ITMO: Mobile cube laboratory for working with cells

The main articles are:

• Human heart
• Organ cultivation (Bioprinting, bioprinting)
• Robots in medicine

2023: Opening a mobile lab to create an artificial heart

B ITMO created the first Russia cube in a mobile laboratory to work with cells. It will grow cell cultures, create databases and conduct advanced research in the field of tissue engineering with. In artificial intelligence the future, ITMO scientists plan to grow myocardial cells in order to create a full-fledged one. artificial heart This was announced on July 19, 2023 by representatives of ITMO.

ITMO opened a mobile laboratory to create an artificial heart

As reported, to work with cells, special conditions are needed: purity, a certain level of temperature and humidity. To support them, there are culture boxes equipped with special equipment. These are usually stationary structures that are placed right in the walls of the laboratory, so they cannot be transported.

ITMO has developed a universal mobile laboratory that is suitable for working with any cell: bacterial (nuclear-free) and eukaryotic (nuclear). This cube is 3x3x3m ― light, transparent, autonomous, inexpensive, it can be freely moved and adapted for various scientific tasks. It has an additional ventilation and sterilization system (HEPA filters trap all particles and bacteria in the air), a laminar cabinet (for sterile operation), a microscope, a CO2 incubator (carbon dioxide, high humidity, temperature 37.7 degrees ― necessary conditions for working with nuclear cells) and auxiliary equipment ― a water bath, a centrifuge, a refrigerator.

Laboratory cube for working with cells

The cube also has a roboruca, which replaces the laboratory assistant and independently manipulates the cells. For July 2023, it works under the control of a person who brings solutions and consumables, and the robot distributes solutions to culture vessels. Control over the state of cells is carried out with the help of a microscope. The results of the experiment are loaded into the database, algorithmic intelligence (AI) checks them and decides on the next series of samples for research. The researchers plan to fully automate this process.

In the laboratory, we will receive various biopolymers, prepare samples for in vitro studies (in a test tube) and develop organ-on-a-chip systems. These are special devices for growing cell cultures, they repeat organs and tissues in miniature. With the help of such systems, we will select materials and "train" cells, make them contract like myocardium, muscle heart tissue. This is important for our global goal ― to create a full-fledged artificial heart tissue in the future. explained Ekaterina Shishatskaya, Project Manager, Professor of the REC Infochemistry ITMO

So far, only part of the cube operations have been automated. In the future, it will be possible to observe the growth of cells remotely - using special systems. Scientists will form databases using AI based on cellular responses to various materials. These data will be used in research in regenerative medicine, cell biology and materials science. In addition, a mobile cube laboratory will be useful for educational purposes.

One challenge in materials science is the collection and systematization of data. To do this, we will use civil science: with the help of our laboratory, schoolchildren will be able not only to get acquainted with approaches in materials science, but also to collect data. We will be able to use this data in frontier studies to predict the behavior of complex systems and materials for programming the state of eukaryotic and bacterial cultures. emphasized Ekaterina Skorb, professor, director of the scientific and educational center of information chemistry ITMO

Researchers from the Siberian Federal University, the Foundation for Infrastructure and Educational Programs and the Prolab Scientific and Production Association also take part in the project.