Small molecules and peptides are indispensable tools in modern biomedical research, drug discovery, and therapeutic development. From supporting 2D and 3D cell culture systems to enabling advanced fluorescent imaging and assay development, these reagents play a central role across a wide range of laboratory workflows.
As home to the full Tocris portfolio, R&D Systems offers a comprehensive collection of over 3,500 bioactive small molecules and research peptides designed to support both established and emerging areas of life science research. This portfolio spans key fields including stem cell research, cell therapy, neuroscience, cancer, endocrinology, and immunology, and includes receptor agonists and antagonists, enzyme inhibitors and activators, PROTACs, molecular glues, fluorescent probes and dyes, and GMP-grade small molecules.
Carefully curated by expert scientists for biological relevance and research performance, this catalog gives researchers access to high-quality tools that integrate seamlessly with R&D Systems proteins, antibodies, and ELISAs, helping create complete reagent solutions for demanding experimental workflows.
Product Areas
Stem Cells and Organoids
Stem cells and organoids have become essential in developmental biology, disease modeling, toxicology studies, drug discovery, and regenerative medicine. Their successful culture, differentiation, and reprogramming depend on highly specialized in vitro conditions, where small molecules and peptides serve as critical components.
The Tocris portfolio includes reagents for:
- stem cell proliferation
- differentiation
- reprogramming
- signaling modulation
- gene editing
A featured solution is the CEPT Cocktail, a combination of Chroman 1, Emricasan, Polyamines, and Trans-ISRIB, developed to improve the viability and fitness of self-renewing pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated progeny.
For organoid and 3D cell culture applications, the portfolio also supports:
- organoid formation
- 3D growth matrices
- differentiation media
- lineage-specific inhibitors
- reprogramming
- transduction enhancement
- post-cryopreservation survival
- tissue clearing
Tissue Clearing
Tissue clearing technologies make tissues, organoids, spheroids, and 3D cultured cells optically transparent for microscopy. Tissue Clearing Pro kits provide a fast, reversible, non-destructive solution compatible with fluorescent proteins, immunolabeling, and small molecule staining.
Viral Transduction Enhancers
Transduction enhancers are specialized small molecules designed to improve the stable delivery of foreign genetic material into target cells. These reagents can significantly increase gene expression efficiency and help streamline cell and gene therapy workflows.
Tocris offers a broad range of enhancers for:
- retroviral transduction
- lentiviral transduction
- adeno-associated virus (AAV) transduction
- TCR and CAR gene delivery into T cells and NK cells
GMP and Ancillary Material Small Molecules
For cell and gene therapy manufacturing, Tocris also supplies GMP and ancillary material grade compounds produced using animal-free processes in controlled manufacturing zones and ISO-7 cleanrooms.
Manufacturing standards include:
- compliance with ICH Q7 guidelines
- ISO 9001-aligned quality control
- endotoxin and bioburden testing
- TSE/BSE certification
Ready-to-Use Cell Culture Reagent Solutions
To simplify lab workflows and save preparation time, Tocris provides ready-to-use solutions for:
- cell counting
- cell activation
- transfection
- protease inhibition
- stem cell workflows
- cell and gene therapy applications
Fluorescent Dyes and Probes
Fluorescent and bioluminescent reagents are essential for visualizing intracellular structures and biological events, from single-molecule tracking to complex in vivo imaging.
The Tocris portfolio includes a wide range of fluorescent dyes, probes, and stains for use in live cells, fixed cells, and organoids.
Fluorescent Dyes
This range includes:
- bright and photostable fluorophores
- Janelia Fluor® dyes
- near-infrared fluorophores for deep tissue and in vivo imaging
- dyes suitable for super-resolution microscopy, including PALM and SMLM
Fluorescent Probes and Stains
These reagents enable selective visualization of biomolecules, organelles, and cells, while also providing functional readouts such as:
- live/dead cell discrimination
- pH monitoring
- polarity sensing
- bacterial imaging
The portfolio includes next-generation organelle-specific stains, cell viability markers, and bacterial imaging probes for advanced research in cell biology and antibiotic development.
Wash-Free Imaging of Extracellular Matrix in Live Tissues
With Rhobo6 ECM Dye, researchers can perform wash-free imaging of extracellular matrix components in live tissues using a cell-impermeable glycan-binding fluorophore, enabling streamlined and sensitive visualization.