Elastomeric Sealing Device for Filter Cell Monolayer Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Forming consistent and tight cell monolayers on the exterior surfaces of filter membranes in drug permeability screening assays is challenging due to limited cell media volume, leading to potential 'holes' in the monolayer and assay failures.
Innovation Solution
An elastomeric body with channels is used to sealingly engage the outer surface of the well, allowing for increased cell media retention and consistent cell growth on the exterior filter surfaces, facilitating the formation of tight cell monolayers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a limited volume of cell media is disposed onto each filter, then the operation is simple and quick, but the cell monolayer consistency deteriorates leading to holes and assay failures
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric body with channels acts as an intermediary device between the cell media source and the filter surface. It provides a controlled environment for cell media distribution, ensuring consistent coverage across the filter surface while maintaining operational efficiency. The channels serve as conduits that mediate the delivery of cell media at optimal volumes and rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameters of cell media delivery by controlling volume, flow rate, and distribution pattern through the elastomeric body's channel structure. This allows optimization of the cell seeding process to achieve both high productivity and reliable, consistent monolayer formation by precisely adjusting delivery parameters.
2Reliability
If cell media volume is increased to achieve tight monolayers, then the reliability of cell monolayer formation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric body utilizes flexible material properties to create a simple yet effective device structure. The elastomeric nature allows the body to conform to the filter surface and maintain sealing without complex rigid components, achieving reliable cell monolayer formation while keeping the device structure relatively simple and adaptable.
3Ease of operation
If the insert plate is inverted for exterior surface seeding, then the accessibility to filter surface improves, but the cell media retention deteriorates due to gravity
Solution Approach 1:
The elastomeric body with integrated channels introduces a three-dimensional structure that addresses the two-dimensional problem of media retention. The channels provide vertical pathways for media delivery while the elastomeric body's structure creates containment, effectively adding a dimensional solution to retain media volume while maintaining accessibility for exterior surface seeding.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method enables the formation of tightly packed cell monolayers on the exterior surfaces of filters, enhancing the reliability of drug permeability screening assays and allowing for studies on cell communication and polarized drug transport.
Implementation Method 1
The channels are formed to sealingly, and detachably, engage an outer surface of the well with the filter being at least partially encompassed by the channel
Data Source
AI summary
An article is provided herein for use in seeding cells on at least one filter extending across at least one well of an assay device. The article includes an elastomeric body having spaced-apart first and second surfaces, and at least one channel extending between, and through, the first and second surfaces. The channel is formed to sealingly, and detachably, engage an outer surface of the well with the filter being at least partially encompassed by the channel. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a cell monolayer can be formed on the exterior surface of the filter. The assay device may be a multiwell plate, an insert plate, a column, a test tube, or a pipette.