The industry-leading solution for reliable, scaffold-free 3D cell-based assays

3D cell culture the easy way
Scaffold-free re-aggregation of single cells into functional 3D microtissues has been a tricky task in the past. With the introduction of the GravityPLUS™ platform in 2009, InSphero made reliable, automation-compatible and affordable 3D cell culture in hanging drops a reality. Since its introduction, the GravityPLUS™ platform has proven its ease of use and versatility 1000s of times in laboratories ranging from academic research to high-throughput screening. Today, 7 of the top 10 global pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies use InSphero’s GravityPLUS™ platform. Contact us today to try it, too!

Two plates, one platform
The patent-pending* GravityPLUS™ plate makes hanging-drop cell culture easy. Simply load up to 50 μL cell suspension from the top with any liquid handling device – from a manual pipette to a 96-tip robot. Within 2-4 days, a single microtissue forms in each drop. For long-term culture or differentiation, you can even remove up to 70% of the medium and replace it through the top port. Once the microtissues are formed they can easily be harvested into the GravityTRAP™ plate with a simple media addition step. The proprietary non-adhesive coating of the GravityTRAP™ plate allows for culturing over weeks without attachment and decomposition of the microtissues. In addition, its unique design allows reliable medium exchange without microtissue aspiration and excellent imaging, e.g. high-content analysis, through a window at the well bottom.

Precise size control: SureDrop™
A reliable 3D cell-based assay starts with precise control over the microtissue size. InSphero’s products are the only on the market featuring our patentpending SureDrop™ microtechnology, which allows for precise dispensing into and aspirating from hanging drops. As the drop volume corresponds to the seeding cell number, microtissues produced in GravityPLUS™ plates display outstandingly low diameter variations down to 5% and less. The SureDrop™wells are elastically suspended and mechanically adjust to the pipette tip to assure a tight seal between tip and inlet. SureDrop™ eliminates operator and instrument variations reliably.

High-content image of a HepG2 microtissue produced in the GravityPLUS™ platform. Image provided by Imagen Ltd. (www.imagen-biotech.com)

* The GravityPLUS™ platform is the first hanging-drop system of its kind and a patent application was submitted in 2008 by the University of Zurich (PCT patent application WO2010031194A1). Today, 7 of the world’s top 10 pharma and cosmetics companies use GravityPLUS™.

Ordering information

Please also inquire about our 384-well solutions. Same reliability, higher throughput.