ibidi : µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom (formerly µ-Slide Angiogenesis Glass Bottom)

A chambered coverslip with 15 wells and a glass bottom for 3D cell culture, tube formation assays, and immunofluorescence

Brilliant cell visualization without gel meniscus formation
Cost-effective experiments, requiring only 10 µl of gel per well
For a broad range of gels (e.g., Matrigel^®, collagen, and agarose)
Surface Modification: #1.5H (170 µm +/- 5 µm) D 263 M Schott glass, sterilized
Pcs./Box: 15 (individually packed)

Applications

Specifications

Outer dimensions (w x l)	25.5 x 75.5 mm²
Number of wells	15
Volume inner well	10 µl
Diameter inner well	4 mm
Depth inner well	0.8 mm
Volume upper well	50 µl
Diameter upper well	5 mm
Growth area inner well	0.125 cm²
Coating area using 10 µl	0.23 cm²
Bottom: Glass coverslip No. 1.5H, selected quality, 170 µm +/- 5 µm

Technical Features

Standard slide format
Bottom made from D 263 M Schott glass, No. 1.5H
(170 +/- 5 µm)
May require coating to promote cell attachment
Closely fitting lid to reduce evaporation
4 mm well within a 5 mm well
Geometry enables pipetting of a homogeneous 0.8 mm thick gel layer*
Provides homogeneous cell growth
Compatible with staining and fixation
Excellent optical properties for microscopy
Compatible with multi-channel pipettes
Suitable for use with various types of gels* (e.g., Matrigel^®, collagen, and agarose)
Also available with an ibidi Polymer Coverslip bottom: µ-Slide 15 Well 3D
Also available in a 96 well format: µ-Plate 96 Well 3D

*The gel matrix is not included with this product.

Every Cell in Focus:
The Principle of the µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom

The μ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom has a specialized geometry for the easy, convenient, and reproducible conduction of tube formation assays. It is also ideal for sprouting assays, immunofluorescence staining, and general 3D cell culture.

After the gel has been pipetted into the inner well and given time to solidify, the cells can be seeded on top of it for tube formation analysis. Due to the “well-in-a-well” technology, the amount of gel needed is reduced to only 10 μl per well, which is 10% of the amount used in regular multiwell plates.

Further, no gel meniscus is formed. This ensures the formation of a uniformly thick gel matrix on which all cells are in one optical plane, creating reproducible cell culture conditions. The µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom can be used with all common hydrogel matrices, such as Matrigel^®, collagen gels, agarose gels, and hyaluronic acid gels.

With its 15 wells, the µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom is designed for low throughput assays. For large scale applications, ibidi provides the μ-Plate 96 Well 3D.

The µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom Can Be Used in a Wide Range of Applications

Tube Formation Assay

For a tube formation assay, endothelial cells are seeded on top of a 10 µl gel layer (basement membrane-like surface), where they form capillary-like structures. Typically, Matrigel^® is used. The tube formation ability of the cells can be used to analyze the pro- or anti-angiogenic potential of various drugs.

Find more detailed information here:

For practical details, please watch the ibidi movie Performing an Angiogenesis Assay (MV 15). In our Application Notes, you will find detailed information on the setup, optimization, data analysis, and interpretation of tube formation assays:

Phase contrast image showing one well of the µ-Slide 15 Well 3D with HUVEC cells on Matrigel^® after 12 hours of incubation during a tube formation assay.

Phase contrast (top) and fluorescence microscopy (bottom) of a single strand composed of HUVEC cells during a tube formation assay in the µ-Slide 15 Well 3D. The F-actin cytoskeleton is stained green and the cell nuclei are stained blue.

Sprouting Assay

The sprouting potential of a cell cluster can be conveniently analyzed using the µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom. To carry out a sprouting assay, spheroids or pieces of tissue (e.g., from the aorta), are placed onto or directly in the gel matrix before imaging.

3D Cell Culture

In many cases, a 3D environment more closely resembles an in vivo situation than a 2D cell culture. The µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom is an easy and cost-effective solution for the cultivation and microscopy of cells embedded in gel matrices. The gel layer is directly connected to the medium reservoir above, which allows for fast and easy medium exchange by diffusion.

Besides cultures with only one cell type, the invasion behavior of different cell types (e.g., cancer cells and fibroblasts) can be investigated in a co-culture experiment.

Alternatively, a sandwich culture can be created using the same or different 3D gel matrices (e.g., Matrigel or collagen).

Also, non-adherent cells, such as blood cells or bacteria, can be immobilized for enhanced microscopy access.

Immunofluorescence Staining

For analyzing the outcome of a tube formation or a 3D culture experiment, immunofluorescence staining can be performed in the µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom. The cells can be fixated and stained directly on or in the gel, then imaged using high-resolution microscopy.

Focusing Cells

When using less than 10 µl of gel to fill the inner well of the µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom, small numbers of cells can be cultivated and focused on a soft gel surface.

Low Volume Microscopy Chamber

The µ-Slide 15 Well 3D Glass Bottom can also be used as a low-volume microscopy chamber without any gel, which is useful for experiments where several wells with a low volume are required.