Hydrogels

3D cell environment control using microstructured substates

TECHNOLOGY

SMART[contractility] plates

ASSEMBLY OF RING-SPHAPED ORGANOIDS

Cells are cultured on a substrate with microwells with a central pillar enabling the spontaneous formation of ring-shaped organoids

> Measure the contractility force through the deformation of the hydrogel based central pillar

> The organoids are kept in place during manipulation of the plates 

> In one well you can have many organoids (up to 21) with reproducible sizes 

> The substrates are ready to be used in your cell culture experiments 

> The stiffness of the substrate can be tuned 

> Easy and straightforward to use, since cells are seeded directly on top of the features and spontaneously form aggregates of cells in the format of rings

> Adaptable to any cell culture substrate (coverslips, Petri dishes, multiwell plates)

> The optically transparency of the gels makes these substrates compatible with high-resolution optical microscopy systems

> Get in touch with us if you would like to customize these substrates 

Contractility assay principle

SMART[sphero] plates

ASSEMBLY OF SPHEROIDS

Cells are cultured on a substrate with microwells enabling the spontaneous formation of spheroids 

> The size of the spheroids depends only on the amount of cells

> The microwells have a contact point enabling the spheroid to stay anchored during manipulation 

> In one well you can have many spheroids (up to 91) with reproducible sizes 

> The substrates are ready to be used in your cell culture experiments 

> Easy and straightforward to use, since cells are seeded directly on top of the features and spontaneously form aggregates of cells in the format of spheroids 

> Adaptable to any cell culture substrate (coverslips, Petri dishes, multiwell plates)

> The optically transparency of the gels makes these substrates compatible with high-resolution optical microscopy systems

> Get in touch with us if the microwells design do suit your precise needs 

Hydrogels

MICROSTRUCTURED SURFACES

Cells are cultured in a 3D environment (different stiffnesses, either flat or microstructured, to mimic in vivo conditions).

> Stiffness of the substrate can be chosen from very soft (1 kPa) to very hard (50 kPa)

> Wide range of substrates topography available (flat, round wells, square wells, grooves, etc.)

> The gel based substrates are ready to be used in your cell culture experiments 

> Easy and straightforward to use, since cells are seeded directly on top of the features (convenient to confine non migrating cells)

> Pre-coated with ECM matrix (e.g. fibronectin) 

> Adaptable to any cell culture substrate (coverslips, Petri dishes, multiwell plates)

> The optically transparency of the gels makes these substrates compatible with high-resolution optical microscopy systems

> Contact us if you want a customized design

APPLICATIONS

Hydrogel – STRUCTURED GELS 

Cell differentiation, Cell mechanics, Cell contractility, Cell migration, Tissue geometry mimicry, 3D cell shape control, etc.

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HeLa cells seeded on microstructured gels

image (5)

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts seeded on grooves 

SMART[Sphero] plates – ASSEMBLY OF SPHEROIDS

Formation of spheroids, tissue structure, signaling pathways, immune activation, etc. 

MSCs cells form spheroids when cultured in PEG hydrogels with microwells

FLUORESCENCEadjusted green 3

MSCs (GFP) cells form spheroids when cultured in PEG hydrogels with microwells

SMART[contractility] plates – ASSEMBLY OF RING-SHAPED ORGANOIDS

Formation of ring shaped organoids, contractility force measurement, tissue structure, etc.

MEFs 22 h after being seeded

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts, 22 hours after being seeded

MEFs 12 days after being seeded

Mouse embryonic fibroblasts, 12 days after being seeded. 

PUBLICATIONS

  • Adherens junction engagement regulates functional patterning of the cardiac pacemaker cell lineage
    Thomas et al., 2021, Developmental Cell 56, 1498–1511
  • Cardiac spheroids as promising in vitro models to study the human heart microenvironment
    Polonchuk, L., et al. Scientific reports, 2017 7(1), 7005
  • Current and emerging modalities for detection of cardiotoxicity in cardio-oncology
    Khouri, M. G., et al. Future cardiology2015 11(4), 471-484
  • Bioinspired living structural color hydrogels
    Fu, F., et al. Science Robotics, 2018 3(16), eaar8580
  • Preparation of hydrogel substrates with tunable mechanical properties
    Tse, J. R., & Engler, A. J. Current protocols in cell biology, 2010 47(1) 10-16
  • Differentiation of liver progenitor cell line to functional organotypic cultures in 3D nanofibrillar cellulose and hyaluronan-gelatin hydrogels
    Malinen, M. M., et al. Biomaterials2014 35(19), 5110-5121.

PRODUCTS