Award details

Cell culture and sensing

Reference	BBS/E/S/00000490
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Paul Miller
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors	Mr David Bruce, Professor J Marchant, Mr John Reed
Institution	Silsoe Research Institute
Department	Silsoe Research Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	40,736
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/2004
End date	31/12/2005
Duration	21 months

Abstract

Devices for handling cells are usually combinations of passive components, such as channel and wells, and active components, such as pumps and mixers. Successful filling of these components with contents (e.g. cells and nutrients) and controlling them at the desired conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity and pH) have proved to be challenging because of the strong surface actions. Surface properties have significant effects on micro-scale flow systems when one of their dimensions is less than 1mm. An example of utilising the surface properties in micro-systems is to control liquid slug motion in micro-channels by patterning surface free energies. Work on cell and embryo handling at SRI has experienced difficulties such as air entrapment when nutrients were pumped into the micro-chambers. Rapid changes of temperature or temperature gradients around cells are normally applied to control their growth and this requires optimisation of the micro flow systems. This project aims to develop a modelling capability to predict the movements of fluids and their interfaces in restricted micro-spaces. This should lead to optimal designs of efficient systems for micro flows for the special needs of cell and embryo handing and for system automation. The approaches will be: to establish modelling strategies; to investigate the effect of capillary force, i.e. surface tension, on the movements of fluids and their interfaces in micro-spaces; to investigate the effect of surface characteristics, e.g. surface roughness and surface wetting, on the movements of fluids and their interfaces; and to establish guidelines for the design of micro-devices for the handling, monitoring and sensing of stem cells.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Engineering & Biological Systems (EBS)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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