We learned about 3D cell culture at the Madison Area Technical College stem cell training yesterday. BRTI Life Sciences brought their matrix building material, which consists of chitosan and hyaluronic acid. It takes 30 seconds to make the matrix.
This matrix “cocoon” can be used to culture cells in 3D.
We also worked on our iPS(IMR90) cultures. We re-plated them using a versene (EDTA) protocol. We passaged the cells with a 1:6 split ratio.
These cells will be used to form muscle cells, but that protocol takes about 2 weeks so we will get the results emailed to us.
One well we left as our backup cell culture. These cells were allowed to overgrow so we could use them to form neural cells. Collagenase was used to detach the cells. Here is a picture. You can see areas between the cells where the detachment is beginning.
Yesterday afternoon we also got a tour of the Ingenuity Center at Madison College. The Center was created with referendum funds and is housed in their new building. They have 62,000 square feet of floor space for their advanced manufacturing program. Machine technology, welding, HVAC, and robotics are all integrated in this impressive program.
iPS(IMR90) cells after 1:6 split using WiCell versene passage protocol.
iPS(IMR90) cells after treatment with collagenase.
Hockey arena sized classroom with hands on CNC & advanced machine tools. Note observation booths above floor.
Finally, we learned how to extract and grow mesenchymal stem cells from the fat of freshly butchered chicken. We ran through the extraction protocol and incubated the cells in flasks. Results will come in a day or two.
