TWI891523B - Cell Culture Assistant - Google Patents

Abstract

A cell culture aid comprises a hollow first extension, a hollow second extension, a hollow third extension, a first shoulder, a second shoulder, and a gas passage. The second extension is connected to the first extension. The third extension is connected to the second extension. The first shoulder is formed between the first and second extensions and is annular. The second shoulder is formed between the second and third extensions and is annular, with an inner diameter of the second shoulder being no less than the outer diameter of the first shoulder. The gas passage is defined by the inner circumference of the first, second, and third extensions. The cell culture aid helps improve the proliferation rate of cells during culture.

Description

Cell culture aids

The present invention relates to a cell culture assist device, and more particularly to a cell culture assist device comprising a hollow extension section, a shoulder portion, and a gas channel.

To increase cell proliferation during cell culture, it is often necessary to add growth-promoting agents to the culture dish. However, these agents cannot be recycled or reused, and therefore often add significant costs to cell culture.

Therefore, the purpose of the present invention is to provide a cell culture assistant that can overcome the shortcomings of the above-mentioned prior art.

Therefore, the cell culture auxiliary device of the present invention includes: a hollow first extension section, a hollow second extension section, a hollow third extension section, a first shoulder section, a second shoulder section, and a gas channel. The second extension section is connected to the first extension section in a longitudinal direction. The third extension section is connected to the second extension section in a longitudinal direction opposite to the first extension section. The first shoulder section is formed between the first and second extension sections and has an annular shape. The second shoulder section is formed between the second and third extension sections and has an annular shape. The inner diameter of the second shoulder section is not less than the outer diameter of the first shoulder section. The gas channel is defined by the inner circumference of the first extension section, the inner circumference of the second extension section, and the inner circumference of the third extension section, and extends in the longitudinal direction.

The effect of the present invention is that the cell culture assistant helps to increase the proliferation rate during cell culture.

The following is a detailed description of the contents of this invention:

The cell culture auxiliary device of the present invention comprises: a hollow first extension section, a hollow second extension section, a hollow third extension section, a first shoulder section, a second shoulder section, and a gas channel. The second extension section is connected to the first extension section in a longitudinal direction. The third extension section is connected to the second extension section in a direction opposite to the first extension section in the longitudinal direction. The first shoulder section is formed between the first and second extension sections and is annular. The second shoulder section is formed between the second and third extension sections and is annular. The inner diameter of the second shoulder section is not less than the outer diameter of the first shoulder section. The gas channel is defined by the inner circumference of the first extension section, the inner circumference of the second extension section, and the inner circumference of the third extension section, and extends in the longitudinal direction.

Before the present invention is described in detail, it should be noted that similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in the following description.

The present invention will be further described with reference to the following embodiments. However, it should be understood that these embodiments are for illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the implementation of the present invention.

1 and 2 , a first embodiment of the cell culture auxiliary device of the present invention includes a hollow first extension section 11 , a hollow second extension section 12 , a hollow third extension section 13 , a first shoulder section 21 , a second shoulder section 22 , and a gas channel 9 .

The second extension section 12 is connected to the first extension section 11 in a length direction L. The third extension section 13 is connected to the second extension section 12 in the length direction L opposite to the first extension section 11 .

In the first embodiment, the first extension section 11 , the second extension section 12 , and the third extension section 13 are each in the shape of a quadrangular prism.

In the first embodiment, the first extension section 11 (including its inner and outer circumferences), the second extension section 12 (including its inner and outer circumferences), and the third extension section 13 (including its inner and outer circumferences) are all made of metal. In the first embodiment, the metal is copper.

The first shoulder portion 21 is formed between the first extension section 11 and the second extension section 12 and is in the shape of a rectangular ring. The second shoulder portion 22 is formed between the second extension section 12 and the third extension section 13 and is in the shape of a rectangular ring. The inner diameter of the second shoulder portion 22 is equal to the outer diameter of the first shoulder portion 21.

In the first embodiment, the inner edge of the first shoulder portion 21 is connected to the outer circumference of the first extension section 11, and the outer edge of the first shoulder portion 21 is connected to the outer circumference of the second extension section 12. The inner edge of the second shoulder portion 22 is connected to the outer circumference of the second extension section 12, and the outer edge of the second shoulder portion 22 is connected to the outer circumference of the third extension section 13. In this way, the relative positions of the outer circumference of the first extension section 11, the first shoulder portion 21, the outer circumference of the second extension section 12, the second shoulder portion 22, and the outer circumference of the third extension section 13 are roughly stepped.

The gas channel 9 is defined by the inner circumference of the first extension section 11, the inner circumference of the second extension section 12, and the inner circumference of the third extension section 13. The gas channel 9 extends in the longitudinal direction L. In the first embodiment, the gas channel 9 is in the shape of an elongated cylinder.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4 , a second embodiment of the cell culture aid of the present invention is similar to the first embodiment, except that in the second embodiment, the first extension section 11, the second extension section 12, and the third extension section 13 each have a quadrangular pyramidal shape. The inner diameter of the second shoulder section 22 is larger than the outer diameter of the first shoulder section 21.

Referring to Figures 5 to 8 , a third embodiment (as shown in the upper portion of Figure 5 and Figure 6 ), a fourth embodiment (as shown in the middle portion of Figure 5 and Figure 7 ), and a fifth embodiment (as shown in the lower portion of Figure 5 and Figure 8 ) of the cell culture auxiliary device of the present invention each include a hollow first extension section 11, a hollow second extension section 12, a hollow third extension section 13, a hollow fourth extension section 14, a first shoulder section 21, a second shoulder section 22, a third shoulder section 23, and a gas channel 9.

The second extension section 12 is connected to the first extension section 11 in a length direction L. The third extension section 13 is connected to the second extension section 12 in the length direction L opposite to the first extension section 11 .

In the fourth embodiment, the outer circumference of the first extension section 11 is a curved surface and convex outward. In the third embodiment and the fifth embodiment, the inner circumference of the first extension section 11 is a curved surface and concave outward.

In the third, fourth, and fifth embodiments, the first extension section 11 (including its inner and outer circumferences), the second extension section 12 (including its inner and outer circumferences), the third extension section 13 (including its inner and outer circumferences), and the fourth extension section 14 (including its inner and outer circumferences) are all made of metal. In the third, fourth, and fifth embodiments, the metal is copper.

In the third, fourth, and fifth embodiments, the first shoulder portion 21 is formed between the first extension section 11 and the second extension section 12 and has a circular ring shape. The second shoulder portion 22 is formed between the second extension section 12 and the third extension section 13 and has a circular ring shape. The inner diameter of the second shoulder portion 22 is equal to the outer diameter of the first shoulder portion 21. The third shoulder portion 23 is formed between the third extension section 13 and the fourth extension section 14 and has a circular ring shape. The inner diameter of the third shoulder portion 23 is equal to the outer diameter of the second shoulder portion 22.

In the fourth embodiment, the inner edge of the first shoulder portion 21 is connected to the outer circumference of the first extension section 11, and the outer edge of the first shoulder portion 21 is connected to the outer circumference of the second extension section 12. The inner edge of the second shoulder portion 22 is connected to the outer circumference of the second extension section 12, and the outer edge of the second shoulder portion 22 is connected to the outer circumference of the third extension section 13. The inner edge of the third shoulder portion 23 is connected to the outer circumference of the third extension section 13, and the outer edge of the third shoulder portion 23 is connected to the outer circumference of the fourth extension section 14. As a result, the relative positions of the outer surface of the first extension section 11, the first shoulder portion 21, the outer surface of the second extension section 12, the second shoulder portion 22, the outer surface of the third extension section 13, the third shoulder portion 23 and the outer surface of the fourth extension section 14 are approximately stepped.

In the third and fifth embodiments, the inner edge of the first shoulder portion 21 is connected to the inner circumference of the first extension section 11, and the outer edge of the first shoulder portion 21 is connected to the inner circumference of the second extension section 12. The inner edge of the second shoulder portion 22 is connected to the inner circumference of the second extension section 12, and the outer edge of the second shoulder portion 22 is connected to the inner circumference of the third extension section 13. The inner edge of the third shoulder portion 23 is connected to the inner circumference of the third extension section 13, and the outer edge of the third shoulder portion 23 is connected to the inner circumference of the fourth extension section 14. Thus, the inner circumference of the first extension section 11, the first shoulder portion 21, the inner circumference of the second extension section 12, the second shoulder portion 22, the inner circumference of the third extension section 13, the third shoulder portion 23, and the inner circumference of the fourth extension section 14 collectively define the gas channel 9, with their relative positions generally forming a step-like relationship. The gas channel 9 extends in the longitudinal direction L.

In the fourth embodiment, the gas channel 9 is defined by the inner circumference of the first extension section 11, the inner circumference of the second extension section 12, the inner circumference of the third extension section 13, and the inner circumference of the fourth extension section 14, and the gas channel 9 extends in the longitudinal direction L.

Referring to FIG. 5 , the third embodiment (as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 5 ), the fourth embodiment (as shown in the middle portion of FIG. 5 ), and the fifth embodiment (as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 5 ) can be combined into a combination comprising three cell culture auxiliary devices of the present invention by sequentially connecting their respective gas channels 9 .

[ Cell culture assay ]

Six identical combinations of the third, fourth, and fifth embodiments were arranged in a 2×3 array. Two culture dishes seeded with adult stem cells (ASCs) isolated from adipose tissue were placed 1.1 cm above and 2.3 cm below the array, respectively, to serve as the experimental group. Additionally, one culture dish seeded with ASCs served as the control group. The two culture dishes in the experimental group and the one culture dish in the control group were seeded with the same number of ASCs.

Two culture dishes from the experimental group and one culture dish from the control group were cultured in a medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum and incubated in a cell culture incubator (37°C, 5% CO ₂ , 20% humidity) for 24 hours. The proliferation rate of ASCs in each dish was measured using the MTT assay at 0, 0.5, 2, 6, 16, 20, and 24 hours (n=3). The values in the control group were used as a baseline. The results are shown in Table 1. [Table 1] 0 h 0.5 h 2 h 6 h control group 1.000±0.043 1.000±0.014 1.000±0.020 1.000±0.007 Experimental group [above] 0.964±0.079 ( p =0.712) 1.022±0.004 ( p =0.205) 1.082±0.009 ( p =0.020) 1.079±0.024 ( p =0.035) Experimental group [below] 0.966±0.033 ( p =0.570) 0.996±0.021 ( p =0.882) 1.110±0.010 ( p =0.008) 1.084±0.006 ( p =0.001) 16 hours 20 hours 24 hours control group 1.000±0.005 1.000±0.014 1.000±0.017 Experimental group [above] 1.112±0.019 ( p =0.005) 1.108±0.009 ( p =0.003) 1.239±0.014 ( p =0.000) Experimental group [below] 1.115±0.021 ( p =0.006) 1.123±0.022 ( p =0.010) 1.244±0.034 ( p =0.003)

As shown in Table 1, after 2 to 24 hours of culture, the cell proliferation rate of ASCs in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (1.079 to 1.244 times, p ≤ 0.020).

In summary, the cell culture aid of the present invention, through the hollow first extension section 11, second extension section 12, third extension section 13, first shoulder section 21, second shoulder section 22, and gas channel 9, can influence the path of gas passage, thereby helping to increase the proliferation rate during cell culture, thereby effectively achieving the purpose of the present invention.

However, the above description is merely an example of the present invention and should not be used to limit the scope of the present invention. All simple equivalent changes and modifications made within the scope of the patent application and the contents of the patent specification of the present invention are still within the scope of the present patent.

11: First extension 12: Second extension 13: Third extension 14: Fourth extension 21: First shoulder 22: Second shoulder 23: Third shoulder 9: Gas channel L: Length

Other features and functions of the present invention are clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: [Figure 1] is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the cell culture aid of the present invention; [Figure 2] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the first embodiment; [Figure 3] is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the cell culture aid of the present invention; [Figure 4] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the second embodiment; [Figure 5] is a perspective view of a third, fourth, and fifth embodiment of the cell culture aid of the present invention; [Figure 6] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the third embodiment; [Figure 7] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment; and [Figure 8] is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fifth embodiment.

11: First extension section

12: Second extension

13: Third extension

14: Fourth extension

21: First shoulder blade

22: Second shoulder blade

23: Third shoulder blade

9: Gas channel

L: Length direction

Claims (10)

A cell culture aid comprises: a hollow first extension; a hollow second extension connected to the first extension in a longitudinal direction; a hollow third extension connected to the second extension in a direction opposite to the first extension in the longitudinal direction; a first annular shoulder formed between the first and second extensions; a second annular shoulder formed between the second and third extensions, the inner diameter of the second shoulder being no less than the outer diameter of the first shoulder; and a gas channel defined by the inner circumference of the first, second, and third extensions, the gas channel extending in the longitudinal direction. The cell culture aid as described in claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the first shoulder portion is connected to the outer circumference of the first extension segment, the outer edge of the first shoulder portion is connected to the outer circumference of the second extension segment, the inner edge of the second shoulder portion is connected to the outer circumference of the second extension segment, and the outer edge of the second shoulder portion is connected to the outer circumference of the third extension segment. The cell culture aid as described in claim 1, wherein the inner edge of the first shoulder portion is connected to the inner circumference of the first extension segment, the outer edge of the first shoulder portion is connected to the inner circumference of the second extension segment, the inner edge of the second shoulder portion is connected to the inner circumference of the second extension segment, and the outer edge of the second shoulder portion is connected to the inner circumference of the third extension segment. The cell culture aid as described in claim 3, wherein the gas channel is surrounded and defined by the inner circumference of the first extension section, the first shoulder portion, the inner circumference of the second extension section, the second shoulder portion, and the inner circumference of the third extension section. The cell culture aid as described in claim 1, wherein the inner diameter of the second shoulder portion is equal to the outer diameter of the first shoulder portion. The cell culture aid as described in claim 2, wherein the outer peripheral surface of the first extension section is a curved surface and bulges outward. The cell culture aid as described in claim 3, wherein the inner peripheral surface of the first extension section is a curved surface and is concave outward. The cell culture aid as described in claim 1, wherein the inner circumferential surface of the first extension section is made of metal. The cell culture assistant as described in claim 8, wherein the first extension section, the second extension section, and the third extension section are all made of metal. The cell culture aid as described in claim 1 further comprises: a hollow fourth extension connected to the third extension in the longitudinal direction opposite to the second extension; and a third annular shoulder portion formed between the third and fourth extension segments, the inner diameter of the third shoulder portion being no less than the outer diameter of the second shoulder portion.