Simulated microgravity

Rotating culture vessels such as simulated microgravity systems are primarily used to study 3-D tumor growth and differentiation. However, mixed cell populations combined with matrix proteins can be used to generate a complex microenvironment in which cell-cell interactions and invasion can be measured (95). A similar system has also been described for the coculture of endothelial cells, myofibroblasts, and tumor cell clusters embedded in Matrigel . Differential labeling of the cell populations enables their invasion and the effects of inhibitors to be measured (96). 

Goodwin TJ, Schroeder WF, Wolf DA Moyer MP (1993) Rotating-wall vessel coculture of small intestine as a prelude to tissue modeling aspects of simulated microgravity. Proceedings of Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine 202 181-192. 

Parazynski S.E., Hargens A.R., Tucker B. et al. 1991. TranscapiUary fluid shifts in tissues of the head and neck during and after simulated microgravity. /. Appl. Physiol. 71 2469. 

Digital holographic microscopy (DHM) can be utilized noninvasively to study changes in the cells of living tissue subjected to simulated microgravity. Information is captured by a digital camera and processed by software. 

Poly(P-hydroxybutyrate), a biodegradable polyester has been synthesized for the first time under simulated microgravity conditions by fermentation of the bacterial strains Azotobacter vinelandii UWD and Alcaligenes lotus. 

In an effort to differentiate between the influence of simulated microgravity and differences in the oxygen supply to the cells, the oxygen profile in the bioreactor was adapted to match that of the shake flask as closely as possible. The established oxygen supply profile is given in Table 2. Since the initial phase of the bacterial gro is the one that exhibited significant differences compared to conventional shake flask experiments, the first 6 hours of the fermentation were monitored closely. 

Prewett, T. L., T. J. Goodwin et al. 1993. Three-dimensional modeling of T-24 human bladder carcinoma cell Une A new simulated microgravity culture system. / Tissue Culture Methods 15 29-36. 

Plett, R. A., S. M. Frankovitz, R. Abonour, and C. M. Orschell-Traycoff. 2001. Proliferation of human hematopoietic bone marrow cells in simulated microgravity. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 37(2) 73-8. 

Goodwin TJ, Prewett TL, Wolf DA, Spaulding GF. 1993. Reduced shear stress A major component in the ability of mammahan tissues to form three-dimensional assemblies in simulated microgravity. / CeU Biochem 51(3) 301-11. 

Freed, L. E. and G. Vunjaknovakovic 1995. Cultivation of cell-polymer tissue constructs in simulated microgravity. Biotechnol Bioeng 46(4) 306-13. 

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