Devices and methods for production of cell aggregates
OwnerMark Ungrin, Peter Zandstrainventors
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Abstract
The present application provides methods and devices for the production and recovery of cell aggregates. In one embodiment, the device is a microwell device with a high density of microwells. The application also provides a device for extracting cell aggregates such as stem cells or embryoid bodies from well plates. Such cell aggregates are used for the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells such as embryonic stem cells, in the fields of developmental biology and regenerative medicine/tissue engineering.
Claims37
A microwell device comprising:
- a) a well having a well bottom;
- b) a microwell plate at the well bottom, the microwell plate comprising
- i) an upper region defining an upper plane;
- ii) a plurality of microwells extending downwardly from the upper plane;
- iii) each of the microwells comprising an axis extending perpendicularly to the upper plane;
- and
- iv) each of the microwells comprising a sidewall, the sidewall of at least one of the microwells having at least one wall component extending inwardly towards the axis.
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A device for recovering cells from wells of a source plate comprising:
- a) the source plate;
- b) a collecting plate;
- and
- c) an alignment collar;
- wherein the alignment collar forms a bridge between the collecting plate and source plate;
- and
- wherein the alignment collar fits outside the perimeter of the collecting plate and aligns the source plate, so that the source plate fits inside the alignment collar when the source plate, the collecting plate and the alignment collar of the device are assembled.
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A method of generating cell aggregates from stem cells comprising:
- (1) preparing a population of undifferentiated stem cells and differentiated cells by adding a factor to the stem cells to promote cell differentiation in part of the population, or by separately culturing the undifferentiated cells and differentiated cells;
- and
- (2) preparing a mixture in suspension comprising the differentiated cells and undifferentiated cells of step (1);
- and
- (3) forming cell aggregates from the mixture in step (2).
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Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.