CustomizedBone
N-CUP
Niche Culture Under Perfusion, a Bone Marrow in vitro model
N-CUP is an established Bone Marrow-like in vitro niche built by combining the U-CUP bioreactor technology by CELLEC Biotek AG with the hydroxyapatite 3D porous scaffolds Hap4Cult by Fin-Ceramica Faenza S.p.A. It is a user-friendly customizable tool: multiple cell types from multiple cell sources.
Perfusion-based Approach to Engineered Bone Marrow In vitro Niche
Human Bone Marrow
Engineered Bone Marrow Model
N-CUP offers
Unprecedented performance in cell culture and tissue generation within 3D scaffolds through.
- Uniform Cell Seeding: Ensures even distribution of cells;
- Efficient Nutrition and Waste Removal: Optimizes cell health and vitality;
- Improved Reproducibility: Minimizes manual operations, enhancing consistency in results.
Technical Specifications
- System Size: One incubator can fit 2 sets of 10 N-CUPs;
- Scaffold: Hap4Cult porous hydroxyapatite discs (ø x h 8x4, 10x4 mm);
- Cell Type: Human and mouse, including primary cells and iPS cell lines;
- Working Volume: 6 mL - 14 mL per bioreactor;
- Perfusion Velocity: From 1 μm/s to 10,000 μm/s;
- Cell Density: Up to tens of millions of cells per bioreactor.
Capturing complex 3d bone marrow physiology in vitro
N-CUP
Available Kits and Components
U-CUP Starter Kit
This kit provides you all the necessary equipment and material to start your 3D cell cultures!Contents:
- 1x 10-syringes pump device OR 4x6-syringes pump
- 1x rack for 10 bioreactors
- 1x U-CUP bioreactor kit
- 10x pairs of scaffold adaptors with the diameter of your choice (to be selected independently)
- 20x 5ml syringes for cell injection
- 20x 10ml syringes for medium change
- 100x bare cannulas
- 2x autoclavable forceps for easing handling and positioning of scaffold adaptors and scaffolds within bioreactors
- 20x additional single-packaged sterile filters
- 10x ventile cups to facilitate debubbling of low-permable scaffolds
- 1x tester U-CUP bioreactor
U-CUP Disposable Kit
The essential kit to start your 3D experiments, ideally combined with your U-CUP rack and syringe pumpContents:
- 10x U-CUP disposable bioreactors
- 10x pairs of scaffold adaptors of certain dimensions that you will be asked to select for each kit.
- 2x tubing scratch-holders for tube ordering
HAp4Cult Scaffolds
The key element on which to seed and culture your cells in the U-CUPComposition:
- 100% hydroxyapatite
- Shape: cylindrical
- Dimensions: available in 2 different sizes (diameter D x height H):
D 8 mm x H 4 mm
D 10mm x H 4 mm
- Total porosity: 83% ± 3%
- Pore size distribution: 22%, <100 μm; 32%, 100–200 μm; 40%, 200–500 μm; 6%, >500 μm
These scaffolds are produced exclusively for CELLEC Biotek AG by Fin-Ceramica Faenza S.p.A. company, Faenza, Italy.
Development of Advanced Scaffolds and Biomaterials
Finceramica develops scaffolds that are made of biomimetic porous hydroxyapatite, which is very similar in its chemical composition and microstructure to the mineral component of human bones.
The scaffolds are characterized by a very high spherical porosity, which can reach 90% relative to the total volume. Interconnected porosity is mainly composed of macro- (mainly between 200 and 500 μm) and micro-pores (between 80-200 μm). The intergranular microporosity (<10 micron) helps the absorption of physiological fluids.
These morphological characteristics promote the migration and accumulation of cells specialised in synthesis of the mineral matrix and promote the cellular growth.
Finceramica produces a high crystalline hydroxyapatite (HA), which are very similar in its chemical composition and microstructure to the mineral component of human bones.
HA is the most stable member of the calcium phosphate family of biomaterials and it shows an exceptional biocompatibility. HA is acknowledged to provide intrinsic antibacterial properties, which in turn provides higher resistance to microbial infections.
The Finceramica's hydroxyapatite crystallinity is verified according to ISO standard.
Finceramica develops biomimetic and doped hydroxyapatite.
The powders can be used alone or in combination with other materials (i.e. collagen or polymer matrix) in order to improve the regenerative properties of the scaffolds.
Depending on the type of substitutions these powders can be used as:
- carriers for other substances;
- therapeutic tool on their own (exploiting the intrinsic properties of the material);
- contrast agent;
- element to orient the structure of scaffolds;
Finceramica has covered these materials with two patents.
Finceramica develop 3D scaffold consist in a composite porous layer or multi-layered matrix hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals or doped hydroxyapatite and chemically cross-linked type I collagen fibers. The organic component of the scaffold is made up of type I collagen fibers, while the inorganic part is composed of low-crystallinity hydroxyapatite crystals obtained from chemical synthesis and nucleated in different percentages into a matrix of collagen fibers.
Collagen is the major component of the extracellular matrix of human connective tissues, it is a fibrous protein naturally found in human cartilage and in human bone, and it is highly biocompatible and biodegradable.
Finceramica has covered this materials with a patent.
Selected Scientific Articles
ARTICLES e CLINICAL STUDIES
Collaboration with CELLEC Biotek AG
CELLEC BIOTEK AG develops and commercializes bioreactor systems for 3D cell culture and tissue engineering. Thanks to the patented direct perfusion technologies, our products allow user-friendly seeding and functional maintenance of cells within porous materials. The resulting tissues are used as advanced models of development, physiology, pathology, and drug testing, and prospectively as engineered grafts for tissue and organ regeneration.