Name: Human FGF-18 (Fibroblast Growth Factor-18)
Brand: Molecular Depot
SKU: B2018632
Price: 695.00 USD
Availability: InStock

<h2 data-section-id="b4x3rl" data-start="0" data-end="38">What are fibroblast growth factors?</h2>
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Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) are a family of recombinant signaling proteins, with basic FGF (FGF2, also called bFGF or FGF-basic) the most widely used in cell culture. FGF2 signals through FGF receptors to maintain pluripotency in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells, and to support fibroblast and mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) proliferation. Related entities include feeder-free iPSC culture, mTeSR-type media, FGF receptor (FGFR) signaling, and mesenchymal stem cell expansion.
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<h2 dir="ltr">What you'll find in this category: </h2>
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Pluripotency Maintenance Tools: High-purity FGF variants optimized to keep stem cell lines stable without spontaneous differentiation.
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Angiogenesis Signaling Assets: Bioactive proteins prepared to study endothelial cell migration and vessel formation models.
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Structural Proliferation Elements: Stable growth factors formulated to accelerate fibroblast expansion and extracellular matrix studies.
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<h2 data-section-id="j0ekss" data-start="720" data-end="749">How to choose FGF products</h2>
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Standard vs. thermostable FGF2
Standard recombinant FGF2 degrades within roughly 24 hours at 37&deg;C, requiring daily media changes in iPSC culture. Thermostable (engineered) FGF2 variants retain activity for several days at 37&deg;C, reducing feeding frequency, an important factor for labs running large iPSC banks.
Carrier-free vs. carrier-added formulation
Carrier-free FGF2 (no BSA) is specified for animal-component-free iPSC protocols intended for cell therapy-adjacent research, while carrier-added FGF2 provides better stability for routine fibroblast or MSC culture.
Working concentration and media compatibility
Most feeder-free iPSC maintenance media use FGF2 in the 10&ndash;100 ng/mL range, with higher concentrations sometimes used in custom or homemade media formulations versus commercial kits; confirm the protocol's specified concentration before ordering pack size.
Species and isoform
FGF2 is generally cross-reactive between human and mouse, but confirm the protocol calls for FGF2 specifically rather than other family members (FGF4, FGF8, FGF10) used in specialized differentiation protocols.
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<h2 data-section-id="1fljvas" data-start="2836" data-end="2861">Specifications context</h2>
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FGF2 potency is reported as ED50 in a fibroblast or stem cell proliferation bioassay, typically in the low ng/mL range, alongside purity by SDS-PAGE (commonly &gt;95&ndash;98%). Pack sizes for academic iPSC labs commonly range from 10 micrograms to 1 milligram, with thermostable formats sometimes priced at a premium reflecting the engineering involved. As of 2026, thermostable FGF2 has become a common substitution in published feeder-free protocols specifically to cut technician feeding time in multi-line iPSC facilities.
For complementary signaling reagents, see MBP's epidermal growth factors (EGF) and transforming growth factors within the broader growth factors and hormones hub. Labs running immunology controls alongside stem cell work may also check interferons and interleukins. MBP's academic pricing and direct specialist support help labs scale FGF2 orders as iPSC programs grow.
Got a specific cell line or expansion protocol in mind? <a href="https://mbpinc.net/contact-us" style="color: #236fa1; text-decoration: underline;">Drop a message to the MBP team</a> and we'll help you find the right FGF pairing.

Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGF)

Molecular Depot

Key Specifications

Human FGF-18 (Fibroblast Growth Factor-18)

Human FGF-18 (Fibroblast Growth Factor-18), catalog B2018632, is a human fibroblast growth factor 18 (FGF-18), with typical uses including cartilage and bone biology and cell proliferation assays. Available from MBP, a registered vendor at leading US research institutions.