New microplate for BioFlux live cell imaging workstations

Fluxion Biosciences introduces a new microplate for its BioFlux live cell imaging workstations, extending their shear flow limits to simulate a variety of pathological vascular conditions. With the new High Shear Plate, the BioFlux systems can be an effective tool in thrombosis and platelet studies, cardiovascular and immunological drug screening and cell/bacteria adhesion research.

The BioFlux 200 and 1000 platforms incorporate Fluxion’s unique Well Plate Microfluidic™ technology to enable plate-based live cell imaging under shear flow conditions that mimic those in the human body. The BioFlux controller drives the flow of reagents and cells through microfluidic channels running between the wells. Fully programmable changes to shear flow can be made in real time.

The standard BioFlux 48-well plate is suited for studying normal flow conditions in the body, while the new High Shear Plate enables assays under the increased flow characteristic of diseased vasculature. The new High Shear Plate is compatible with both the BioFlux 200 and the higher throughput, fully-integrated BioFlux 1000 system. The presterlized SBS-standard 48-well plates can be used for up to 24 simultaneous flow experiments.

“In the presence of cardiovascular disease, where blood vessels can narrow considerably, shear stress is amplified,” explains Michael Schwartz, product manager for Fluxion. “Because shear stress levels affect platelet and endothelial cell morphology and receptor expression, creating flow conditions for cellular assays is an important advantage.”

Fluxion will be showing applications of this new High Shear capability in two symposia at the 2009 American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting.