Objective
InSphero's microfluidic platform builds on the European project
"Body-on-a-Chip" in collaboration with ETH Zurich, and is fully
tailored to incorporate microtissue spheroids. The platform enables culturing
of microtissues under physiological flow conditions, with the flexibility to
interconnect and culture different types of microtissues for a variety of
pre-clinical testing applications. The full polystyrene device is based on
SBS-plate standards, includes 8 separate channels and each channel contains up
to 10 spheroid compartments. Up to 10 same or different spheroids can be
interconnected and cultured in 8 identical or different conditions in parallel.
Currently, we are investigating liver-tumor and liver-islet interactions. Open
media reservoirs are located at both ends of each channel. Perfusion flow is
generated through tilting the device back and forth on an automated system
inside an incubator. Multiple devices can be operated in parallel. Its
simplicity and robustness in handling together with the compatibility to
automation makes the platform truly scalable.