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. Effects of hypergravity exposure can thus be separated from artefacts due to e.g., changed culture conditions or handling. Swing-out gondolas as sample holders circumvent shear forces through an always perpendicular g-vector directed onto the samples. The swing-out gondolas have the footprint of standard multiwell plates and can be adapted to hold various sample containers.
During space flight experiments, biological samples are always subjected to hypergravity phases (e.g. launch and landing) which can interfere with the effects of microgravity exposure to be measured. For this reason, the MuSIC is programmable to simulate the hypergravity exposure of (sounding) rocket launches or parabolic flights and can be used as a hypergravity ground-control for these platforms.
For every experiment performed in the MuSIC, time matched 1g control samples are needed. The 1g controls can be placed inside the MuSIC incubator, but not on the centrifuge. This ensures that the controls are exposed to the same environmental conditions as the hypergravity exposed samples.
References:
Lichterfeld, Y., Kalinski, L., Schunk, S., Schmakeit, T., Feles, S., Frett, T., Herrmann, H., Hemmersbach, R., Liemersdorf, C. (2022) Hypergravity attenuates Reactivity in Primary Murine Astrocytes. Biomedicines. 2022;10(8):1966. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10081966. ISSN 2227-9059.
Abdelfattah, F., Schulz, H., Wehland, M., Corydon, T.J., Sahana, J., Kraus, A., Krüger, M., Gonzáles-Torres, L.F., Cortés-Sánchez, J.L., Wise, P.M., Mushunuri, A., Hemmersbach, R., Liemersdorf, C., Infanger, M., Grimm, D. (2024) Omics studies of specialized cells and stem cells under microgravity conditions. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024;25(18):10014. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). doi: 10.3390/ijms251810014. ISSN 1661-6596.
Moser, D., Biere, K., Liemersdorf, C., Tuschen, M., Hemmersbach, R. (2023) Differential effects of hypergravity on immune dysfunctions induced by simulated microgravity. FASEB JOURNAL. 2023;37(5):e22910. Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. doi: 10.1096/fj.202201781R. ISSN 0892-6638.
Schulz, H., Dietrichs, D., Wehland, M., Corydon, T.J., Hemmersbach, R., Liemersdorf, C., Melnik, D., Hübner, N., Saar, K., Infanger, M., Grimm, D. (2022) In Prostate Cancer Cells Cytokines are early Responders to Gravitational Changes occurring in Parabolic Flights. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022;23(14):7876. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). doi: 10.3390/ijms23147876. ISSN 1661-6596.
Nassef, M.Z., Kopp, S., Melnik, D., Corydon, T.J., Sahana, J., Krüger, M., Wehland, M., Bauer, T.J., Liemersdorf, C., Hemmersbach, R., Infanger, M., Grimm, D. (2019) Short-Term Microgravity Influences Cell Adhesion in Human Breast Cancer Cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2019; 20(22): 5730. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI). DOI: 10.3390/ijms20225730 ISSN 1661-6596.
Further information on this facility on request!