Near Infrared Spectroscopy of Culture Media in Micro-Physiological Systems
A culture medium of a micro-physiological (MP) system is analyzed by near infrared (NIR) absorption spectroscopy. The MP system can be microfluidic or a well-plate MP system. Spectra are obtained in real time and are analyzed to provide information such as, for example, the concentration of one or more analytes as a function of time.
1 . A system for studying analytes in a culture medium of a micro-physiological (MP) unit, the system comprising:
a sample probe for containing a culture medium of the MP unit, wherein the sample probe is disposed in a pathway of near infrared (NIR) electromagnetic radiation; and
a computer unit for analyzing NIR absorption spectra of analytes in the culture medium and reporting data.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer unit includes a chemometric model for reporting analyte concentrations as a function of time.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the MP unit is a microfluidic MP unit.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the MP unit is perfused.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the MP unit is a plate-well.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sample probe is a static cell.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sample probe is a flow-through cell.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sample probe is an in-situ sample probe.
9 . A method for analyzing a culture medium of a micro-physiological (MP) unit, the method comprising:
directing near infrared (NIR) electromagnetic radiation to a NIR sample probe containing a sample of the culture medium;
obtaining NIR absorption spectra of the sample of the culture medium;
analyzing the absorption spectra to obtain analyte concentration information.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising performing chemometrics to report analyte concentrations as a function of time.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the MP unit is a microfluidic MP unit.
12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the MP unit is perfused.
13 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the MP unit is a plate-well.
14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising introducing the sample in the NIR sample probe.
15 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the NIR sample probe is a static cell.
16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the NIR sample probe is a flow-through cell.
17 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the NIR sample probe is an in-situ sample probe.
18 . A method for monitoring a culture medium of a micro-physiological (MP) unit, the method comprising:
directing near infrared (NIR) electromagnetic radiation to a NIR sample probe containing a sample of the culture medium;
obtaining NIR absorption spectra of the sample of the culture medium as a function of time;
analyzing the absorption spectra to obtain a concentration profile of one or more analytes in the culture medium as a function of time.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the analyte is tumor necrosis factor alpha, an interleukin, an interferon, a colony stimulating factor, or a chemokine.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the sample probe is a static cell.
21 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the sample probe is a flow-through cell.
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the sample probe is an in-situ sample probe.
23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the MP unit is a microfluidic unit, or a well plate unit.