Method and kit for testing various selected materials and/or surface structures for culturing cells
Inventors
Klein, Frank • Weigel, Thomas • Kratz, Karl • Jung, Friedrich • Hiebl, Bernhard • Lendlein, Andreas • Lützow, Karola • Kurtz, Andreas • Reinke, Petra • R•mhild, Andy
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9726660-B2
Publication Date
2017-08-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for testing different selected materials and/or surface structures for the culture of cells and/or microorganisms.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to testing different selected materials or surface structures for the culture of cells or microorganisms. The problem addressed is that selected materials or surface structures are tested without interference while enabling culture and subsequent inspection in a standardized multiwell plate context. The approach uses beaker-shaped inserts configured to fit into wells of a multiwell plate so that exposure is restricted to a single test material or surface.
Beaker-shaped inserts are permanently joined at walls and a base to form liquid-tight structures, with an opening in the side facing away from the base. Each insert provides a selected material or a selected surface structure on at least a portion of the inner face of the base. Cells are cultured at least on the inner surface of the base of the beaker-shaped inserts after inserting the beaker-shaped inserts into wells such that an outer face of the base points towards the inner face of the multiwell plate well base.
The document further introduces a system that supports transfer between plates and microscopy/high-throughput automation via removable beaker-shaped inserts. Structural parameters are provided for the inserts including beaker-shaped geometry, inner base surface, outer base surface, planar or curved surfaces, transparency, fit constraints, and optional fixation projections. Variants and a kit are provided by dimensioning inserts for different multiwell plate well counts and by combining different selected materials and/or selected surface structures on the base and/or walls.
Claims Coverage
Independent claim clm-00001 defines a method for testing different selected materials or surface structures for the culture of cells or microorganisms using beaker-shaped inserts dimensioned for multiwell plate wells. The core inventive features are centered on the insert structure and the culturing format.
Beaker-shaped liquid-tight inserts dimensioned for multiwell plate wells
Providing a plurality of different selected materials or surface structures to be tested in the form of beaker-shaped inserts, dimensioned so each beaker-shaped insert can be inserted in a fitting manner into a well of a multiwell plate, each beaker-shaped insert having walls, a base, and an opening in the side facing away from the base, the walls and base permanently joined to be liquid-tight, and each beaker-shaped insert having a selected material or a selected surface structure on at least a portion of the inner face of the base.
Orientation of the insert within the multiwell plate well
Inserting the beaker-shaped inserts into wells of multiwell plates so that an outer face of the base of the beaker-shaped insert points towards the inner face of the base of a well of the multiwell plate.
Culturing cells at the insert base inner surface
Culturing the cells at least on the inner surface of the base of the beaker-shaped inserts.
Across the independent claim, the inventive concept is realized by testing multiple selected materials or selected surface structures using liquid-tight beaker-shaped inserts that fit multiwell plate wells, culturing cells on the insert base inner surface, and using a defined insert orientation within the well.
Stated Advantages
Allows testing of different selected materials or surface structures for the culture of cells or microorganisms in a restricted manner using beaker-shaped inserts inserted into multiwell plate wells.
Supports microscopy/high-throughput automation by using removable beaker-shaped inserts.
Provides extensive structural parameters for the inserts, including transparency, insert geometry, and fit constraints for compatibility with multiwell plate wells.
Enables use of a kit containing multiple different insert variants matched to multiwell plate well counts.
Documented Applications
Testing different selected polymer materials and/or micro/nanostructured surface chemistries on cells or microorganisms using inserts dimensioned to standard multiwell plate wells.
Microscopy inspection and high-throughput testing of cultured cells using removable beaker-shaped inserts in multiwell plates.
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