Automatic medium change in CO₂ incubator

Reduces stress on cells caused by environmental changes such as CO₂ concentration, temperature, and humidity
Reduces damage to cells caused by moving culture vessels (tremor) when changing culture medium (also applicable for dimple plates).

Compatible with both dish and multi-well plates

Capable of operating simultaneously in different types of culture vessels
Settable culture vessels “Φ60 mm / Φ100 mm dish” or “6-well / 12-well / 24-well plate”

LCD touch panel on the front of the MakCell

LCD display of temperature and CO₂ concentration in the incubator
Manual operation of the MakCell is carried out using this panel.
*Culture condition and schedule can be set up on the control PC.

Three types of culture medium can be set separately (with culture medium cooling function)

Three types of culture medium can be set separately, enabling the supply of culture medium tailored to the cells.
A cooling unit is mounted on the top of the device to prevent the medium from deteriorating.

<About the warning lamp for insufficient medium>

・Lamp illuminates when the cooling section is switched on.
・Lamp flashes when the remaining volume of a 500 mL bottle is less than 100 mL or when the remaining volume of a 1000 mL bottle is less than 200 mL.

<About the storage angle of the medium bottle>

The bottles are set at a 30-degree angle. This makes it easy to remove the bottle and to suck up the medium without leaving it to the end.

Bottles for collecting discarded medium

Holds up to three wide-mouth medium bottles (1 liter)

Storage in an easy-to-see location makes it easy to check discarded culture medium and prevents forgetting to replace bottles.

Easy operation with control PC

Culture schedules can be managed on the control PC and up to 50 culture schedules can be registered.
Daily and weekly schedules can be checked at a glance.

eMail notification function

Notification by eMail of the beginning and the end of medium change operations or the occurrence of errors
・The operating status can be checked even outside working hours, such as on holidays, for peace of mind.
・The notification items can be selected according to the settings.

Clean booth

・Installing the MakCell in a clean environment sufficiently lowers the risk of contamination.
・Improved workability

Possible to change medium in a low-oxygen atmosphere

・Cell culture can be carried out while maintaining a low-oxygen concentration environment.
・Controlling the oxygen concentration contributes to optimal cell culture.

Stability in hypoxic environments of MakCell

We evaluated the stability of MakCell in hypoxic environments. It took approximately 1 hour to go from normal oxygen concentration to hypoxic conditions with 5% O₂. We then measured the fluctuations in hypoxia that occurred when the incubator door was opened and closed. After the door was opened for about 5 seconds, the hypoxia returned to the set oxygen concentration in about 6 minutes at the 5% O₂ setting and about 12 minutes at the 1% O₂ setting. Finally, it was confirmed that the hypoxic condition was maintained without disturbance during MakCell operation.

Cardiomyocyte differentiation from human iPS cells using MakCell

Differentiation of human iPS cells into cardiomyocytes was induced using GSK and Wnt inhibitors. The differentiation protocol was performed automatically using MakCell by replacing the media containing the inhibitors. The positive rate of cardiomyocyte marker cTnT at day 15 of differentiation was evaluated, and a positive rate of approximately 60% was obtained under the conditions of 2 days of GSK inhibitor followed by 2 days of Wnt inhibitor.

Early endoderm differentiation using MakCell

Early mesoderm differentiation of human iPS cells was induced by automatic medium change of three different media using MakCell. By programming the timing of the medium change, we were able to confirm gene expression of Brachyury and PDGFRα by the addition of CHIR99021 as in manual differentiation induction.

Analysis of medium component using MakCell’s culture

Lactate concentration, glucose concentration, and pH were analyzed before and after automated medium change using MakCell. MakCell was able to remove lactate and provide fresh medium as well as manual operation. There was no difference in the morphology or proliferation rate of iPS cells after 7 days of culture, and the undifferentiated nature of iPS cells was maintained after 2 months of medium change.

Dimpled plate medium change by MakCell

Using the MakCell for medium change during culture of cell aggregates in a dimple plate, the diameters of the cell aggregates were more uniform than when done manually. MakCell eliminates the need to carry the dimple plate from incubator to bench during medium change. In addition, the drop rate of the culture medium can be set to a constant and slow rate, making it possible to perform tasks that require careful attention during medium change automatically.