Devices and methods for the generation and evaluation of engineered tissues
Methods and systems for generating three-dimensional (3D) engineered tissues (ETs), and for electrical stimulation of same, are provided. Provided is an ET assembly comprising an ET lid with first post and second post assemblies coupled thereto. Provided is a casting assembly comprising the ET assembly and a casting plate. Provided are stimulation methods and systems for stimulating tissue constructs.
1 . A casting assembly, comprising:
a casting plate comprising a plurality of casting wells, wherein each casting well of the plurality of casting wells includes a bottomless well arranged above a recessed well; and
an engineered tissue (ET) assembly, comprising:
an ET mounting lid comprising a plate comprising a first side, a second side, and a plurality of through holes;
a plurality of first posts; and
a plurality of second posts;
wherein the plurality of first posts and the plurality of second posts are arranged in pairs of posts, each pair of posts comprising a first post of the plurality of first posts and a second post of the plurality of second posts, wherein the pairs of posts are received in respective through holes of the plurality of through holes of the ET mounting lid and in respective casting wells of the plurality of casting wells of the casting plate, wherein ends of the pairs of posts are received in respective recessed wells.
2 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein for each casting well, a size of the bottomless well is greater than a size of the recessed well.
3 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the recessed well is a tissue solution receptacle.
4 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein for each casting well, a wall of the recessed well is sloped and a corner formed at the wall and a bottom surface of the recessed well is chamfered or curved.
5 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the first posts of the plurality of first posts are rigid posts and wherein at least some of the second posts of the plurality of second posts are flexible posts.
6 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the first posts of the plurality of first posts are flexible posts and wherein at least some of the second posts of the plurality of second posts are flexible posts.
7 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein for each casting well of the plurality of casting wells, the bottomless well and the recessed well are formed as a single component.
8 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein for each casting well of the plurality of casting wells, the bottomless well and the recessed well are formed as separate components.
9 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the casting plate comprises a first portion comprising the bottomless well of each casting well, and a second portion comprising the recessed well of each casting well.
10 . The casting assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are formed in a monolithic body.
11 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first posts is arranged at a first side of the plurality of through holes and the plurality of second posts is arranged at a second side of the plurality of through holes.
12 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein a first post assembly comprises at least some of the first posts of the plurality of first posts and wherein a second post assembly comprises at least some of the second posts of the plurality of second posts.
13 . The casting assembly of claim 12 , wherein the first post assembly is coupled to the ET mounting lid by first couplings, wherein the second post assembly is coupled to the ET mounting lid by second couplings.
14 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the second posts of the plurality of second posts are flexible posts.
15 . The casting assembly of claim 14 , wherein at least some of the flexible posts comprise a magnet.
16 . The casting assembly of claim 15 , wherein each of the magnets is disposed in a distal end of one of the flexible posts.
17 . The casting assembly of claim 1 , wherein for each of the casting wells, the bottomless well and the recessed well have a different shape in a plan view.
18 . A system, comprising:
a tissue casting plate comprising a first portion having a plurality of bottomless wells and a second portion having a plurality of recessed wells, wherein the bottomless wells have a first shape and the recessed wells have a different second shape; and
an engineered tissue (ET) assembly, comprising:
an ET mounting lid comprising a plate comprising a first side, a second side, and a plurality of through holes;
a plurality of first posts; and
a plurality of second flexible posts;
wherein the plurality of first posts and the plurality of second flexible posts are arranged in pairs of posts, each pair of posts comprising a first post of the plurality of first posts and a second flexible post of the plurality of second flexible posts, wherein the pairs of posts are aligned with respective through holes of the plurality of through holes and wherein ends of the pairs of posts are received in respective recessed wells of the casting plate.
19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are formed as a monolithic body.
20 . The system of claim 18 , wherein at least some of the first posts of the plurality of first posts are rigid posts.