Specialized for use in insect cell culture Poloxamer 188 is a surfactant used in cell culture to protect cells in suspension against possible damage during transfer, freezing and thawing, and stirring. It is a non-ionic detergent with an average molecular weight of 8400Da consisting of a central polyoxypropylene flanked by two polyoxyethylene molecules. Poloxamer 188 is equivalent to Pluronic® F-68.