Gels

Hydrogels

3D cell environment control using microstructured substates

TECHNOLOGY

SMART[contractility] plates

ASSEMBLY OF RING-SPHAPED ORGANOIDS

Cells are cultured on a substrate with microwells with a central pillar enabling the spontaneous formation of ring-shaped organoids

> Measure the contractility force through the deformation of the hydrogel based central pillar

> The organoids are kept in place during manipulation of the plates 

> In one well you can have many organoids (up to 21) with reproducible sizes 

> The substrates are ready to be used in your cell culture experiments 

> The stiffness of the substrate can be tuned 

> Easy and straightforward to use, since cells are seeded directly on top of the features and spontaneously form aggregates of cells in the format of rings

> Adaptable to any cell culture substrate (coverslips, Petri dishes, multiwell plates)

> The optically transparency of the gels makes these substrates compatible with high-resolution optical microscopy systems

> Get in touch with us if you would like to customize these substrates 

SMART[sphero] plates

ASSEMBLY OF SPHEROIDS

Cells are cultured on a substrate with microwells enabling the spontaneous formation of spheroids 

> The size of the spheroids depends only on the amount of cells

> The microwells have a contact point enabling the spheroid to stay anchored during manipulation 

> In one well you can have many spheroids (up to 91) with reproducible sizes 

> The substrates are ready to be used in your cell culture experiments 

> Easy and straightforward to use, since cells are seeded directly on top of the features and spontaneously form aggregates of cells in the format of spheroids 

> Adaptable to any cell culture substrate (coverslips, Petri dishes, multiwell plates)

> The optically transparency of the gels makes these substrates compatible with high-resolution optical microscopy systems

> Get in touch with us if the microwells design do suit your precise needs 

Hydrogels

MICROSTRUCTURED SURFACES

Cells are cultured in a 3D environment (different stiffnesses, either flat or microstructured, to mimic in vivo conditions).

> Stiffness of the substrate can be chosen from very soft (1 kPa) to very hard (50 kPa)

> Wide range of substrates topography available (flat, round wells, square wells, grooves, etc.)

> The gel based substrates are ready to be used in your cell culture experiments 

> Easy and straightforward to use, since cells are seeded directly on top of the features (convenient to confine non migrating cells)

> Pre-coated with ECM matrix (e.g. fibronectin) 

> Adaptable to any cell culture substrate (coverslips, Petri dishes, multiwell plates)

> The optically transparency of the gels makes these substrates compatible with high-resolution optical microscopy systems

> Contact us if you want a customized design

APPLICATIONS

Hydrogel – STRUCTURED GELS

Cell differentiation, Cell mechanics, Cell contractility, Cell migration, Tissue geometry mimicry, 3D cell shape control, etc.

HeLa cells seeded on microstructured gels

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts seeded on grooves 

SMART[Sphero] plates – ASSEMBLY OF SPHEROIDS

Formation of spheroids, tissue structure, signaling pathways, immune activation, etc. 

MSCs cells form spheroids when cultured in PEG hydrogels with microwells

MSCs (GFP) cells form spheroids when cultured in PEG hydrogels with microwells

SMART[contractility] plates – ASSEMBLY OF RING-SHAPED ORGANOIDS

Formation of ring shaped organoids, contractility force measurement, tissue structure, etc.

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts, 22 hours after being seeded

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts, 12 days after being seeded. 

PUBLICATIONS

  • Adherens junction engagement regulates functional patterning of the cardiac pacemaker cell lineage
    Thomas et al., 2021, Developmental Cell 56, 1498–1511
  • Cardiac spheroids as promising in vitro models to study the human heart microenvironment
    Polonchuk, L., et al. Scientific reports, 2017 7(1), 7005
  • Current and emerging modalities for detection of cardiotoxicity in cardio-oncology
    Khouri, M. G., et al. Future cardiology, 2015 11(4), 471-484
  • Bioinspired living structural color hydrogels
    Fu, F., et al. Science Robotics, 2018 3(16), eaar8580
  • Preparation of hydrogel substrates with tunable mechanical properties
    Tse, J. R., & Engler, A. J. Current protocols in cell biology, 2010 47(1) 10-16
  • Differentiation of liver progenitor cell line to functional organotypic cultures in 3D nanofibrillar cellulose and hyaluronan-gelatin hydrogels
    Malinen, M. M., et al. Biomaterials, 2014 35(19), 5110-5121.

PRODUCTS