Systems for screening pharmaceutical chemicals
An apparatus for culturing a bio-artificial tissue including a multi-well plate and a scaffold is disclosed herein. Also disclosed is a tissue indentation system that includes a probe, an isometric force transducer, a computer and a computer-controlled motor. A tissue response system is provided and has a well including a scaffold with a bio-artificial tissue suspended on the scaffold and the tissue indentation system.
1. An apparatus for culturing a bio-artificial tissue, comprising:
a multi-well plate having a plurality of wells therein;
at least one of the wells including a scaffold formed of a non-porous material and without a fastener to facilitate tissue adhesion;
the scaffold having at least one elongate member with a cross-sectional diameter between about 100 μm and about 2.0 mm, and disposed within the well above and substantially parallel to the bottom of the well; and
further comprising at least one leg for supporting the scaffold above the bottom of the well.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is at least about 0.5 mm above the bottom of the well.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is at least about 1.0 mm above the bottom of the well.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is metal.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is plastic.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the member is tubular.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the member has a cross-sectional diameter of about 1.0 mm.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is circular.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold includes two parallel, spaced apart members.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is triangular.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is supported by the side of the well.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold is attached to the side of the well.
13. An apparatus for culturing a bio-artificial tissue, comprising:
a multi-well plate having a plurality of wells therein;
at least one of the wells including a scaffold formed of a non-porous material and without a fastener to facilitate tissue adhesion;
the scaffold having at least two parallel, spaced apart members, each positioned within the well and disposed above and substantially parallel to the bottom of the well; and
further comprising at least one leg for supporting the scaffold above the bottom of the well.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the scaffold is at least about 0.5 mm above the bottom of the well.
15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the scaffold is at least about 1.0 mm above the bottom of the well.
16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the scaffold is metal.
17. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the scaffold is plastic.
18. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the members are tubular.
19. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the members have cross-sectional diameters of about 1.0 mm.
20. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the scaffold is supported by the side of the well.
21. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the scaffold is attached to the side of the well.
22. An apparatus for culturing a bio-artificial tissue, comprising:
a multi-well plate having a plurality of wells therein;
at least one of the wells including a scaffold formed of a non-porous material and without a fastener to facilitate tissue adhesion;
the scaffold having at least one elongate member, and disposed within the well above and substantially parallel to the bottom of the well;
and further comprising at least one leg for supporting the scaffold above the bottom of the well.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the scaffold supports tissue adhesion of the bio-artificial tissue and suspends the tissue above the bottom of the well.
24. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the scaffold supports tissue adhesion of the bio-artificial tissue and suspends the tissue above the bottom of the well.