AUTOMATED CELL CULTURE PLATFORM
Highly controlled extracellular environment with stable flow
Save time and improve reproducibility
Less manual work and more accuracy
Adapted to standard CO2 incubators and biosafety hoods
Automated cell culture platform
Highly controlled microenvironment
We have put together the best of our flow control technology to provide your dynamic cell culture with stable flow at a wide range of flow rates. Our cell culture platform is the perfect companion for your dynamic cell culture research, whether you culture cells for short experiments or days on end.
Up to 4 parallel and independent cell cultures
To save time and increase the reproducibility of your results, our cell culture platform allows you to perform up to 4 cell cultures independently and simultaneously.
Enrich your media with metabolites with our compact recirculation bridge
Enrich your media with cell metabolites while saving resources by recirculating small volumes of media for long periods. Our Cell Culture Platform has four independent recirculation loops that perform unidirectional flow for up to 3 weeks.
Our recent application note explains how to assemble the recirculation bridge.
Plug and play assembly
Enough with the complicated assemblies! With our microfluidic cell culture platform, you can connect and control up to 8 reservoirs with a click.
Compatible with standard CO2 incubators and biosafety food
Designed to fit seamlessly with your regular labwork routine, our cell culture platform fits in standard CO2 incubators and biosafety hoods. The cell culturing platform is portable and can be assembled under the biosafety hood.
Easily adapted to microscope stages
Our Microfluidic cell culture platform is equipped with two culturing chamber options. You can choose between a slide holder that fits into standard microscope stages or a bioreactor for 3D or low-shear cell culture. In both cases, you can conveniently transfer your samples from the system to the microscope for imaging.
Automation and control with a single software interface
User-friendly and intuitive software to get started in a few clicks and further automate the most complex and long-lasting experiments. If you need more flexibility, SDK libraries to control the system with your code and to involve third parties instruments are also available.
Microfluidic cell culture applications
Traditional cell culture, that is, culturing cells in static conditions in flasks, is responsible for many advances in modern cell biology, such as developing the polio vaccine and discovering the connection between cancer and viruses [1]. However, this reductionist approach lacks important parameters for cell growth, such as shear stress and mechanical stimulus [2].
Microfluidic cell culture has gained relevance for enabling a more physiologically relevant microenvironment for cell growth, promoting more in vivo-like phenotypes, as seen in the image below. Moreover, it allows better usage of resources, as it can handle small volumes of media and automate manual tasks, freeing researchers from the labor-intensive requirements of traditional cell culture. Cells can be cultured in microfluidic chips, microfluidic perfusion chambers, or bioreactors, depending on the intended application [3].
Some applications of our microfluidic cell culture system include:
- Stem cell culture
- Microfluidic spheroid cell culture
- Blood-brain barrier on chip
- Live cell imaging (e.g. calcium imaging, FISH)
- Drug screening
- Shear stress
- Cell rolling-adhesion assay
- Immune response
- Cancer invasion and metastasis
- Models of physiology and disease
- Organ-on-a-chip
- Blood vessel formation & occlusion (atherosclerosis)
- Bone homeostasis and disease (osteoporosis)
- And many more!
References
1. Lyapun, I. N., Andryukov, B. G. & Bynina, M. P. HeLa Cell Culture: Immortal Heritage of Henrietta Lacks. Mol. Genet. Microbiol. Virol. 34, 195–200 (2019).
2. Coluccio, M. L. et al. Microfluidic platforms for cell cultures and investigations. Microelectron. Eng. 208, 14–28 (2019).
3. Mehling, M. & Tay, S. Microfluidic cell culture. Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 25, 95–102 (2014).
Cell culture technical specifications
The cell culture system comprises a perfusion platform and a pressure splitter. The fluid flow is controlled by an OB1 flow controller (Elveflow). The table summarizes the main specifications of the cell culture system.
Component | Technical specification |
| OB1 MK4 (Elveflow) | 4 Channels (0 to 2000 mbar) |
| Microfluidic Flow sensor | Range from 0 to 5 mL/min |
| Recirculation loop | 4 check valves, polycarbonate, male Luer; compatible with 1/4″-28 standard microfluidic fittings |
| Pressure splitter (Elveflow) | Valve controller with integrated solenoid valves for compressed air. |
| Cell culturing chamber | Microfluidic chips (2.55 x 7.55 cm) or Livebox 1 bioreactor (1,5 mL internal volume, IVT) |
The cell culture system is compatible with standard incubator conditions (37 oC, 5 % CO2, and 95 % humidity). Electronic components (except flow sensors) should be kept outside the incubator.
Customize your pack
Our instruments are compatible with standard commercialized chips from different brands.
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.
– Check our other instruments for various applications –
What can be placed inside the incubator?
The cell culture platform and the embedded flow sensors can be placed inside the CO2 incubator. The OB1 and the pressure splitter should be kept outside.
What type of cells can be cultured with the platform?
The platform can be used to culture any cell type, as the culture media can be adjusted according to the cells’ needs, and the cell culturing chamber can be replaced by the required design.
Can the platform be sterilized/autoclaved?
The components of the cell culture platform can be sterilized. Our user guide provides detailed information on how to do it.
Is the platform compatible with microscopes/live cell imaging?
Yes, the system handles four microfluidic chips consecutively into a holder that fits a standard microscope stage. In the bioreactor case, LiveBox 1 bioreactors from IVT are compatible with live cell imaging.
Funding and Support
