Sedimentation Velocity Medium Evaluation for Cell Culture

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for evaluating medium suitability for three-dimensional cell culture are inadequate as they fail to accurately assess both cell retention performance and recovery efficiency, particularly when media have identical viscosity but differ in retention and recovery efficiencies.

Innovation Solution

A medium evaluation method involving the dispersion of particles with specific size and density in the medium, measuring sedimentation velocity, and using magnetic particles with a magnetic field to assess the medium's suitability for cell culture, considering the network structure formed by polymers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If medium viscosity is increased to improve cell retention performance, then cell retention performance is improved, but recovery efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell retention performanceVSAvoidrecovery efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the evaluation parameter from medium viscosity to sedimentation velocity of particles. By measuring how fast particles settle in the medium, the invention provides a direct indicator that reflects both retention performance and recovery efficiency, resolving the contradiction by enabling selection of media that optimize both parameters simultaneously rather than requiring trade-offs based on viscosity alone

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical viscosity measurement system with a sedimentation-based evaluation system. Instead of measuring the resistance to flow (viscosity), the invention measures the sedimentation velocity of particles with specific properties (density of 2.5 g/cm³, size of 200 μm) in the medium, which directly indicates both cell retention and recovery characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If medium viscosity is used as the evaluation criterion, then evaluation process is simple, but evaluation accuracy for both retention and recovery is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevaluation process simplicityVSAvoidevaluation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces particles with specific properties (density of 2.5 g/cm³, size of 200 μm) as an intermediary substance to evaluate medium suitability. These particles act as a mediator that reflects both cell retention performance and recovery efficiency through their sedimentation velocity, providing more accurate evaluation than direct viscosity measurement while maintaining relatively simple testing procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 allows for a comprehensive evaluation of medium suitability, enabling the determination of adequate retention and recovery efficiencies by using sedimentation velocity and magnetic particle movement as index values, ensuring appropriate cell culture conditions.

Implementation Method 1

measuring a sedimentation velocity at which the predetermined particles settle in the medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSedimentation: Sedimentation

Implementation Method 2

measuring a sedimentation velocity at which the predetermined particles settle in the medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

measuring a predetermined distance x in which the number ratio of the particle numbers obtained before and after the application of a magnetic field of the magnetic particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentUS11435276B2Medium evaluation method, medium, and culture method

Publication Date: 2022.09.06 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

Provided is a medium evaluation method for evaluating the suitability of a medium in which cell aggregates are cultured in a suspended state, by which an evaluation of whether a medium is adequate for both the cell retention performance and the cell recovery efficiency, the medium evaluation method including dispersing a plurality of particles in a medium, measuring a sedimentation velocity by which the particles settle in the medium, and using the sedimentation velocity thus measured as an index value indicating the suitability of the medium; and also provided are a medium and a culture method.