Compatible with all polymerisable gelsDedicated 3D regions in AIM chips can be filled with collagen, fibrinogen & other hydrogels or Matrigel™ & other extracellular matrixes (ECM) to suit your experimental needs. The hydrogels can be used on their own or in combination with other components to form 3D microenvironments of your choice (stiffness, pH and material compositions).
The miniature posts that border the 3D region are designed to set up a vertical gel wall with minimal buildup of resistance during the gel filling process. Cells can be homogeneously dispersed or included as aggregates into the gel. |
|
Gas exchangeOne of the key advantages of PDMS chips is the material's gas permeability, which enables cells cultured within PDMS devices to 'breathe'. However, PDMS absorbs hydrophobic molecules from solution, making it unsuitable for studies investigating hydrophobic drugs, chemicals or biological molecules.
AIM chips have overcome the problem by using a gas-permeable plastic to laminate the device. Gas exchange takes place effectively, allowing you to set up normoxic or hypoxic culture environments as needed. There's no need to rock the devices or to perfuse them using pumps, thus avoiding shear forces if they are not relevant to the desired model. |
|
Optically clearAIM chips are made from polymers with an excellent light transmittance rate of 92%. You can visualise your experiments with phase contrast, epifluorescence, 2-photon and confocal microscopy.
|
Endothelial cell monolayer in 2D channel forming a vertical wall on collagen gel
(confocal)
|
Angiogenic sprouts in collagen gel
(confocal)
|
Enables monotypic or organotypic co-culture modelsDifferent cell types can be cultured together in the same channel or compartmentalised into different channels, allowing users to design models to represent different biological systems. Future AIM chips will have more 3D & 2D channel designs to cater to your needs.
|
|
Enables the control of interstitial flow across the 3D regionThe interstitial flow across the 3D hydrogel can be controlled by setting up a pressure gradient between the flanking channels. This can be achieved by having a larger media volume in one media channel than the other, or by setting shear flow regimes that establish a pressure differential.
|
|
Enables the control of chemical gradients across the 3D regionA chemical concentration gradient can be set up across the porous 3D hydrogel easily by using a higher concentration of the chemical in a channel and allowing diffusion to take place. This feature is very useful for studies where directional cues of effectors are critical, including angiogenesis, cell migration and neurite guidance
|
|
Sterile & ready-to-useAIM chips are individually packaged for your convenience. All chips are sterile and are ready for use right out of the package. AIM chips let you focus on your experiments, rather than on device preparation.
|
|
Designed for rapid media exchange through vacuum aspiration with no risk of over-aspirationDue to the small culture volumes of microfluidic devices, culture media typically has to be replenished every day. Vacuum aspiration is used to remove old media before pipetting new media into the device. Media ports in AIM chips are designed with troughs to let users rapidly aspirate old media out without the risk of accidentally aspirating all the media & cells from the device.
|
Cross-section of media ports during aspiration. Positioning the tip in the trough prevents over-aspiration.
|
