Microplates for automating organoid cultivation
Disclosed are various embodiments for growing, culturing, monitoring, and analyzing embryoid bodies, fused embryoid bodies, spheroids, organoids, or other multi-cellular bodies using a system of microplates. Different types of microplates are designed to be used during the various stages of growing and culturing of cells to form embryoid bodies, fused embryoid bodies, spheroids, organoids, or other multi-cellular bodies. The different microplates are designed to mate with one another to allow for the transfer of cells from wells in one plate to wells in the other plate. An assay plate includes an array of perfusable units that include a supply well that is in fluid communication with a culture well to allow for an exchange of fluid.
1 . A tissue culture kit for growing organoids, comprising:
a combination plate comprising an array of wells; and
an assay plate comprising an array of perfusable units, a positioning of the array of perfusable units mirroring a positioning of the array of wells of the combination plate, thereby allowing each perfusable unit of the array of perfusable units to mate with a respective well of the array of wells of the combination plate, wherein each perfusable unit comprises a respective culture well and a respective supply well that are fluidly connected to one another and configured such that tilting the assay plate allows fluid exchange within the perfusable units without spilling fluid out of the respective culture well or respective supply well of each perfusable unit.
2 . The tissue culture kit of claim 1 , wherein the array of wells comprises a first array of wells, and further comprising:
a starter plate comprising a second array of wells, a positioning of the second array of wells of the starter plate mirroring a positioning of the first array of wells of the combination plate, thereby allowing respective wells of the first array of wells to mate with corresponding wells of the second array of wells.
3 . The tissue culture kit of claim 2 , wherein individual wells of the second array of wells of the starter plate comprise a respective starter plate mating collar being sized and shaped to create an interference fit with a respective combination plate mating collar of individual wells of the first array of wells.
4 . The tissue culture kit of claim 3 , wherein a size of the respective starter plate mating collar is smaller than a size of the respective combination plate mating collar.
5 . The tissue culture kit of claim 2 , wherein the starter plate mates with the combination plate to allow for a transfer of one or more cells from a respective well in the first array of wells to a respective corresponding well in the second array of wells.
6 . The tissue culture kit of claim 1 , wherein individual wells of the array of wells comprises a respective combination plate mating collar that is sized and shaped to create an interference fit with a respective opening of a respective well of a respective perfusable unit of the array of perfusable units.
7 . The tissue culture kit of claim 1 , wherein the combination plate mates with the assay plate to allow for a transfer of one or more cells from a respective corresponding well of the array of wells into a respective culture well of the assay plate.
8 . The tissue culture kit of claim 1 , wherein the combination plate and the assay plate each comprise a respective alignment pin and a respective alignment receiving aperture.
9 . The tissue culture kit of claim 1 , wherein the combination plate is inverted relative to the assay plate when interconnected with the assay plate.
10 . The tissue culture kit of claim 1 , wherein the assay plate further comprises an optically transparent viewing surface forming a bottom surface of the array of perfusable units.
11 . The tissue culture kit of claim 10 , wherein the optically transparent viewing surface is gas permeable.