Hanging drop plate

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hanging drop plate (1) and a method of cultivating cells or of producing molecular aggregates in at least one liquid volume (6) that adheres to a drop contact area (5) of such a hanging drop plate (1). The hanging drop plate (1) comprises a body (2) with a first surface (3) and a second surface (4) that is essentially coplanar to the first surface (3). The second surface (4) comprises at least one drop contact area (5) for adherently receiving a liquid volume (6) for cultivating cells or for producing molecular aggregates therein. The at least one drop contact area (5) is distinguished from a surrounding area (7) by a relief structure (8) that prevents spreading of the liquid volume (6) on the second surface (4) of the body (2). The hanging drop plate (1) according to the present invention is characterized in that the body (2) further comprises at least one conduit (9) that mouths into the at least one drop contact area (5) from the direction of the first surface (3) of the body (2). In the method according to the present invention, a liquid volume (6) is applied to a drop contact area (5) through a conduit (9) that mouths into the drop contact area (5) from the direction of the first surface (3) of the body (2). Cells and / or molecules can be introduced into this liquid volume (6) and parts of this liquid volume (6) can be replaced via the respective conduit (9) of the hanging drop plate (1) that is dedicated to the drop contact area (5).

Description

technical field [0001] According to the general part of independent claim 1, the invention relates to a hanging drop plate. The hanging drop plate includes a body having a first surface and a second surface substantially coplanar with the first surface. The second surface includes at least one drop contact area that adhesively receives a volume of liquid. Within this liquid volume, cells can be cultured or molecular aggregates can be produced. This droplet contact area is distinguished from the surrounding area by means of a raised structure which prevents the liquid volume from spreading on the second surface of the body of the hanging drop plate. Background technique [0002] Cells cultured in 3D configurations are generally considered to be more physiologically suitable than cells in typical monolayer cell culture (see, eg, Yamada and Cukiermann, Cell, 2007; Pamploni et al. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, 2007). Coaxing cells into the third dimension is a matter...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, current reaggregation techniques have mainly been validated using tumor cell lines and lack the possibility of controlled co-culture

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