduce biological relevance. Millicell® permeable support systems allow nutrients, signalling molecules and metabolites to move across the membrane, helping cells behave more similarly to in vivo environments. This improves the predictive value of transport studies, toxicity assays and barrier models.

Millicell® inserts are commonly selected for applications where reproducibility, imaging quality, and barrier integrity are critical. The availability of multiple membrane chemistries and pore sizes allows researchers to optimise systems for specific cell lines and assay requirements.

Millicell® Standing Inserts

Millicell® standing inserts are designed for routine cell culture applications requiring apical and basolateral access. Available in multiple membrane materials and pore sizes for attachment-dependent and suspension cell culture workflows.

Product CodeFormatMembranePore SizeDescription
PICM0125024 Well / 12 mmHydrophilic PTFE (Biopore™)0.4 µmTransparent low protein-binding membrane ideal for live cell imaging, differentiation and transport studies.
PICM030506 Well / 30 mmHydrophilic PTFE (Biopore™)0.4 µmLarge-area standing insert for advanced cell growth and differentiation applications.
PITP0125024 Well / 12 mmPolycarbonate (Isopore™)3.0 µmSuitable for migration, invasion and co-culture applications.
PI8P0125024 Well / 12 mmPolycarbonate (Isopore™)8.0 µmOptimised for cell migration and transmigration studies.

Millicell® Insert Plates

Millicell® insert plates are designed for higher-throughput workflows and advanced screening applications. Optimised for epithelial and endothelial culture models, these systems support reproducible monolayer formation and efficient assay workflows.

Product CodeFormatDescription
PSHT004S596-Well Insert Plate SystemIncludes feeder tray and lid; designed for cell attachment, differentiation and permeability workflows.
PSHT004R196-Well Receiver Tray SystemComplete receiver tray system for transport and barrier assays.
PSHT004R596-Well Receiver Tray & Lid SetOptimised for automated and high-throughput cell culture workflows.
Selection Guide (click to expand)

Single packs contain A-D.
Bulk packs ending in “R5“ contain A-C.
Bulk packs ending in “S5“ contain A, B and D.

Need help selecting the right insert?
Imbros can assist with choosing the correct membrane type, pore size and plate format for your application.

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