Smart Culture Tube Rack
Automatic switching between tubes for long cell perfusion experiments
Hassle-free long cell perfusion
Automatic switch between media reservoirs
No risk of air reaching your cells
Smart switch before your tube gets empty
Incubator-friendly
Place your tubes inside the incubator for ideal conditions
Need a microfluidic SME partner for your Horizon Europe project?
A smart rack that automates and protects your experiment
In our quest to push the state-of-the-art and provide researchers with instruments that make their lives more accessible in the lab, we realized that long-term cell perfusion experiments require a lot of preparation to become automated and can quickly go wrong due to clogging or biofouling.
Thus, we developed an intelligent rack for cell culture tubes that automates the preparation of long-term cell perfusion experiments aimed at media enrichment, in other words, when a defined volume of media is perfused and collected over and over through time.
Our Smart culture tube rack has level sensors that identify the liquid height in the reservoir and define a limit. As the media is perfused out and reaches this limit, the system automatically changes the parameters to start perfusing media from the reservoir that, up until then, was collecting the media.
Also, suppose there’s an unexpected leakage somewhere in the system. In that case, the intelligent rack will stop the perfusion of media before the air enters the system, preserving your experiment and allowing you to collect data even in a mishap.
It is important to note that our cell culture under a flow system allows unidirectional flow over the cells. Check out our perfusion system for more info.
Smart culture tube rack applications
The Smart Rack is compatible with the CO2 incubator and with 15ml conical tubes, but it can be adapted to different volume reservoirs upon request.
It can also be employed in a variety of applications, such as:
Stem cell culture
Automated and fail-safe long-term microfluidic cell culture system.
✓ Highly controlled microenvironment
✓ Fail-safe mechanism
✓ Automated sequences
Stem cell culture
Gut-on-a-chip pack
Intestinal cells coculture under flow, mimicking the gut physiology
✓ All microfluidic pieces included, quick and easy assembly
✓ Dynamic culture conditions
✓ Advanced in viro/ex vivo
Gut-on-chip
Blood-brain barrier on chip
Plug-and-play instrument pack for long term BBB on a chip study
✓ Relevant microenvironment
✓ Automatized organ-on-chip perfusion
✓ Plug-and-play microfluidic platform
Blood-brain barrier on chip
Liver-on-a-chip model
Mimic the liver microenvironment in long term experiments
✓ Improve your reproducibility with physiological culturing conditions
✓ Automated and controlled supply of nutrients in a stable flow
✓ Test different conditions at the same time
Liver-on-chip
Lung-on-a-chip pack
Perform lung research in a physiologically relevant microenvironment
✓ Culture your lung cells in a physiological air-liquid interface
✓ Continuous and controlled supply of nutrients in a stable flow
✓ Stop losing your cell experiment due to clogging
Lung-on-a-chip
Skin-on-a-chip
Reproduce the dynamic extracellular environment of the skin with ease
✓ Compatible with air-liquid interfaces
✓ Compatible with teer measurements
✓ Compatible with live cell imaging
Skin-on-a-chip
Kidney-on-a-chip
Physiological microenvironment for a more realistic in vitro kidney model
✓ Physiological flow rates
✓ Use the chip of your preference
✓ Enrich the media with metabolites
Kidney-on-a-chip
Bone-on-a-chip pack
Easily mimic the complex bone physiology and extracellular environment
✓ Control complex microenvironments
✓ Up to 3-week long cell cultures
✓ Fail-safe mechanism
✓ Plug-and-play platform
Bone-on-a-chip
Neuron culture pack - Low shear cell culture
Cell culture system for shear-sensitive cell lines
✓ Safe neuron culture under flow
✓ Highly controlled microenvironment
✓ Up to 3-week long cell cultures
Neuron cell culture – low shear cultures
Customize your smart culture tube rack
Our instruments can be added to different setups depending on your specific needs. In this light, our microfluidic specialists will advise you on the best instruments and accessories depending on your needs and will accompany you during the system’s setup.
Frequently asked questions
Can the cell culture tubes be placed inside the CO2 incubator?
Yes, we have developed a simple protocol for sterilization and cleaning that is provided along with the user guide.
Is the smart culture tube rack adapted for other volumes than 15 ml?
Yes! Our experts will establish which instruments are best suited for your application, such as the type of flow sensor or the number of flow controller channels you need to perform your experiment. Contact us using the “talk to our experts” green button above.
Can I combine the smart rack with other instruments?
Yes! Our team can help you design the setup that best fits your application. Check our product section.
Funding and Support
The LIFESAVER project helped develop this instrument. This project is funded by the European Union’s H2020-LC-GD-2020-3, grant agreement No. 101036702 (LIFESAVER).
Products & Associated Accessories
FAQ - Smart Culture Tube Rack
What is the problem that the smart culture tube rack solves?
In experiments where cells are subjected to a perfusion test for an extended period, media supplies will eventually be depleted. If air is introduced into the system undetected, it may eventually reach the cells and ruin the test. The smart culture tube rack solves this in that the experimenter does not have to monitor the test at all times thanks to the real-time monitoring and action before the media supply runs dry.
What is the level sensing mechanism?
Level sensors monitor the height of the media in the reservoir. This height is a boundary beyond which the previously collecting reservoir should not go. Once this previously collecting reservoir reaches this height, the system will automatically adjust to start collecting media from this previously collecting reservoir. Thus, the system switches in anticipation of the situation.
What if there is an unexpected leak?
In the eventuality that an unexpected leak occurs in the system, the smart culture tube rack will stop media perfusion before air is able to enter the system. This is beneficial in that it will prevent the experimenter’s test from being ruined even in the worst-case scenario.
What is media enrichment? What makes this important?
In experiments where cells are subjected to a perfusion test for an extended period with the aim of enriching them in certain substances, a certain volume of media is constantly perfused and collected.
Is a conventional CO2 incubator compatible with the system, specifically with the rack?
Yes, because there is a user guide, a simple process of sterilizing, and cleaning, and it is compatible with a CO2 incubator. During experiments, tubes are kept inside the incubator to ensure appropriate temperatures and gas conditions for the medium.
Is there any possibility of changing the default tube arrangement of the smart rack?
Yes, because, by default, the smart rack is designed to accommodate 15 ml conical tubes, but there is a possibility of changing the design to accommodate other volume reservoirs upon request.
Is there any possibility of using bidirectional or unidirectional flow with this system?
Yes, there is a possibility of using unidirectional flow over the cells, specifically with a flow-based cell culture system. This is essential because, depending on the biological model, there is a possibility that there is a requirement for a constant shear stress in one particular direction, such as with the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract.
Which biological models would benefit most from using this automated smart rack system?
Any biological model that requires continuous perfusion with medium exchange would benefit from using this smart rack system. Specifically, there is a possibility of using this system for:
- Stem cell culture
- Gut-on-a-chip
- Liver-on-a-chip
- Lung-on-a-chip
- Skin-on-a-chip
- Kidney-on-a-chip
- Bone-on-a-chip
- Even neurone culture under low shear conditions
Can this smart rack be connected to a more comprehensive microfluidic system?
Yes. We can assist in designing a system that suits your needs, and it can be connected to other devices. Generally, a microfluidic sampler, a flow controller, and a flow sensor can be connected to create a more comprehensive system.
