Stem Cell Research Tools & Small Molecule Modulators

Chemogenetic control of neural activity using DREADDs ligands for neuroscience research

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Stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into specialised cell types. Key stem cell models include embryonic stem cells (ESCs), adult (somatic) stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and cancer stem cells (CSCs).

Small molecule tools help researchers control signalling pathways during in vitro culture and differentiation — including canonical Wnt, TGF-β/Activin, Notch, Hedgehog and retinoic acid pathways. Hello Bio supplies high-quality stem cell small molecules at accessible prices (often ~50% lower than standard suppliers), designed for real academic and grant-funded research budgets.

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Quick access to widely used stem cell reagents for differentiation, reprogramming and pathway control. Popular picks below are chosen for high usage across protocols — with consistent quality and affordability.

ROCK inhibitor Cell survival 5★ rated
Widely used ROCK inhibitor to support stem cell survival, including during dissociation and cryopreservation workflows.
TGF-β / ALK Differentiation Cited
Widely used TGF-βRI/ALK inhibitor for controlling fate decisions and differentiation workflows.
Wnt / GSK-3 Reprogramming Water-soluble
Selective GSK-3 inhibitor commonly used in iPSC and differentiation protocols.
Notch Neuronal differentiation Popular
γ-secretase inhibitor frequently used to support neuronal differentiation workflows.
Glucocorticoid Water-soluble Cell culture
Convenient water-soluble format for stem cell culture and differentiation workflows.
TGF-β / ALK Maintenance Proliferation
Selective inhibitor of TGF-β/Activin signalling used in stem cell culture and expansion workflows.

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Explore Stem Cell Research Categories

Browse products by biological process or pathway to quickly find tools that match your experimental goals:

Key pathways used in stem cell protocols
Wnt signalling  |  Hedgehog signaling  |  Stem cell signaling

Browse all stem cell products

 

Why Hello Bio for Stem Cell Research Tools?

Hello Bio supplies reliable stem cell small molecules with clear documentation and reproducible performance - at accessible pricing (often ~50% lower than standard suppliers) without compromising quality.

Affordable pricing
Quality & consistency
  • Reliable performance across common stem cell workflows
  • Clear documentation to support planning and troubleshooting
  • Batch-to-batch consistency for reproducible results
Trusted by researchers
  • 5★ rated tools used across diverse stem cell models
  • Peer-reviewed citations supporting real-world use
  • Ideal for both routine and high-sensitivity workflows
Try before you buy
Free Trial Program

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Trusted by Stem Cell Researchers Worldwide

Researchers rely on Hello Bio for affordable pricing, quick delivery and reliable performance in cell culture workflows.

★★★★★

“We purchased the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 to use in protocols related to iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and it worked as expected. Cheaper than alternative vendors and quick delivery too!”

Researcher, IMDEA, Spain (Y-27632)

★★★★★

“Quick delivery, excellent results! Tested ROCKi Y-27632 for cryopreservation of organoids and yielded promising results! Highly recommend!”

Researcher, University of Alabama, USA (Y-27632)

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Cited in Peer-Reviewed Publications

Hello Bio stem cell tools are used in peer-reviewed research. Selected examples:

Nature Neuroscience

Thermally induced neuronal plasticity in the hypothalamus mediates heat tolerance
Ambroziak W et al (Nature Neuroscience)
Y-27632  |  PubMed: 39653806

Cell Death Discovery

Parkinson's associated protein DJ-1 regulates intercellular communication via extracellular vesicles in oxidative stress
Page et al (Cell Death Discovery)
SB 431542  |  LDN193189  |  PubMed: 41271667

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Choosing Stem Cell Tools

Selection depends on your cell type, workflow stage (maintenance vs differentiation), and whether you’re optimising survival during handling. These quick pointers link to commonly used options:

If your priority is cell survival during passaging / cryopreservation
Use a ROCK inhibitor commonly applied for survival support, e.g. Y-27632.

If you’re working in iPSC reprogramming or Wnt-driven protocols
Explore CHIR 99021 (commonly used across reprogramming and differentiation workflows).

If you need to modulate TGF-β/Activin signalling
Compare commonly used inhibitors such as SB 431542 and A-83-01.

If you’re supporting neuronal differentiation workflows
Consider widely used Notch/γ-secretase inhibition approaches such as DAPT (protocol-dependent).

Stem cell culture: practical overview & guidance

 

Learn & Explore

Practical resources from our PhD-qualified technical team to support stem cell experimental planning and tool selection:

The role of small molecules in stem cell biology
How small molecules are used to control signalling pathways during stem cell culture and differentiation.

Neural stem cells & small molecules
Mini-review covering key small molecule tools used in neural stem cell workflows.