Altered Gravity Facilities

Hyperscope
A live-cell epifluorescence microscope on the DLR Short Arm Human Centrifuge for microscopy of living samples in hypergravity.
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Multi Sample Incubator Centrifuge (MuSIC)
A centrifuge integrated in a cell culture incubator for hypergravity exposure of cells, organoids, tissues etc.
Image: 2/6, Credit:
3.5 cm Dish and MEA Clinostat
This clinostat was developed especially for simulated microgravity exposure of MEA (multi electrode array) chips and 3.5 cm cell culture dishes.
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The Department of Applied Aerospace Biology at the Institute of Aerospace Medicine operates specialized platforms and devices for ground-based space research.

With custom-built centrifuges, biological samples can be subjected to long-term, physiologically relevant levels of hypergravity, as well as rocket launch or parabolic flight hypergravity profiles.

Using various kinds of clinostats, cells, organoids, and other specimen can be exposed to simulated microgravity, which is an effective method to investigate the effects of mechanical unloading under laboratory conditions. Either as preparation for space experiments in real microgravity or as ground controls or exploratory studies.

These devices are also accessible via the ESA Ground-based facilities programme

Altered Gravity Facilities

Hyperscope

To facilitate live-cell imaging under hypergravity conditions, a Zeiss Axio Observer epifluorescence microscope is placed on the DLR Short Arm Human Centrifuge at the :envihab. The microscope is placed on a swing-out platform and can be fully controlled by the experiment operator while under accelerations between 1g and 4g. Various incubation units allow for the use of channel slides, well slides, cell culture dishes, and multiwell plates.

Multi Sample Incubator Centrifuge (MuSIC)

The Multi Sample Incubator Centrifuge (MuSIC) is a custom-built centrifuge inside a cell culture incubator. Using this device, e.g. mammalian cell cultures, blood samples, organoids, or other samples can be subjected to long-duration hypergravity of up to 50g. Samples can be cultured under standard cell culture conditions, with only the gravity being increased.

2D Pipette Clinostat

Using the 2D pipette clinostat, small biological systems such as cells in suspension, blood, or spheroids can be exposed to simulated microgravity. The samples are loaded into 1 mL or 2 mL serological pipettes and rotated at a speed of up to 60 rpm, thus preventing sedimentation of the samples. 10 pipettes can be clinorotated at the same time.

2D Organoid Clinostat

The organoid clinostat is an evolution of the 2D pipette clinostat. This clinostat uses 5 mL or 10 mL serological pipettes which have room for larger, suspended samples such as organoids or spheroids. The clinostat is made out of polymer with a window, so that it can be placed vertically or horizontally into an x-ray or heavy ion beam.

Slide Flask Clinostat

The Slide-Flask clinostat is a 2D-clinostat for adherent samples. Adherent cells can be cultured inside slide flasks and then be exposed to long-term simulated microgravity up to weeks. For other samples such as embedded cells or tissues, Ibidi µ channel slides can be used with the Clinostat.

3.5 cm Dish and MEA Clinostat

This 2D clinostat has been designed for the use of 3.5 cm cell culture dishes (such as Ibidi dishes) or MEA chips. The clinostat can be used for the exposure of adherent cells to simulated microgravity. For the duration of the experiment, it can be placed inside a cell culture incubator. The rotation speed is adjustable.

Related links

Contact

Dr. rer. nat. Christian Liemersdorf

Head of Applied Aerospace Biology
German Aerospace Center
Institute of Aerospace Medicine
Applied Aerospace Biology
Linder Höhe, 51147 Cologne