Optical Sensor for 3D Cell Culture Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring three-dimensional cell cultures face challenges in determining and monitoring physiological conditions, vitality, and metabolism status due to difficulties in accessing and disturbing the sterile environment, and existing optical sensors require mechanical intervention, which can contaminate or disturb the culture.
Innovation Solution
An in vitro method using erythrocytes as detectors to determine flow rate, physiological osmolality, and oxygen consumption, combined with measuring living cell fluorescent dyes for vitality and autofluorescence of NADH and FAD for metabolism status, facilitated by a contact-free and non-invasive optical sensor device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If mechanical sensors are introduced to monitor three-dimensional cell cultures, then measurement capability is improved, but contamination and disturbance of the sterile environment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sensors with an optical monitoring system that uses light to detect physiological parameters. The optical system includes light sources, detectors, and signal processing components that can measure oxygen consumption, metabolic activity, and other physiological conditions without physical contact with the cell culture, thereby eliminating contamination risks while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces optical signals as an intermediary between the monitoring system and the cell culture. Light acts as a non-invasive mediator that can penetrate the culture environment and interact with physiological parameters (such as oxygen levels and metabolic substrates) without requiring direct mechanical contact, thus enabling measurement while preserving sterility
2Measurement precision
If direct intervention is used to measure physiological conditions, then measurement accuracy is improved, but the sterile atmosphere is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical detection methods to measure physiological conditions such as oxygen consumption and metabolic activity. The system uses light absorption and fluorescence techniques to obtain accurate physiological data without introducing mechanical probes or contaminants into the sterile culture environment, thus maintaining both measurement precision and sterility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the inherent optical properties of the cell culture system itself (such as light absorption by oxygen and fluorescence from metabolic substrates) to perform self-monitoring. The culture system provides its own measurement signals through its physiological activity, eliminating the need for external mechanical intervention while maintaining accurate physiological condition determination
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
Enables accurate, non-invasive monitoring of three-dimensional cell cultures without contaminating the sterile environment, allowing for continuous assessment of physiological conditions, vitality, and metabolism status, enhancing the reliability of cell culture analysis.
Implementation Method 1
The physiological condition is determined using erythrocytes as detectors for said condition by determining the flow rate, physiological osmolality, and/or oxygen consumption
Implementation Method 2
the vitality is determined and/or monitored by measuring living cell fluorescent dyes
Implementation Method 3
the metabolism status is determined and/or monitored by measuring the autofluorescence of NADH and/or FAD
Implementation Method 4
an optical sensor which is configured to allow the contact-free and non-invasive conduction of the methods
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for determining and/or monitoring at least one condition of a three dimensional cell culture system comprising at least one growth section, wherein the at least one condition is selected from the group consisting of physiological condition, vitality, and metabolism status. The present invention further relates to an optical sensor device configured to carry out said method.