µ-Slide I Luer 3D

The μ-Slide I Luer 3D has three wells with one channel on top for culturing cells on a 3D gel matrix with defined flow. Each well can be filled with a gel, on which cells can be cultivated and microscopically investigated. The channel can be connected to ibidi Pump System for the application of defined shear stress. Using this method, an in vivo-like functional monolayer (e.g., an endothelial barrier) can be established on the gel matrix without any artificial filters or membranes involved. The μ-Slide I Luer 3D is especially designed for the simulation of blood vessels using endothelial cells.

The µ-Slide I Luer 3D is a versatile channel slide for a huge variety of cell culture applications using a 3D gel matrix and shear stress: (i) Establishing a cell monolayer on the gel matrix—investigate potential polarization effects, (ii) Culturing cells or cell clusters inside the gel matrix, and (iii) Performing assays using different gel matrices with varying concentration, stiffness, or chemical compounds. If cells are embedded inside the gel matrix, the perfusion delivers oxygen and nutrients to them.

Phase contrast microscopy of HUVEC after culturing them under flow at 10 dyn/cm² for 2 days (A) and 5 days (B) on a Collagen Type I rat tail (2 mg/ml). Note the cobblestone-like cell morphology after 5 days of culture under flow. 20x objective. (C) Fluorescence microscopy of HUVEC after culturing them under flow at 10 dyn/cm² for 5 days on a Collagen Type I rat tail (2 mg/ml). Immunostaining of alpha-tubulin (red); the F-actin cytoskeleton was stained using phalloidin (green). Nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue). 10x objective.