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Tissue sample immobilization in the petri dish
Aga Cup
A hydrogel cup placed over tissue samples. Its flat base immobilizes the tissue sample on the dish floor while medium diffuses through the hydrogel.
Construction principle
Geometry controls immobilization and diffusion.
Inner well for culture medium. Thin hydrogel base over the tissue sample. Three wings stabilize placement in the culture dish.
- 01
Medium reservoir
The inner well holds culture medium; soluble factors diffuse through the hydrogel body to the tissue sample.
- 02
Thin hydrogel base
The tissue-facing base rests over the tissue sample and defines a short diffusion path.
- 03
Stabilizing wings
Three wings stabilize placement in the culture dish and keep the cup repeatably over the tissue sample.
Real results
Cell outgrowth under the Aga Cup.
Microscope images from cultures set up with the Aga Cup: cells grow out from immobilized tissue explants – from liver and bone marrow to gingiva.
View all images
- Liver
- Bone marrow
- Gingiva
Problem and workflow
Immobilize the tissue sample. Feed by diffusion.
The Aga Cup is placed over a tissue sample in the petri dish. The tissue sample is immobilized; medium reaches it by diffusion through the hydrogel.
- Without cup
- The tissue sample drifts in medium.
- With cup
- The flat hydrogel base immobilizes it on the dish floor.
- Medium
- Pipette into the inner well; diffusion to the tissue sample.
- After outgrowth
- Lift the cup after several days; cells have grown out from the tissue sample.
01 / Place tissue sample
Tissue sample on the dish floor
The tissue sample is placed on the defined culture area; the empty dish is the starting state.
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Tissue sample on the dish floor
- B
Defined culture area
01 / Place tissue sample
Tissue sample on the dish floor
The tissue sample is placed on the defined culture area; the empty dish is the starting state.
- A
Tissue sample on the dish floor
- B
Defined culture area
02 / Place cup over tissue sample
Tissue sample under the flat base
The Aga Cup is placed over the tissue sample; the flat hydrogel base immobilizes it on the dish floor.
- A
Flat hydrogel base over the tissue sample
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Tissue sample under the cup
- C
Stabilizing wings near the dish wall
03 / Fill medium into the inner well
Reservoir and diffusion path
Medium is pipetted into the inner well and diffuses through the hydrogel body to the tissue sample.
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Medium reservoir in the inner well
- B
Diffusion path through hydrogel
- C
Tissue sample remains on the dish floor
04 / Lift cup after cell outgrowth
Tissue sample remains the origin
After several days, once cells have grown out from the tissue sample, the cup can be lifted away; the tissue sample remains as the origin of the culture.
- A
Tissue sample as origin
- B
Dish ready for further culture
Technical context
Material and culture mode.
Material, culture mode and available documentation for initial technical assessment. Protocols and application-specific dimensions are coordinated during the Aga Cup request.
Request data sheet- Base material
- Hydrogel, animal-component-free
- Gel concentration
- 1.5–3.0 %, adjustable to application
- Biocompatibility
- For in-vitro research applications; biocompatibility context available on request
- Sterilization
- Sterilization and handling protocol available on request for the specific application
- Culture mode
- Tissue samples under a diffusion-fed carrier
- Geometry
- Cup with medium-filled inner well and flat tissue-facing base
Request Aga Cups
Request Aga Cups for your research group.
Describe your tissue sample, dish format and culture goal. Thom-Med will coordinate the Aga Cup request and application context with you.
Request Aga Cups