Poly-L-Lysine Coated Culture Dishes: Versatile, Reliable, & Biologically Active Surface
In most cell culture protocols, improving adhesion plays a critical role, but not every experiment necessarily requires coatings that remain stable long-term or biologically complex substrates. That’s where Poly-L-Lysine (PLL) proves to be a suitable choice
PLL is a synthetic polymer that enhances cell attachment by increasing the surface’s positive charge, helping negatively charged, anchorage-dependent cells adhere more readily to otherwise non-adhesive surfaces like glass or plastic. While it doesn’t mimic the extracellular matrix, PLL remains a trusted choice for labs needing short-term adhesion for cell culture studies of shorter duration, especially during transfection, immunostaining, or fixed-cell imaging. WPI’s 35mm FluoroDish™ with 23 mm glass-bottom culture dishes, provides a consistent, high-clarity platform perfect for observing and documenting cellular events with confidence.
What Is Poly-L-Lysine?
Poly-L-lysine is a positively charged synthetic polymer made from the L-form of the amino acid lysine. Like its D-form counterpart (PDL), PLL binds to negatively charged components on the cell membrane to promote attachment. But because PLL is composed of naturally occurring L-enantiomers, it is more susceptible to enzymatic degradation over time.
PLL is highly effective for short- to medium-term applications, making it ideal for workflows where strong adhesion is needed but extended culture maintenance isn’t required.
Why Use PLL in Cell Culture?
PLL works well across a broad range of applications, including:
- Transfection experiments
- Fixed-cell assays such as immunocytochemistry
- Short-term culture of primary or immortalized cells
- Adherent cell plating before downstream assays
It’s commonly used with epithelial and fibroblast cell lines, neuronal precursors or short-term neuron cultures, and ste cells prior to differentiation or re-plating.
PLL vs. PDL: What’s the Tradeoff?
Although both enhance adhesion via electrostatic attraction, the differences matter when designing an experiment. If you’re working with short-duration cultures or fixed imaging protocols, PLL gives you excellent performance without the cost of long-term stability.
| Feature | PLL | PDL |
| Enantiomer Form | L-lysine (natural) | D-lysine (non-natural) |
| Enzyme Resistance | No – degrades over time | Yes – stable long term |
| Best For | Short- to medium-term cultures | Long-term, sensitive cultures |
| Surface | Biologically active or natural | Chemically stable, non-degradable |
Why Pair PLL with FluoroDish™?
While PLL handles the adhesion side, WPI’s FluoroDish™ takes care of the optics.
- Optical-grade, ultra-thin glass bottom offers the clarity needed for high-resolution microscopy and fluorescence imaging.
- No autofluorescence, unlike traditional plastic dishes, makes them perfect for labeled antibodies, dyes, or fluorescent proteins.
- Superior heat transfer on warming plates helps maintain optimal cell growth or maintenance conditions during live preparation and quick fix procedures.
The 35 mm FluoroDish™ format with 23 mm glass bottom gives researchers adequate space for monolayers, co-cultures, or multiplexed assays, all while remaining compatible with most microscope stages.
Applications in Research
PLL-coated FluoroDishes™ are widely used in:
- Immunofluorescence and confocal imaging
- Transfection efficiency testing
- Cell spreading and attachment assays
- Short-term neuronal culture and replating
They’re especially valuable in academic core facilities, teaching labs, and early-stage experimental setups where cost, speed, and reproducibility are key.
When to Choose PLL
Use PLL when:
- You need fast, consistent adhesion for standard cell types for short to medium-term cultures.
- Your experiment involves fixation or staining within 24–72 hours.
- You’re plating cells before re-seeding on other substrates.
- You're optimizing protocols before scaling up and you need a biologically active or natural surface.
- You’re working with cells that benefit from or require some nature substrate interaction.
Available Configurations
PLL coatings are available on WPI’s 35 mm FluoroDish™ glass-bottom culture dishes with 23 mm glass bottom window, providing an ideal balance of usability, performance, and imaging clarity for routine cell culture tasks.
Up Next: Fibronectin, A Signal-Rich Surface for Specialized Cells
In our next post, we’ll explore fibronectin, a biologically active ECM protein coating that goes beyond adhesion to actively shape cell behavior. If you're working with stem cells, endothelial monolayers, or epithelial tissues, fibronectin offers powerful integrin-based interactions that support more physiologically relevant results.
