Cell culture insert

Abstract

Provided is a cell culture insert that can be easily handled with tweezers. A cell culture insert 10 comprises: a container body 12 having a cylindrical shape; and a plurality of holding parts 14 that each have a hanger 32 provided at one axial end of the container body 12 and a rib 34 provided between the container body 12 and the hanger 32. The hangers 32 have a strip-like shape and extend from one end of the container body 12 in an axial direction Z and toward the outside in a radial direction R of the container body 12. The ribs 34 are provided on an outer peripheral surface 12S of the container body 12, are such that a distal end 34F is in contact with the hanger 32, and extend from the distal end 34F and toward the other end in the axial direction Z of the container body 12. In at least one of the plurality of holding parts 14, the rib 34 has a size such that tweezers 1 gripping the hanger 32 from the outside in the axial direction Z can come into contact therewith.

Description

Cell culture insert

[0009] ,

[0008] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a cell culture insert used for cell culture.

[0002] Cell culture is an important technique used in various experiments and treatments while maintaining the physiological characteristics of cells. As a conventional culture method, 2D culture using petri dishes or flasks is common, and by this method, cell growth and differentiation can be observed. A petri dish provides a planar surface and promotes cell adhesion and growth, but it is difficult to fully reproduce the effects of cell-cell interactions and the extracellular matrix.

[0003] In contrast, 3D culture techniques have attracted attention. By arranging cells three-dimensionally, a more natural environment can be provided, and it is possible to more accurately reproduce the functions and characteristics of cells, and it is applied in fields such as tumor research, regenerative medicine, and drug screening.

[0004] One of the techniques for performing 3D culture is a cell culture insert (for example, Patent Document 1, Non-Patent Document 1, and Non-Patent Document). A cell culture insert is a device designed so that cells can grow in a state close to the physiological environment and is used to improve cell adhesion and survival rate. This enables culture considering the effects of cell-cell interactions and the extracellular matrix, and plays an important role particularly in fields such as tumor research, regenerative medicine, and drug screening.

[0005] For example, in a drug permeability test, it is used to evaluate the permeability of drugs through epithelial or endothelial barriers, and in a co-culture experiment, different cell types can be cultured simultaneously to study cell-cell interactions.

[0006] Thus, cell culture inserts are widely used in various research fields such as cell biology, pharmacology, and regenerative medicine, and further development is expected in the future.

[0007] WO2024 / 020571

[0008] USD9461675 Design 2012 - 29824

[0009] When moving cell culture inserts using tweezers, contact between the tweezers and the culture medium increases the risk of contamination and can affect the reproducibility of the experiment. Therefore, the cell culture inserts should be moved by grasping the hanger or rib with the tweezers.

[0010] However, the hangers and ribs on conventional cell culture inserts are not always designed to be easily grasped with tweezers. This can lead to mis-grasping, causing vibrations to the insert, or dropping it when lifting it, which can damage the cells and reduce the reproducibility of the experiment.

[0011] The present invention aims to provide a cell culture insert that can be easily handled with tweezers.

[0012] A cell culture insert according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a cylindrical container body; a plurality of holding parts having a hanger provided at one end of the container body in the axial direction; and ribs provided between the container body and the hanger, wherein the hanger is strip-shaped and extends radially outward from one end of the container body in the axial direction; the ribs are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, with their tips in contact with the hanger and extending from the tips toward the other end of the container body in the axial direction; and in at least one of the plurality of holding parts, the ribs are sized to be in contact with tweezers that grip the hanger from the outside in the axial direction.

[0013] According to the present invention, it can be easily handled with tweezers.

[0014] This is a plan view of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a bottom view of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a plan view of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Figure 3. This is a bottom view of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a partially enlarged view along line VI-VI in Figure 5. This is a partially enlarged view along line VII-VII in Figure 5. This is a partially enlarged view along line VIII-VIII in Figure 5. This is a front view of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a rear view of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a right side view of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a left side view of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a bottom view of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment showing a porous membrane. This is a diagram showing the state of use of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a diagram showing another state of use of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a diagram showing yet another state of use of the cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a plan view of a modified cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a bottom view of a modified cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a front view of a modified cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a rear view of a modified cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a right side view of a modified cell culture insert according to this embodiment. This is a left side view of a cell culture insert according to a modified example of this embodiment. This is a top view of a cell culture insert according to a modified example of this embodiment. This is a bottom view of a cell culture insert according to a modified example of this embodiment. This is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XXV-XXV in Figure 23. This is a bottom side perspective view showing a cell culture insert according to a modified example of this embodiment with a porous membrane provided.

[0015] Embodiments of the present invention relate to the following aspects.

[0016] [Aspect 1] A cell culture insert comprising: a cylindrical container body; a plurality of holding parts, each having a hanger provided at one end of the container body in the axial direction; and ribs provided between the container body and the hanger, wherein the hanger is strip-shaped and extends radially outward from one end of the container body in the axial direction; the ribs are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, with their tips in contact with the hanger and extending from the tips toward the other end of the container body in the axial direction; and in at least one of the plurality of holding parts, the ribs are sized to allow tweezers to grip the hanger from the outside in the axial direction. [Aspect 2] The cell culture insert according to Aspect 1, wherein in at least one of the plurality of holding parts, the hanger has notches provided on both radial edges. [Aspect 3] The cell culture insert according to Aspect 2, wherein the notches are provided at a position where the tips of the ribs contact the hanger. [Aspect 4] The cell culture insert according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the container body has a guide portion on its inner surface that extends in the axial direction and is recessed radially outward. [Aspect 5] The cell culture insert according to any one of aspects 1 to 4, wherein the container body has a stopper portion on the inner circumferential surface of the other end in the axial direction that protrudes radially inward. [Aspect 6] A cell culture method using the cell culture insert according to any one of aspects 1 to 5.

[0017] (Overall Configuration) The cell culture insert according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 16. In the following description, a cylindrical container body will be used as the reference, and the axial direction Z, which is the central axis of the container body, the radial direction R, which is perpendicular to the axial direction Z, and the circumferential direction C, which is the direction around the axial direction Z, will be described. The side of the container body toward the center in the axial direction Z will be called the axial inner side, the side of the container body toward the center in the axial direction Z will be called the axial outer side, the side of the container body toward the center in the radial direction R will be called the radial inner side, and the side of the container body toward the center in the radial direction R will be called the radial outer side.

[0018] The cell culture insert 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a container body 12 and a plurality of holding parts 14. The cell culture insert 10 is sized to match the well volume of the well plate (not shown) to which it is applied. The cell culture insert 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is applied to a well plate having 24 cell culture wells. The container body 12 is cylindrical. One end and the other end of the container body 12 in the axial direction Z are open. The outer diameter of the container body 12 is, for example, 8 to 12 mm, and the inner diameter of the container body 12 is, for example, 5 to 9 mm.

[0019] The cell culture insert 10 can be made of any suitable material, but it is particularly preferable that it is compatible with cells and culture medium. Generally, it is made of polymer material.

[0020] Examples of suitable polymer materials include polyolefins such as polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyimide, polymethyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polysulfone, polystyrene copolymers, fluoropolymers, polyester, polyamide, polystyrene-butadiene copolymer, fully hydrogenated styrene polymer, polycarbonate-PDMS copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polymethylpentene, polypropylene copolymer, and cyclic olefin copolymer. Polystyrene and polyacrylic are particularly preferred because their transparency makes them suitable for microscopic observation.

[0021] The container body 12 has three holding parts 14 provided at one end in the axial direction Z, spaced evenly apart in the circumferential direction C. A recess 16 is provided on the edge of one end of the container body 12 between each of the holding parts 14. The recess 16 is U-shaped and recessed toward the other end in the axial direction Z.

[0022] As shown in Figure 3, a guide portion 20 is provided on the inner circumferential surface 12M of the container body 12. The guide portion 20 extends from one end edge toward the other end in the axial direction Z. One end of the guide portion 20 in the axial direction is connected to a recess 16. The guide portion 20 is a groove formed by recessing the inner circumferential surface 12M of the container body 12 radially outward in the direction R. As shown in Figure 4, the depth of the guide portion 20, that is, the radial length from the reference arc constituting the inner circumferential surface 12M of the container body 12 to the guide portion surface 20S, gradually decreases from one end toward the other end in the axial direction Z.

[0023] The container body 12 has a stopper portion 22. The stopper portion 22 is provided on the inner circumferential surface 12M of the other end of the container body 12 in the axial direction Z. The stopper portion 22 protrudes radially R inward from the inner circumferential surface 12M. The stopper portion 22 is annular in the circumferential direction C on the inner circumferential surface 12M. In the cross-sectional view of Figure 4, the stopper portion 22 has an inclined surface 24 that slopes from the other end of the inner circumferential surface 12M in the axial direction Z toward the innermost radial edge (hereinafter referred to as the "innermost edge") 23 of the stopper portion 22.

[0024] As shown in Figure 4, the intersection point between the inclined surface 24 and the inner circumferential surface 12M is defined as the first intersection point P1, and the intersection point between the inclined surface 24 and the innermost edge 23 is defined as the second intersection point P2. In the cross-sectional view of Figure 4, if the axial length Z between the first intersection point P1 and the second intersection point P2 is H, and the radial length R between the innermost edge 23 and the inner circumferential surface 12M is W, then the aspect ratio (H / W) of the stopper portion 22 is, for example, 0 < (H / W) < 1.

[0025] Multiple holding parts 14 are provided on one end of the container body 12 in the axial direction Z. In Figure 1, there are three holding parts 14, consisting of a first holding part 26, a second holding part 28, and a third holding part 30. In the following description, unless otherwise distinguished, the first holding part 26, the second holding part 28, and the third holding part 30 will be referred to as the holding part 14.

[0026] The holding portion 14 includes a hanger 32 and a rib 34. The hanger 32 can suspend the cell culture insert 10 in a predetermined position within a cell culture well (not shown) by placing it on top of a well plate (not shown). The hanger 32 is a strip-shaped member and is provided radially outward from one end of the container body 12 in the axial direction. One end of the hanger 32 in the longitudinal direction is connected to one end of the container body 12 in the axial direction Z, and the other end of the hanger 32 in the longitudinal direction is located outside the container body 12 in the radial direction R. One end of the hanger 32 in the longitudinal direction is connected between two recesses 16. The length 32L (Figure 4) of the hanger 32 in the longitudinal direction is, for example, 4 to 6 mm, and the length 32W (Figure 3) in the short direction is, for example, 1 to 3 mm.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the hanger 32 has a projection 36. The projection 36 is provided on the surface 32S of the hanger 32 that intersects the axial direction Z and is on the axial side Z. The projection 36 protrudes outward in the axial direction Z. The height (axial length) of the projection 36 is, for example, 0.1 to 0.2 mm.

[0028] The rib 34 is provided between the container body 12 and the hanger 32. The rib 34 has predetermined lengths in the axial direction Z, the radial direction R, and the direction corresponding to the shorter side of the hanger 32. That is, the rib 34 has an axial length 34Z and a radial length 34R. The length of the rib 34 in the direction corresponding to the shorter side of the hanger 32 is referred to as the widthwise length 34W. The axial length 34Z and radial length 34R of the rib 34 are longer than the widthwise length 34W. The rib 34 is sized so that the tip of the tweezers 1 (Figure 14, described later) that grips the hanger 32 touches the outside of the axial direction Z at one end of the rib 34.

[0029] Preferably, the axial length 34Z of the rib 34 is at least three times the length 32Z between the outer surface 32S and the inner surface 32U of the hanger 32 in the axial direction Z. The radially inner edge of the rib 34 is connected to the outer surface 12S of the container body 12. The axial tip 34F of the rib 34 (Figure 2) is in contact with the inner surface 32U of the hanger 32 in the axial direction Z and extends from the tip 34F toward the other end of the container body 12 in the axial direction Z.

[0030] The radially outer edge 34E of the rib 34 (Figure 1) is inclined with respect to the axial direction Z. That is, the radial length 34R of the rib 34 gradually decreases from one end to the other in the axial direction Z of the hanger 32. The widthwise length 34W of the rib 34 gradually decreases from the tip 32F towards the other end in the axial direction Z of the hanger 32.

[0031] The region in the radial direction R of the hanger 32 where the tip 34F of the rib 34 (Figure 2) is in contact with the hanger 32 is called the first target region AR1. The first target region AR1 is the region in the radial direction R of the hanger 32, with the boundary C1 between the outer peripheral surface 12S of one end of the container body 12 and the hanger 32 as its inner edge, and the virtual reference circle C2, which is formed by the outermost edge in the radial direction R of the tip 34F of the rib 34, as its outer edge (see Figure 14, described later). The region in the radial direction R of the hanger 32 from the virtual reference circle C2 to the virtual reference circle C3, which is formed by the outermost edge in the radial direction R of the hanger 32, is called the second target region AR2.

[0032] The rib 34 has a first rib 38 positioned on the other end of the container body 12 in the axial direction Z, and a second rib 40 which includes a tip 34F connected to one end of the first rib 38 in the axial direction Z and in contact with the hanger 32 (Figure 4). Let θ1 be the angle between the radially outer edge 38E of the first rib 38 (hereinafter referred to as the "first edge") and the radial direction R. Let θ2 be the angle between the radially outer edge 40E of the second rib 40 (hereinafter referred to as the "second edge") and the radial direction R. The relationship θ1 < θ2 is satisfied between angles θ1 and θ2.

[0033] The hanger 32 may be a notched hanger 44 provided with a notch 42. In Figure 1, the first holding portion 26 has a notched hanger 44. The notches 42 are provided on each of the pair of long sides along the longitudinal direction of the notched hanger 44. The notches 42 are recessed toward the center in the short direction of the notched hanger 44. As shown in Figure 6, the notches 42 are provided within the first target region AR1 of the notched hanger 44.

[0034] As shown in Figure 6, the notch 42 is a recess formed by curving the long side of the notched hanger 44 when viewed from the axial direction Z. The width length 42D of the notch 42, that is, the length between a pair of notches 42 in the short direction of the hanger 32, is preferably greater than or equal to the width length 34W at the tip 34F of the rib 34.

[0035] As shown in Figure 7, the rib 34 may be a narrow rib 46 having a widthwise length 34W shorter than the short-side length of the hanger 32. The narrow rib 46 has a widthwise length 34W at its tip 34F that is 80% or more, 90% or more, or 95% or more and 100% or less of the short-side length 32W of the hanger 32. The cell culture insert 10 shown in Figure 1 has narrow ribs 46 in both the first retaining portion 26 and the second retaining portion 28.

[0036] The rib 34 may be a wide rib 48, as shown in Figure 8. In the wide rib 48, the length 34W in the width direction at the tip 34F is the same as the length 32W in the short direction of the hanger 32. Here, "same" means that the difference between the length 34W and 32W is within ±3% of the length 32W. In the cell culture insert 10 shown in Figure 1, the third holding part 30 is a wide rib 48.

[0037] In its use state, the cell culture insert 10 is equipped with a porous membrane 50 at the other end of the container body 12 in the axial direction Z, as shown in Figure 13. In Figure 13, the porous membrane 50 is indicated by a dashed line. The porous membrane 50 is preferably a polymer porous membrane such as polyimide, polyester, polycarbonate, polystyrene, polymethyl methacrylate, polysulfone, fluoropolymer, polyamide, polypropylene, cyclic olefin copolymer, nonwoven fabric, or cellulose. By using these porous membranes, cell adhesion and growth can be promoted, and cells with higher viability and function can be obtained.

[0038] (Cell Culture Method) The cell culture method using the cell culture insert 10 of this embodiment will be described below.

[0039] (Sterilization process) First, in order to prevent contamination when using the cell culture insert 10, sterilization is performed before use by gamma ray sterilization, EOG sterilization, electron beam sterilization, autoclave sterilization, etc.

[0040] (Cell seeding process) Next, in order to seed cells into the cell culture insert 10, cell culture medium is placed in the wells of the well plate (not shown in the diagram). The cell culture insert 10 is set into the wells using tweezers 1, cell culture medium is placed into the cell culture insert 10, and cells are seeded.

[0041] (Cell Culture Process) The well plate is covered and cultured in an incubator. During the cell culture process, the culture medium can be changed at the appropriate time. For example, the lid of the well plate is opened, the medium is removed from the wells and cell culture insert 10, and new medium is added to each. The medium used during cell culture can be recovered using a pipette or aspirator. The new medium added during the medium change can also be added using a pipette. The order in which the cell culture medium is added to the wells and cell culture insert 10 can be changed as appropriate.

[0042] (Function and Effects) The cell culture insert 10 according to this embodiment is operated using tweezers 1. For example, as shown in Figure 14, the cell culture insert 10 can be held by gripping the holding portion 14 from the outside of the axial direction Z at one end of the axial direction Z with the tweezers 1. With the cell culture insert 10 held by the tweezers 1 with the holding portion 14 gripped, it can be placed in a cell culture well (not shown), removed from a cell culture well, or the culture medium inside can be discharged by tilting the container body 12.

[0043] In this embodiment, the rib 34 is sized to allow the tweezers 1, which grip the hanger 32 from the outside of the axial direction Z at one end of the axial direction Z, to make contact. That is, when gripping the holding portion 14 from the outside of the axial direction Z with the tweezers 1, the tweezers make contact with both the hanger 32 and the rib 34, allowing both the hanger 32 and the rib 34 to be gripped simultaneously. Therefore, the cell culture insert 10 can be stably held by the tweezers 1, making it easier to handle with the tweezers 1.

[0044] When the tweezers 1 sandwich the first holding part 26, by sandwiching the notch 42 with the tip part of the tweezers 1, the tweezers 1 are easily positioned with respect to the hanger 32 and are difficult to shift. Therefore, the cell culture insert 10 can be handled more easily and stably with the tweezers 1.

[0045] Since the notch 42 is provided in the first target region AR1 of the hanger 32, the tweezers 1 sandwiching the notch 42 more surely contact the rib 34. That is, by sandwiching the hanger 32 and the rib 34 simultaneously with the tweezers 1, the cell culture insert 10 can be held more stably. Therefore, the cell culture insert 10 can be handled more easily with the tweezers 1.

[0046] Since the cell culture insert 10 has the guide part 20 on the inner peripheral surface 12M of the container main body 12, the medium can be recovered or discarded even if it is tilted slightly.

[0047] Since the cell culture insert 10 has the stopper part 22, it can be easily operated using a pipette (not shown). For example, when supplying the medium into the container main body 12 or recovering the medium from the container main body 12 with a pipette, by bringing the tip of the pipette into contact with the stopper part 22, it is possible to prevent the tip of the pipette from contacting the porous membrane 50.

[0048] A lid for preventing contamination is placed on the cell culture insert 10 after it is installed in the cell culture well. Since the cell culture insert 10 has the protrusion 36, a gap can be provided between the lid and the cell culture insert 10 to form a passage for air.

[0049] In addition, when opening the lid during an operation such as replacing the medium, due to the influence of moisture or the like, the cell culture insert and the lid may come into close contact, and the cell culture insert may move greatly in the radial direction R or the axial direction Z. A large movement may cause contamination.

[0050] The cell culture insert 10 has a gap formed between the cell culture insert and the lid by the protrusion 36, which prevents unintended movement of the cell culture insert.

[0051] The radially outer edge 34E of the rib 34 is inclined with respect to the axial direction Z, which allows for a sufficient gap to form between it and the inner surface of the cell culture well. Therefore, the cell culture insert 10 can prevent capillary action from occurring between the radially outer edge 34E of the rib 34 and the inner surface of the cell culture well. Thus, the cell culture insert 10 can reduce the risk of contamination caused by the culture medium in the cell culture well being drawn up.

[0052] The angle θ1 between the first edge 38E of the first rib 38 and the radial direction R, and the angle θ2 between the second edge 40E of the second rib 40 and the radial direction R, satisfy the relationship θ1 < θ2, thereby enabling the creation of a hanger 32 having a second target region AR2 of a predetermined longitudinal length. Because the longitudinal length of the second target region AR2 is greater than or equal to a predetermined length, as shown in Figure 15, the hanger 32 of the second target region AR2 can be easily grasped and held from the short side with the tweezers 1. Therefore, the cell culture insert 10 according to this embodiment can be handled not only from the outside in the axial direction Z, but also by grasping the hanger 32 from the short side.

[0053] The rib 34 is large enough for the tweezers 1, which grip the hanger 32 from the outside in the axial direction Z, to make contact. That is, as shown in Figure 16, even though the rib 34 is a narrow rib 46, the tip portion of the tweezers 1 that grips the hanger 32 from the outside in the axial direction Z can make contact with it. Therefore, the cell culture insert 10 can be easily handled by holding the narrow rib 46 of the second holding part 28 with the tweezers 1.

[0054] Since the third holding portion 30 has wide ribs 48, the forceps 1 that grip the hanger 32 from the outside in the axial direction Z can make more secure contact. Therefore, the cell culture insert 10 can be handled more securely and easily by holding the second holding portion 28 with the forceps 1.

[0055] (Modifications) The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the spirit of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiments, the case in which there are three holding parts 14 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this and may have two or four or more.

[0056] In the above embodiment, the case in which the edge 34E of the rib 34 is inclined in the axial direction Z was described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may also be aligned with the axial direction. In this case, the edge 34E of the rib 34 is not limited to being parallel to the axial direction, but also includes cases where the angle it makes with the axial direction is ±5 degrees.

[0057] In the above embodiment, the case where the angles θ1 and θ2 of the rib 34 satisfy the relationship θ1 < θ2 was described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the angles θ1 and θ2 may satisfy the relationship θ1 > θ2, in which case a second rib 40 having a radial length of a predetermined length or more can be obtained. Because the radial length of the second rib 40 is a predetermined length or more, the tweezers 1 that grip the hanger 32 from the outside in the axial direction Z can easily make contact. Therefore, the cell culture insert 10 can be handled more easily.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the case in which the holding portion 14 of the cell culture insert 10 has a first holding portion 26, a second holding portion 28, and a third holding portion 30 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this and includes cases in which it has at least one of these portions.

[0059] In the above embodiment, the notch 42 was described as a recess formed by curving the long side of the notched hanger 44 when viewed from the axial direction Z. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a recess formed in the shape of a crescent, rectangle, or triangle when viewed from the axial direction Z.

[0060] In the above embodiment, the case in which the notch 42 is provided within the first target area AR1 of the notched hanger 44 was described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and may also be provided within the second target area AR2.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the cell culture insert 10 was described as being for a well plate having 24 cell culture wells, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the size of the cell culture insert can be appropriately selected according to the size of the cell culture wells. For example, the cell culture insert 10A shown in Figures 17 to 26 is for a well plate having 6 cell culture wells. The outer diameter of the container body 12A is, for example, 26 to 30 mm, and the inner diameter of the container body is, for example, 22 to 26 mm. As shown in Figures 17 and 18, in which the same reference numerals are used for the same components as in the above embodiment, the cell culture insert 10A has a container body 12A, a first retaining part 26, a second retaining part 28, and a third retaining part 30, and can therefore exhibit the same effects as in the above embodiment. The cell culture insert 10A shown in Figure 26 is provided with a porous membrane 50 at the other end of the container body 12A in the axial direction Z. In Figure 26, the porous membrane 50 is shown by a dashed line.

[0062] 1 Tweezers 10 Cell culture insert 12 Container body 12S Outer surface 12M Inner surface 14 Holding part 16 Recess 20 Guide part 22 Stopper part 23 Innermost edge 24 Inclined surface 26 First holding part 28 Second holding part 30 Third holding part 32 Hanger 32L Length in the longitudinal direction 32W Length in the transverse direction 32S Outer surface 32U Inner surface 32Z Length 34 Rib 34Z Length in the axial direction 34R Length in the radial direction 34W Length in the width direction 34F Tip 34E Edge 36 Protrusion 38 First rib 38E First edge 40 Second rib 40E Second edge 42 Notch 42D Width length 44 Hanger with notch 46 Narrow rib 48 Wide rib 50 Porous membrane Z Axial direction R Radial direction P1 First intersection P2 Second intersection

Claims

1. A cell culture insert comprising: a cylindrical container body; a plurality of holding parts, each having a hanger provided at one end of the container body in the axial direction; and ribs provided between the container body and the hanger, wherein the hanger is strip-shaped and extends radially outward from one end of the container body in the axial direction; the ribs are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the container body, with their tips in contact with the hanger and extending from their tips toward the other end of the container body in the axial direction; and in at least one of the plurality of holding parts, the ribs are sized to be in contact with the hanger from the outside in the axial direction.

2. The cell culture insert according to claim 1, wherein in at least one of the plurality of holding portions, the hanger is provided with notches on both radial edges.

3. The cell culture insert according to claim 2, wherein the notch is provided at a position where the tip of the rib contacts the hanger.

4. The cell culture insert according to any one of claims 1, wherein the container body has a guide portion on its inner surface that extends in the axial direction and is recessed radially outward.

5. The cell culture insert according to any one of claims 1, wherein the container body has a stopper portion on the inner circumferential surface of the other end in the axial direction that protrudes inward in the radial direction.

6. A cell culture method using a cell culture insert according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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