How does it compare to transwell plates
CELLBLOKS®, is a multi-organ/cell type modular “plug and play” co-culture technology. It serves the purpose of emulating the organ microenvironment in a standard in-vitro setting. It provides the feasibility of studying the assays in 2-D, 3-D cell growth condition, and in static or flow system, by using a standard perfusion rocker
Using CELLBLOKS® different cell types can be grown on Barrier Blocks™ or Circulatory Blocks™ that emulate barrier organs or those in systematic circulation. Blocks containing organ specific cells can then be connected to each other in variety of ways to simulate complex organ-organ interactions. For instance, Intestinal cell are grown on Barrier Blocks, whereas Liver and lung cells in Circulatory Blocks.
In this way you can quickly and easy set up an experiment in the lab to simulate complex body conditions, for example, to test how organs communicate to each other when they are exposed to a test drug
THE PLATFORM
Cell-cell communication studies made easy
CELLBLOKS® platform has dimensions of a SBS standard Tissue Culture well plate. It has four sperate elongated channels with location for three separate Blocks. Each channel is filled with media (3-5 ml) to allow the cell-cell communication between the Blocks
Compared to convention insert plates the CELLBLOKS® platform offers number of advantages:
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Study the interaction of up to three cell types at the same time
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Visualised individual cell cultures simultaneously by microscopy without disturbing others
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Improved cell-cell communication by new side filters
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Produce more reliable data by growing cells on same surface
Study the interaction of up to three cell types at once
Conventional well plate inserts |
CELLBLOKS Circulatory Blocks |
Only two cell types can be co-cultured together | Up three cell types can be co-cultured in separate compartments |
Visualise in real time
Conventional well plate inserts |
CELLBLOKS Circulatory Blocks |
Only the bottom cells can be directly visualised by microscopy | Each cell culture can be individually visualised by microscopy without disturbing others |
Improved cell-cell communication
Conventional well plate inserts |
CELLBLOKS Circulatory Blocks |
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Cell secreted factors are often blocked by cell layer between top and bottom compartments | Cell-cell communication is enhanced as secreted factors can freely diffuse between cell compartments without having to pass through the cell layers |
Produce more reliable data by growing each cell type on same surface
Conventional well plate inserts |
CELLBLOKS Circulatory Blocks |
Material properties in the inserts plate and inserts are different which can add another variable to the data | All cells are grown on same surface material ensuring consistent conditions for each culture |