Microplates for magnetic 3d culture

Abstract

Devices for magnetic 3d culture are described including magnetic lids/bases for single Petri plates and adjustable height cap for same. Similar devices for multi-magnet culture plates wherein multiwell plates have all adjacent magnets orientated in the opposite polarity, and methods of making same.

1 . A magnetic culture plate, comprising
 a) a cell culture vessel and a cap for said vessel,   b) said cap having a lip around an outer circumference thereof and being shaped to fit over or under said cell culture vessel,   c) said cap having a depression into which a magnet is affixed, thus holding said magnet over said culture vessel when said cap is in place over said vessel.   
     
     
         2 . The magnetic culture plate of  claim 1 , wherein said vessel has a plurality of wells, and said cap has a plurality of depressions, in each of which a magnet is affixed, such that every magnet is orientated in an opposite orientation to an adjacent magnet. 
     
     
         3 . The magnetic culture plate of  claim 1  or  2 , said magnet being adhered to a bottom of said depression. 
     
     
         4 . The magnetic culture plate of  claim 1  or  2 , said magnet being snap fit into said depression. 
     
     
         5 . A multiwell cell culture vessel, comprising a vessel having plurality of wells in an array, a cap covering vessel and said plurality of wells, said cap having a plurality of magnets in an array, each magnet affixed to a depression in said cap or on a post on said cap, such that each of said wells has a magnet over said well when said cap is in place over said vessel. 
     
     
         6 . The multiwell magnetic cell culture vessel of  claim 6 , each adjacent magnet being affixed in opposite polarity. 
     
     
         7 . A magnetic cap for a microplate, comprising a cap sized to cover a standard ANSI-SLAS microplate having a plurality of wells in an array, said cap having lip around a circumference thereof and a plurality of magnets in an array, each magnet affixed to a depression in said cap or on a post on said cap, such that each magnet sits over a well when said cap is in place over or under said microplate and such that each adjacent each adjacent magnet is affixed in opposite polarity. 
     
     
         8 . The magnetic cap of  claim 8 , having 6 magnets of 20-100 lbs pull force, 10000-15000 Gauss Br max  and 30-60 MGOe Bh max . 
     
     
         9 . The magnetic cap of  claim 8 , having 12 magnets of 2-20 lbs pull force, 10000-15000 Gauss Br max  and 30-60 MGOe Bh max . 
     
     
         10 . The magnetic cap of  claim 8 , having 24 magnets of 2-10 lbs pull force, 10000-15000 Gauss Br max  and 30-60 MGOe Bh max . 
     
     
         11 . The magnetic cap of  claim 8 , having 96 magnets of 0.5-2 lbs pull force, 10000-15000 Gauss Br max  and 30-60 MGOe Bh max . 
     
     
         12 . The magnetic cap of  claim 8 , having 384 magnets of 0.05-1 lbs pull force, 10000-15000 Gauss Br max  and 30-60 MGOe Bh max . 
     
     
         13 . The magnetic cap of  claim 8 , having the dimensions of  FIG. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 or 12 . 
     
     
         14 . The magnetic cap of  claim 8 , said magnets having the dimensions and strengths of  FIG. 13 . 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a magnetic driver for a standard microtiter plate, said method comprising:
 a) obtaining a cap having a circumferential lip that fits both over and under a separate microtiter plate having a plurality of wells; and   b) affixing a plurality of magnets to said cap such that every well has a magnet over said well when said cap is in place over or under said microtiter plate, and such that every magnet has a polarity opposite each adjacent magnet.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said affixing step is snap-fitting each magnet to a depression in an upper surface of said cap. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said affixing step is adhering each magnet to a depression in an upper surface of said cap. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said affixing step is fitting a ring magnet over a post on a surface of said cap. 
     
     
         19 . A method of 3D cell culture, comprising:
 a) incubating one or more cell types in a solution of iron oxide nanoparticles until said cell types contain about 30-150 pg/cell of iron oxide;   b) suspending said cell types containing said iron oxide in a culture medium;   c) aliquoting samples of said suspended cell types to one or more wells of a microplate;   d) placing the magnetic cap of  claim 8  above or below said microplate;   e) incubating said microplate until a 3D culture of cells or desired 3D culture printed shape is formed; and   f) incubating said microplate under the influence of the magnetic field for the duration of the 3D culture.