Summary
Published in Biofabrication (2016), this peer-reviewed study used 3D Petri Dish® micro-molds to form scaffold-free 3D microtissues. Full citation: Ip, Blanche C, et al. The bio-gripper: a fluid-driven micro-manipulator of living tissue constructs for additive bio-manufacturing
The bio-gripper: a fluid-driven micro-manipulator of living tissue constructs for additive bio-manufacturing
Research Overview
The Bio-Pick, Place, and Perfuse instrument builds large perfusable constructs by stacking scaffold-free microtissues with integrated lumens — but it needed an actuator able to handle living parts that are fragile, varied in size and shape, and must stay submerged. Optical transparency was also essential so microtissues could be aligned accurately under view.
This study developed the bio-gripper: a fluid-force-driven micromanipulator that picks and places microtissues without cellular damage by pulling culture medium through a track-etched membrane integrated into a cell culture insert — gripping with flow rather than mechanical force.
Key Discoveries
- Fluid-force gripper manipulates fragile living microtissues without mechanical damage
- Suction generated by pulling medium through a track-etched membrane insert
- Optically transparent design permits accurate visual alignment during assembly
