The University of Cagliari recently filed a patent application for a new type of container for animal and plant cell cultures. The device, developed by an interdisciplinary team at the university, represents a major step forward for research in microgravity, biotechnology, and astrobiology.
The innovation was born within the scope of spoke 05 “Aerospace” of the eINS - Ecosystem of Innovation for Next generation Sardinia project and bears the signature of the team led by Professor Giacomo Cao , of the Department of Mechanical, Chemical and Materials Engineering at the University of Cagliari.
The research group from the University of Cagliari involved in the development of the patent is composed of Professor Cao, Professors Giacomo Fais, Alessandro Concas, and Nicola Lai, PhD student Giovanni Perra, and Professors Paolo Follesa and Debora Dessì from the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences.
Cell culture technology relies on the use of specialized containers (such as traditional polystyrene T-flasks) that allow cell growth in controlled environments. However, these devices are not designed for use in rotating or fully filled conditions, such as those required to simulate the microgravity present on the orbiting space station, the Moon, and Mars. In these cases, commercial containers can introduce uncontrollable variables—such as internal motion, ineffective gas exchange, and hydrostatic pressures—that compromise the outcome of experiments.
The new patented vessels effectively address these issues. Featuring a cylindrical structure and a peripheral distribution of filters along the side wall, they allow for efficient gas exchange with the external environment, typically the atmosphere of an incubator . This configuration minimizes hydrodynamic disturbances and ensures physiological conditions similar to those of static cultures, even during rotational exposure.
"We are particularly proud to have developed a container that is simple to produce, cost-effective, and capable of supporting cell proliferation even when fully filled," emphasizes Professor Giacomo Cao. "Compared to currently available devices, our invention stands out for its versatility, customization, and compatibility with 2D and 3D configurations ."
The new device, in addition to supporting cell cultures in a terrestrial environment, is also ideal for advanced astrobiological studies with photosynthetic microorganisms and is suitable for the creation of complex organoids and three-dimensional physiological models , with potential applications in regenerative medicine and in the controlled production of tissues or large-scale cultures.
A further element of innovation is represented by the possibility of integrating customized gas exchange surfaces , thus improving the standardization and reproducibility of experiments, even in simulated microgravity, without modifying the equipment already in use in the laboratories.
(Unioneonline)