RLR: Continuous media exchange LiverChip®

RLR Modular Chip devices are designed to provide an introduction to microfluidic cell culture in a plate-based format more familiar to the majority of cell biologists than bioreactor or lab-on-chip approaches.

The RLR plate allows for the culture of LiverChip® wells with controlled feeding and bleeding of the system from reservoirs either side to allow unparalleled customisable operational set-ups.

How it WorksEach RLR well set is fluidically isolated and can be used to run a distinct experimental condition. The flowrate in the LiverChip® well and the transfer rates from and to the reservoirs is set on the touchscreen controller and accurately controlled by embedded micro-pumps capable of pumping in either direction.

Turning Single Cells into OrgansFresh or cryopreserved hepatocytes (primary or differentiated stem cells) are seeded into the scaffold and tissue formation comparable to CN Bio’s LiverChip is achieved.

Actin (phalloidin) staining and nuclei (Hoechst) staining showing formation of tight cell junctions using confocal microscopy

Polarization of bile canaliculi shown using CDF staining

Imaging of primary hepatocyte microtissues within the channels of the LiverChip® scaffold as imaged using bright field imaging (above) and EM microscopy (right)

Bile Canuliculus

Day 0: 4hrs Day 2Day 1 Day 3 Day 5 Day 7

Create your SystemPrimary cells or cell lines can be seeded on a LiverChip® scaffold and placed in the LiverChip® well as in a standard LiverChip® platform, but media can be added in different modes using the reservoirs to give the cells different exposure profiles to molecules of interest. Additionally control temperature, mixing, media composition and dissolved O2/CO2 to optimise tissue culture.

Exposure ProfilesThe continuous media exchange LiverChip® allows the user to determine the effect of the exposure profile of compounds on exogenous and endogenous molecule concentrations over time.

Full Specifications LiverChip®

Description The RLR is a multiwell liver-on-chip device that enables extended maintenance of cell culture using fully customisable feeding and extraction protocols to allow for highly precise long term dosing studies. It consists of 12 fluidically isolated sets of the Reservoir-LiverChip®-Reservoir combination.

Device materials Top plate (Contacts cells and media): PolysulfonePneumatic bottom plate: Acrylic

Capacity 18 fluidically isolated wells per plate

Incubation temperature range

-40 -180ºC

Operating time range Primary human hepatocyte cells cultured up to 40 days with minimal cell death or loss in function.

Flow rate range 0.2 – 5.4 μLs-1

Well volume 1.4-2.2 mL

Footprint 119.92 x 85.46 mm

Height 24.02 mm

Consumables Membranes, LiverChip®36 inserts, scaffolds, filters, retaining rings

Ancillary equipment PumpSure Air unit and Controller

For enquiries contact: Roumteen Keshe +44 (0)1707 358 739 Roumteen.Keshe@cn-bio.com

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Feed Reservoir LiverChip® Receive Reservoir

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