If you are looking for a trypsin alternative for routine cell dissociation, CellTrypase is a recombinant, animal-origin-free trypsin-like enzyme dosed at the same volume per unit growth area as porcine trypsin. This note sets out its specifications, purity, published performance data and grade options.
Comparing dissociation reagents in general rather than evaluating this product? Start with the full TrypLE vs trypsin vs Accutase guide, which covers every reagent class with peer-reviewed data on viability and surface-marker retention.
Why look for a trypsin alternative
Conventional porcine trypsin carries animal-derived biosafety risk (TSE/BSE and adventitious agents), batch-to-batch variability, and requires a trypsin inhibitor to stop the reaction. Recombinant trypsin-like enzymes remove those liabilities while using the same volume per unit growth area in existing trypsinization protocols.
On 1:1 substitution. Where this page describes CellTrypase as a 1:1 swap, that refers to dosing volume per unit growth area only. It is not a claim of equivalent performance against any named product — no head-to-head study between CellTrypase and any competing reagent is published. Verify detachment time and viability in your own cell model before switching, and treat a reagent change in a validated, licensed or clinical-phase process as a change governed by your own quality system.
What CellTrypase is
CellTrypase is a recombinant Fusarium oxysporum trypsin-like serine protease produced by microbial fermentation. It cleaves on the carboxyl side of lysine and arginine residues, is purified to ≥95% by HPLC per lot, and requires no inhibitor, activity is quenched by dilution in medium. It is supplied as a ready-to-use 1× solution or a 10× concentrated stock, in 100 mL and 500 mL sizes, and is available in two grades from a single source: an R&D grade (in-house, ISO 9001-compliant manufacturing) and a GMP grade (in-house GMP production under a QMS compliant with the EXCiPACT® certification standard). It ships at ambient temperature and is stable for at least 15 months at 2–8 °C. For research use only (RUO); the GMP grade is a biomanufacturing processing aid, not for direct human or animal administration. Source: CellTrypase Product Information Sheet v2.0 and c-LEcta product literature.
Published dissociation performance
The manufacturer reports the following on four adherent lines. These are the only cell lines with performance data in the product information sheet, and the figures are reproduced as published, including the MDCK result. Yield is expressed against an unnamed in-house reference condition, so treat it as an internal manufacturer metric rather than a validated comparison against any named commercial reagent:
| Cell line | Release time | Mean viability | Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHO-K1 | 2:25 | 98% | 106% |
| HEK 293 | 2:27 | 95% | 100% |
| MDCK | 23:32 | 99% | 102% |
| Vero | 4:07 | 99% | 103% |
Source: CellTrypase PIS v2.0 (c-LEcta). Values are the manufacturer's; BioHippo has not independently repeated these experiments. Note the MDCK release time: roughly ten times longer than CHO-K1 or HEK 293, which is a harvest-scheduling fact rather than a cell-health one. No performance data is published for any other cell type, or for replating efficiency, proliferation or long-term culture.
Enzyme purity and consistency
In c-LEcta’s HPLC analysis, CellTrypase resolves as a single, sharp peak with minimal by-products, a defined, single-enzyme preparation that supports consistent, low-off-target dissociation batch to batch.
How this recombinant trypsin compares with other animal-free options
CellTrypase and the established animal-free recombinant enzymes belong to the same reagent class. Both are recombinant fungal trypsin-like enzymes; both are defined, require no inhibitor (inactivated by dilution), are stable at ambient/room temperature, and are available in 1× and 10× formats. The table below compares published attributes only — it is not a performance comparison, and no head-to-head study between these products exists.
| Attribute | CellTrypase | TrypLE™ |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Recombinant F. oxysporum (fermentation) | Recombinant fungal protease (fermentation) |
| Animal-free | Yes | Yes |
| Inhibitor needed | No (dilute to quench) | No (dilute to quench) |
| Defined / purity | ≥95% HPLC, single-enzyme | High-purity, single-enzyme |
| Source organism disclosed | Yes | Not published |
| Formats | 1×, 10× · 100/500 mL | 1×, 10× · multiple sizes |
| Grades | R&D (ISO 9001) + GMP (QMS per EXCiPACT® standard) | Express, Select, CTS |
| Free 100 mL trial via BioHippo | Yes | — |
The practical differences are grade fit, price, and the option to trial CellTrypase free. CellTrypase offers R&D and GMP grades from one supplier, the GMP grade produced under a QMS compliant with the EXCiPACT® certification standard. CellTrypase R&D grade is competitively priced, and a free 100 mL sample lets you validate it on your own cells before switching. For a broader reagent-class comparison including Accutase® and enzyme-free buffers, see the TrypLE vs trypsin vs Accutase guide.
When to use which
- Coming from porcine trypsin: CellTrypase removes the animal-origin question and the inhibitor step, and is dosed at the same volume per unit growth area — confirm release time on your own line.
- Already on a recombinant enzyme: CellTrypase is a second-source candidate in the same reagent class; the free 100 mL lets you confirm performance on your cells before you commit.
- Sensitive cells (iPSC/hESC, primary cells, organoids): the manufacturer lists these among intended applications but publishes no viability, recovery, pluripotency-marker or epitope-retention figures for any of them. Treat reagent choice here as something to establish on your own cells rather than read off a datasheet.
- Regulated or clinical-phase processes: the qualification and revalidation work required is determined by your quality system and your filings, not by a supplier data pack.
Ready to run it on your cells? Follow the step-by-step CellTrypase Cell Dissociation Protocol, pre-warming, working amounts, 10× concentrate use, and troubleshooting.
Specifications at a glance
| Enzyme class | Serine protease (trypsin-like); cleaves after Lys & Arg |
| Source / expression | Recombinant Fusarium oxysporum, microbial fermentation |
| Molecular weight | ~22 kDa |
| Purity | ≥95% (HPLC) |
| Activity | 0.6–1.2 kU/L (1×); 6–12 kU/L (10×) |
| Endotoxin | ≤1 EU/mL (1×) |
| Mycoplasma / sterility | Negative / Pass |
| pH / osmolality | 7.1–7.6 · 270–320 mOsm/kg |
| Storage / shipping | 2–8 °C; ships ambient; ≥15-month stability |
| Formats | 1× ready-to-use, 10× stock · 100/500 mL |
| Grades | R&D (ISO 9001), GMP (QMS compliant with EXCiPACT® standard) |
Source: CellTrypase Product Information Sheet v2.0 and c-LEcta product literature. For research use only.
Request a free 100 mL sample
BioHippo offers a free 100 mL CellTrypase sample for qualification and process-development testing, one per lab, while supplies last. Request your free sample or view full specifications on the CellTrypase product page.
Trademark notice: TrypLE™ and CTS™ are trademarks of Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Accutase® is a registered trademark of its respective owner. Any reference is nominative and for identification or comparison only; no affiliation with, sponsorship by, or endorsement from the trademark owners is implied. BioHippo is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Research use statement: CellTrypase R&D grade is supplied For Research Use Only (RUO) and is not for use in diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. GMP-grade material is supplied as a processing aid for biopharmaceutical manufacturing and is not for direct administration to humans or animals.
Scope of comparison: The attribute table above compares published specifications only. No head-to-head performance study between CellTrypase and any named commercial reagent is on file, and none is claimed.
