Example Platforms & Fluidics Technology

FAQ SciFlow

  1. Explain a general description of SciFlow.  SciFlow can be viewed as a small river with a trickle of nutrient flow across a linear array of culture cells.
  2. Is the Sciflow plate tissue culture treated for cell attachment? Yes
  3. Are SciFlow wells in the same location as a standard 96 well plate? SciFlow was designed with 96-well culture locations.  “x” and “y” well centroids are maintained for wells 2 – 11 according to ANSI standards.
  4. SciFlow differs in z-heights.   Each well offset 0.5mm from the one next to it.
  5. What is the surface area of each culture well? To include micro-channels within SciFlow, the area of cultures wells have been reduced by ½ of a traditional 96-well plate (i.e. use ½ the cells per surface area). The surface area is 16.7 mm2
  6. Why do I need to pre-incubate plate in humidity before using? Humidified air aids the surface wettability of the plate.  Failing to pre-humidify the plate can reduce ability to connect channels and can also cause the initial media deposition to aberrantly enter the capillary channels rather than spreading in the wells.
  7. How do I know what concentration my drug is at any given time? Fluorescein dye is relatively non-toxic at concentrations below 1uM.  There are two ways to use fluorescein to extrapolate your drug/toxicant concentration: A) If possible, use 1uM Fluorescein in concert with your chemical or drug and perform regular plate-reading to track the fluid.  Drug/Toxicant concentraitons can be extrapolated using a standard curve for Fluorescein from 1uM to 10pM.  B)  If its not possible to use Fluorscein because of toxicity and/or use of a fluorescent assay in the same ex/em range as fluorescein, we recommend dedicating one or two rows of each plate specifically for a fluorescein control.
  8. Can I use SciFlow in my plate reader?  SciKon has tested several plate readers for compatibility.  Typically, plate readers introduced in the last 3-5 years are highly compatible.  However, we are unable to test all plate readers. To see whether your plate reader might be compatible, examine the software and harward specifications for two key features.
  9. The capacity of the reader to accept 24-well or 6-well plates, or “deep-well” 96-well plates.  The SciFlow plate is 17.6mm tall (without lid) which is about 3.5mm more than a standard 96-well plate.  The SciFlow plate with lid is 20.5mm tall.  If a plate reader can accept 24 well plates, it will accept SciFlow. Talk to the manufacturer to determine if your instrument can accept the SciFlow plate.
  10. Can I do imaging experiments with SciFlow?  Yes.  If you can adjust focal heights either manually or by automation through a 4mm range, then you should be able to image each well of the SciFlow (well 3 – 11).  Check with your instrument manufacturer to determine appropriate settings.
  11. Do you make SciFlow with black side-walls for preventing fluorescence cross-talk?  SciFlow was designed with thick and impervious sidewalls and a small air-gap between the adjacent well walls. These features render the need for black side walls unnecessary.
  12. Why is there a flat surface on part of the wells rather than being completely circular?  the shape of the well was established to enable better mixing dynamics and by manufacture constraints.