We create easy-to-use kits for Extracellular Matrix analysis
Dye-binding assays for collagen, elastin, sulfated GAGs and hyaluronan. Quantify the extracellular matrix in tissue, scaffolds and cell culture with standard lab equipment. Made in the United Kingdom, supplied worldwide through specialist distributors.
Our assays
What do you want to measure?
Choose the molecule you want to measure. Every kit can be read on a standard spectrophotometer.
Collagen
Tissues, cartilage, fluids, bone, cultured ECM and conditioned media.
Sircol™ family · 3 kits
See collagen kits →
sGAG & proteoglycans
Cartilage, bone, connective and tumour tissue, urine, synovial fluid.
Blyscan™ · 1 kit
See the sGAG kit →
Elastin
Lung, skin, blood vessels and decellularised ECM. Tropoelastin to mature fibres.
Fastin™ · 1 kit
See the elastin kit →
Hyaluronan
Skin, soft tissue and cartilage. Hyaluronic acid purified from tissue.
Purple-Jelley · 1 kit
See the hyaluronan kit →
A simpler way to quantify soluble collagen.
Introducing Sircol 2.0, Biocolor's enhanced soluble collagen assay — improved sensitivity and reduced interference compared with the original Sircol. Uses a convenient 96-well microplate format. A straightforward alternative to hydroxyproline analysis.
Enhanced sensitivity
Down to 0.25 µg/ml (using optional concentration protocol).
Reduced interference
Reformulated dye for a greater degree of dye–collagen specificity.
Microplate convenience
96 measurements — 41 samples in duplicate, plus a standard curve.
Cited in the literature
Trusted at the bench, cited in the literature.
Biocolor kits appear in the methods of hundreds of peer-reviewed papers every year, from fibrosis drug discovery to cartilage repair, cardiovascular grafts and rare-disease trials.
950+
peer-reviewed papers since 2022
20+ yrs
Sircol, Blyscan and Fastin in continuous use
6
kits covering the four major ECM components
Counted from papers whose methods name a Biocolor kit, 2022–2026.How we count →
How researchers are using Biocolor kits
Fibrosis research
Measuring collagen deposition in lung, heart, liver and skin fibrosis models, and screening antifibrotic drugs.
Cartilage & joint repair
Tracking the sGAG that chondrocytes and stem cells build into engineered cartilage and disc.
Decellularised tissues & scaffolds
Showing how much collagen, sGAG and elastin a matrix keeps after decellularisation.
Cardiovascular & vascular grafts
Elastin and collagen in arteries, valves, plaques and regenerating vascular grafts.
Skin, wound healing & cosmetics
Collagen and elastin made in response to wound therapies and cosmetic actives.
Rare genetic disease
GAGs and collagen in inherited disorders, from MPS clinical research to osteogenesis imperfecta.
Recent examples
Explore research using Biocolor kits →Sircol 2.0 & Fastin measurement of soluble collagen & elastin in Bruch's membrane, aiding development of an in vitro model of age-related macular degeneration.
Sircol measured soluble collagen in lung tissue from a fibrosis model, testing a candidate therapy designed to resolve lung inflammation and fibrosis.
Blyscan measured the GAG made by stem cells growing on new artificial-proteoglycan implants for cartilage repair.
Why Biocolor
What are the advantages of a Biocolor kit?
Simple, dye-based colorimetric assays that work with the equipment your lab already has, backed by the people who make them.
ease of use
User-friendly by design
Every kit ships with a QuickStart Guide, a detailed Assay Manual and a Certificate of Analysis.
See the documentation →colorimetric detection
Dye-based detection
Reagents formulated to label each biomolecule specifically, for a robust, reproducible response.
analysis
Straightforward analysis
Colorimetric throughout, so results are read on a standard spectrophotometer.
support
Read on a standard spectrophotometer
No specialist instruments required
QuickStart Guide · Assay Manual · CoA in every kit
Where to buy
Order through your local distributor
Biocolor kits are supplied worldwide through specialist distributors, who look after local pricing, shipping and support. In the UK and Ireland, we supply direct.