Can the P3D chambers be used with membrane scaffolds?

P3D chambers were designed to be used with porous scaffolds so, if the membrane is porous, it is theoretically possible to insert it in a P3D chamber and make the flow go through its pores. This is not the most common way to work with membranes, which are mainly two dimensional substrates in which the nutrient and oxygen delivery is easyly obtain by diffusion.

However, the application of flow by means of this set up can be used to mechanically stimulate the cells by means of:

The application of pressure
The application of direct substrate deformation

Both effects are obtained when culture media is pumped against and a non-porous deformable membrane inserted in the P3D chambers. Contact us if you are interested in using the P3D chambers with a membrane susbtrate.

TEB1000 Frequently Asked Questions

Can I define and record my own flow profiles?

Yes. The TEB1000 allows defining and recording your customized flow profiles. For that purpose, three basic flow profiles are predefined in the bioreactor memory. By defining combinations of those profiles, you can easily create and store your flow profile so it is available for future cultures.

Can I use the TEB1000 as an ordinary incubator?

EBERS TEB1000 Master Unit maintains the basic capabilities of an ordinary incubator. The incorporation of the additional functionalities does no affect the original performance of the Unit as an incubator since constant 37ºC temperature and C0 2 concentration are guaranteed inside. However, using the Master Unit as an incubator might have a negative effect on pumps, engines and electronics used for their control, specially in 100% humidity conditions. Thus, we recommend to avoid creating high...

Can the TEB1000 be used with previously existing equipment?

Yes. Any equipment fitting inside the TEB1000 - including tubing, accessories and culture chambers - may be used combined with the accessories provided by EBERS. No one better than yourself can decide the equipment you need for your experiment.

Can you help me to develop my growth protocols?

EBERS bioreactors are general purpose and conceived to be used with many different kinds of tissue. Thus, the culturing conditions and needs for each type of culture might differ as a function of a multitude of factors, like cell and scaffold type or additive supply. Thus, the experimental conditions growth conditions should be particularized as a function of many variables, which joined to the specified flow conditions, we determine the result of the experiment. Therefore, developing a growth...

Can you transform my incubator into a flow bioreactor?

EBERS bioreactor is a product itself, not a transformed or rather adapted incubator. We do not transform your incubator into a flow bioreactor.

Do I need humidity when using closed flow circuits?

Flow circuits are tipically closed. However, it is usually necessary to establish gas interchange between the culture medium and the atmosphere, which can result in unwanted variations of the medium properties. Therefore, using the humidity tray is recommended.

How can I increase the number of simultaneous experiments?

There are several ways in which you can easily increase the number of simultaneous experiments maintaining the same flow conditions. Some of the most widely used techniques that allow running several experiments in parallel are: Using several pumps simultaneously, which will let you to apply different flow conditions at the same time. Use multi-casette pumps in order to get several separate pumping channels with the same flow conditions. Use flow-distribution devices in order to split the flow...

How many samples can I grow simultaneously?

The number of samples you can grow simultaneously strongly depends on your experiment configuration, the culture chamber, the scaffold size and the number of pumpheads you are using. To give an example, if we are using the EBERS seeding rack with five circuits and two P3D chambers per circuit, we would get a total of 16 simultaneous samples.

What is needed to operate the TEB1000?

The TEB1000 has been designed to be operated without using any additional equipment than the supplied by EBERS. Controls are fully integrated in the bioreactor, so there is no need of using a notebook to control the pumps functioning. Control software is intuitive and easy to use without the need of reading a manual. The main testing parameters are placed at visible locations and are easy to set and modify. All of these features are easily controlled by means a tactile screen placed in the...

Which are the benefits of culturing cells under flow conditions?

One of the most important challenges when growing cells for tissue regeneration is the lack of a vascular network capable to supply the cells with nutrients and oxygen in the used substrate. Cell cultures developed on three-dimensional scaffolds in a still culture medium are specially sensitive to this fact. Assuming that oxygen and nutrients are equally distributed across the volume of the scaffold at the beginning of the culture, cells should develop at a similar rate in the whole scaffold....

TEB500 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is needed to operate the TEB500?

The basic temperature and gas concentration control functionalities of the TEB500 can be operated from the front screen and touchpad. However, and advanced interface for PC and tablets is also available allowing the user to remotely control all the advanced features of the TEB500, including flow rate, datalogging and alarm management.

How many samples can I grow simultaneously?

The number of samples you can grow simultaneously strongly depends on your experiment configuration and, in particular, of the culture chamber, the scaffold size the number of pumpheads you are using. The TEB500 counts on two independent pumping systems equipped with four casette pumpheads. Thus, up to eight independent channels can be run simultaneously.

Does the TEB500 control humidity?

The TEB500 includes a humidity try which can be used to get high humidity levels in its chamber in order to avoid or minimise evaporation in the culture vessels. However, the TEB does not incorporate any humidity sensor, so it is not able to control de humidity level inside the chamber.

Do I need humidity when using closed flow circuits?

Can you help me to develop my growth protocols?

Can the TEB500 be used with previously existing equipment?

Yes. Any equipment fitting inside the TEB500 - including tubing, accessories and culture chambers - may be used combined with the accessories provided by EBERS. No one better than yourself can decide the equipment you need for your experiment. Note that in case of metallic of electronic equipments the humidity and gas concentration conditions inside the chamber of the TEB500 may negatively affect the equipment. Please check the compatibilty of your equipments with high humidity conditions...

Can I use the TEB500 as an ordinary incubator?

Yes. The TEB500 has the basic capabilities of an ordinary incubator. The incorporation of the additional functionalities does no affect the original performance of the Unit as an incubator since constant 37ºC temperature, C0 2 and 0 2 concentration are guaranteed inside.

Can I define and record my own flow profiles?

Yes. EBERS TEB500 series allows defining and recording your customized flow profiles. For that purpose, three basic flow profiles are predefined in the bioreactor memory. By defining combinations of those profiles, you can easily create and store your flow profile so it is available for future cultures.

P3D chambers & racks frequently asked questions

Is the Culture Rack necessary for the cultures?

It is not strictly necessary to perform a culture. However, using it is highly recommendable since it lets the user to keep the P3D chambers tidy and in a vertical position, which is very helpful in order to remove the influence of the chamber position when comparing two experiments. In addition, it becomes very helpful when simultaneously working with several samples to keep the set up manageable.

How many samples can be held in the Seeding Rack?

The seeding rack is designed to hold up to five seedin circuits two P3D chamber each. Thus, the rack can simultaneously hold up to ten P3D chambers.

Can you supply P3D chambers with pre-inserted scaffolds?

The P3D samples are supplied disassebled without any scaffold. We do not manufacture scaffolds and, therefore, we are not including pre-inserted scaffolds in the chambers. However, we have had some experience with several scaffolds manufacturers and it could suggest specific suppliers if necessary. Contact us if you want to know more about scaffols suppliers!

Can you supply P3D chambers for other scaffold types or geometries?

The P3D chambers have been designed to cover the most of the scaffolds types and dimensions which are frequently used in tissue engineering research. The P3D-6 model can hold scaffolds between 5 and 7 mm in diameter and up to 12 mm in length, whereas the P3D-10 model is designed for scaffolds between 9 and 11 mm indiameter and up to 12 mm length. The P3D cannot be modified to hold scaffold larger or smaller of those dimensions or to used with other non-cylindrical geometries. If you are...

Can the P3D chambers be used with membrane scaffolds?

Can the P3D chambers be used with hydrogel scaffolds?

The P3D chambers have been designed to create flow perfusion conditions on porous scaffold. Thus, the surfaces in the direction which is perpendicular to the flow has been minimised and the dimensions of the chamber have been reduced to closely fit with the scaffold dimensions. This allows getting the most of the flow rate going through the pores of the scaffold and not throught the gaps left between the scaffold and the chamber, which must be taken into account when working with non-porous or...

Can be the P3D chambers autoclaved?

The P3D chambers are supplied in sterile ready-to-use conditions in order to simplify the building of the perfusion set-up. After the experiment, they can be recovered and cleaned to be used again, however it is worth noting that the P3D chambers have been designed to be single use, so EBERS can not guarantee their proper functioning when used more than once. The repeated use of the chambers can then result in fluid leakages or non-desired results. EBERS is not responsible of the...

Tubular chambers frequently asked questions

Can you adapt the chamber to my scaffold dimensions?

Yes. The standard chamber can hold scafolds between 7 and 10 mm in diameter and 20 to 80 mm in length. However, we can manufacture a bespoke chamber for other scaffold dimensions so it better adapts to the dimensions of your scaffold.

Can you repair my broken chamber?

The static tubular chamber is made of glass, which provides a lot of advantages regarding autoclaving, cleaning and sample visualization. However, glass is brittle and can accidentally break with use. We recommend you to contact our technical staff so they can evaluate whether your static chamber can be repaired or not. They will advice you about how to proceed with the broken chamber and indicate you the steps to take to get your chamber repaired, if possible.

Can the chamber be used for tissue decellularization?

Yes! The Static Tubular Chamber can be directly used to decellularize a tubular piece of tissue or organ. Decellularizing medium can be both through the lumen and around the external surface of the organ in order to improve the efficiency of the process.

Can the chamber be autoclaved?

Yes! The vascular chamber is made of autoclavable glass and plastics.

Seeding and culture racks frequently asked questions

Why short- and long-term seeding circuits?

Short-term seeding circuits should never be used longer than 2-3 days. Thus, they are indicated...

Do the seeding circuits include P3D chambers?

No. P3D chambers must be bought separately.

Can the seeding circuits be reused?

Some of their components do not admit conventional ways of sterilization (autoclaving, ethylene...

Are the culture and seeding racks strictly necessary?

The culture rack is not indispensable, but is very helpful for having an organized experimental...

TC-3 and TC-3F frequently asked questions

What is the minimal displacement increment which can be applied?

The minimal displacement increment which can be applied is 5 microns (0.005 mm).

What is the maximal force the system can exert?

The actuation system can exert force up to 200 Newton. Thus, the maximal for on a single sample would be 200 N when only a chamber is in the system. It two or three chambers are being used simultaneously the applied force is shared by the all the samples. Hence, assuming that all the samples bear the same load, 100 and around 67 N would be applied on each chamber when 2 and 3 chambers are used in the system, respectively.

Can the TC-3 measure the force which is applied on the sample?

No. The actuation system does not count on the resources to measure the force exerted on the cultured sample.

Can the TC-3 control the force which is applied on the sample?

No. The TC-3 is not capable of controlling the force which is applied on the sample. Only the displacement can be controlled by the actuation system.

Can the actuation system be autoclaved?

No, and there is no need of sterilizing it since it is not going to contact the culture media at any time.

Which kind of samples can be inspected under the microscope?

The glass window at the bottom of the chamber can be used to inspect the samples which is being culture without the need of removing it from the chamber. However, only the samples which are thin enough to permit the light to go through will be feasible to be inspected under the microscope. Also the distance from the sample to the bottom window will determine whether the microscope inspection will be effective or not. Having all these considerations in mind, the optimal configuration to allow...

Which kind of microscope should be used to inspect the samples?

The window for visual inspection of the chambers is at the bottom of the chamber, so an inverted microscope is indicated for the inspection.

Should the chamber be dissasembled for autoclaving?

It is not strictly necessary to autoclave each of the chamber components separately. Although this might improve the effectiveness of the process, it is recommended to assemble the chamber except the lid before autoclaving in order to facilitate the sample insertion process.

Can the chamber be autoclaved?

Yes, all the chamber components can be autoclaved.

Which types of samples are the sheet-like grips indicated for?

These grips have been designed to apply tension loads on the samples, as well as the rod-like grips. However, these grips have been conceived to be used with planar samples like sheet-shaped tissues or membranes (e.g., skin). Moreover, it is worth noting that these grips maintain the sample very close to the bottom glass window so the visual inspection is made possible.

Which types of samples are the rod-like grips indicated for?

These grips have been designed to apply tension loads on the samples, as well as the sheet-like grips. However, these grips have been conceived to be used with samples which present a medium or high mechanical resistance and whose geometry is not plane. Scaffolds or samples which may be used with these grips are ligaments or tendons, which have a cylindrical-shaped section, or other tissues with thick sections.

Which types of samples are the compression grips indicated for?

The compression grips were designed to apply compression loads and, therefore, they should be used with scaffolds and tissues in which compression is the dominant load like, e.g., bone and cartilage.

Can I use two different types of grips simultaneously?

In principle there is not any restriction which helps two different grips to be used at the same time. However, it may be rather difficult to configure the system like that, so it is adviced to use the same grips when two or three chambers are used at the same time.