T cell Activation and Expansion

Dynabeads® T cell activation and expansion products mimic in vivo T cell activation from antigen-presenting cells (APCs) by providing simultaneous signals.

Main application
The main application for these products is T cell re-stimulation and expansion of antigen-specific (Ag-specific) T cells from cell lines, cell clones or freshly isolated/enriched Ag-specific T cells.

Key benefits:

  • Physiological activation: Stimulation of CD3/TCR, CD28 and CD137 with agonistic monoclonal antibodies
  • Efficiency: Increased expansion and survival of Ag-specific T cells
  • Reliability: T cells expanded with Dynabeads maintain Ag-specificity when tested in bioassays
  • Ease- of-use: No need to find or prepare donor matched APCs or antigen
  • NEW: Only bead based solution on the market for increased proliferation and survival of T cell lines/clones


The new Dynabeads® T-Activator CD3/CD28/CD137 for expansion of human antigen-specific T cells are conjugated with anti-CD3, anti-CD28, and anti-CD137 antibodies. CD137 (4-1BB) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor family and agonistic anti-CD137 antibodies act as an activating co-stimulatory molecule especially important for effector/ memory T cells and promote the survival and proliferation of T lymphocytes.





The Dynabeads® technology allows you to activate and/or expand naïve and memory T cells, T cell clones, regulatory T cells, NKT cells and CTLs from mouse and human samples.

Our full portfolio of products also include a clinical research grade version, allowing you to move from mouse studies to clinical research using the same technology platform.

See our product guide for:

Dynabeads® T-Activator CD3/CD28 products for human and mouse are ideal for short time stimulation studies and T cell expansion of polyclonal T cells (e.g T cell subsets isolated from whole blood, MNC or tissue digests). The expansion is very efficient and makes the use of alternative methods e.g. PHA, autologous APCs and feeder cells redundant. 

"I used the CD3/CD28 Dynabeads® for my proliferation experiment, and the experiment worked beautifully!  I have been trying to get to work for a couple of months using soluble CD28/CD3, and it was just not happening. Dynabeads® have definitely made my day!"
Lisa S. Thomas, Research Associate IV, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

 Main applications
The main applications for these products are e.g. T cell activation for signaling experiments (proteomics), T cell expansion, T helper cell differentiation (Th1, Th2, Th17), expansion of regulatory T cells and T cell activation for improved transduction efficiency of MNC/T cells.

The anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies on the surface of the Dynabeads® provide simultaneous signals to TCR/CD3 and CD28. After activation / expansion, the beads are easily released from the cells by pipetting and removed by using a magnet.

The bead- and antibody-free cells retain functional properties. Cells can be re-stimulated several times.

Home-brew methods based on mitogens (e.g. ConA, PHA,  PWM etc.), plate-bound/soluble antibodies, or chemical activators give a generic, non-physiological activation that is hard to predict and repeat with consistency.

Key Benefits:
  • Physiological activation: Stimulation of CD3/TCR and CD28 with agonistic monoclonal antibodies
  • Reliability:  Cells keep their functionality with a cytokine profile and a full T cell repertoire reflecting that of in vivo settings
  • Ease-of-use: No need for preparing autologous APC, feeder cells, antigen or pre-coating of antibodies to beads

The Dynabeads® technology allows you to activate and/or expand naïve and memory T cells, T cell clones, regulatory T cells, NKT cells and CTLs from mouse and human samples.

Our full portfolio of products also include a clinical research grade version, allowing you to move from mouse studies to clinical research using the same technology platform.

See our product guide for:

Product Ordering Information

Mouse Products Human Products Clinical Products
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