MechanoCulture FX

High throughput uniaxial stimulation of cell cultures with real-time imaging.

The MCFX uses a single-use flexible silicone well plate to culture cells in much the same environment as a traditional polystyrene well plate. After allowing the cells to develop adhesion to the well bottom, the MCFX can execute a user-specified stretch protocol to the well plate, causing the cells to deform. The well bottoms have similar optical properties to a glass coverslip, permitting high-magnification imaging of the cultured cells. The well plates can be sterilized and the system is suitable for long-term cell culture in a laboratory incubator.

Key Features

• Uniaxial stretch of 16 culture wells in a single-use silicone well plate
• 0.4mm thick membranes for high-magnification imaging using an inverted microscope
• PC-independent operation
• User-friendly interface software for specifying simple, cyclic, and intermittent stimulation protocols for download to the device controller

Dimensions	19 X 9 X 10cm
Weight	1kg
Stimulation mode	Uniaxial tension
Configuration	Cell monolayer
Culture area	16 wells, 8mm X 8mm
Maximum strain	9.5%
Maximum Velocity	10mm/s
Maximum Cycle Frequency	2Hz
Loading capacity	30N
Media volume/well	0.5mL

Adhered Cell Monolayer Culture

Single-use silicone well plate.  Cell culture wells are 8mm X 8mm with a 0.4mm thick transparent bottom membrane. The 16 cell culture surfaces are shown in red.