Discover Our Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform
The Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform is a multi-organ system engineered to be compatible with spheroids and organoids, including our complete portfolio of 3D InSight™ Microtissues.
Originating from prototypes conceived in the EU “Body-on-a-Chip” Project, the platform's flexibility opens the door to a range of pre-clinical efficacy and toxicity testing applications in a multi-tissue, microfluidic assay format. The Akura™ Flow microphysiological system (MPS) provides experimental continuity between single- and multi-tissue testing applications, enabling the seamless integration and optimal utilization of standardized 3D models.
The Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip
- 2 units per chip, each comprising 10 compartments for flexible combination of different organ models
- 4 chips assembled in a holder plate complying with SLAS/ANSI format, enabling spheroid/organoid to be loaded through pick-and-place using automated liquid handlers
- A unique ULA coating in the compartments and microchannel preserves spheroid/organoid morphology in long-term culture
- Imaging accessibility through flat and transparent bottom
Experience a highly flexible multi-organ platform:
- Conical well design with SureXchange™ ledge for easy gravity-based loading and access of spheroids
- Quick plug-and-play assembly of different microtissue types and seamless integration of additional models in the future
- Spheroid compartment with minimal dead volume enabling very precise medium exchange and drug treatment and low experimental variation
Rely on plate standards and low operational complexity:
- ANSI/SLAS standard format for quick implementation with widely used lab tools
- Convenient for manual use and compatibility with (semi-)automation and robotic liquid handlers
- Gravity-based and pumpless flow control for simple plate handling
Access a wide range of readout methods with Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip MPS:
- Anytime access to supernatants though easy accessible reservoirs
- Retrieval of spheroids for lytic assays, histology or RNA sequencing
- In-situ high-content imaging with minimal optical aberration with a flat and transparent polystyrene bottom
Applications of Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform
- Signaling between Healthy and Diseased Tissue
- Pro-drug Activation and Drug-drug Interaction
- Metabolite Toxicity on On-target and Off-target Tissues
- Metabolite Disease Syndrome modeling combining for example liver, islet and adipose models
Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Starter Kit
Bring the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip System into your lab by acquiring our starter kit offering. It’s everything you need to immediately begin investigating complex biological questions in your research.
Akura™ Flow Programmable All-In-One Tilter
Controls gravity-based flow in incubator with intuitive built-in user interface.
2x Akura™ Flow Kit (2/pack)
4 frames, each with 4 chips and supplements to run an experiment with up to 32 experimental conditions.
2x Akura™ Flow Refill (2/pack)
16 chips and supplements to run an experiment with up to 32 conditions.
Akura™ Tilting Stand
Simple handling tool providing gravity-based flow while performing medium exchange under the hood.
20x Pack of Akura™ 96 Microplate
For 3D spheroid aggregation before transferring into Akura™ Flow or for collection after experiments and downstream analysis.
1h Akura™ e-Introduction
Learn about concept, design and characteristics of the Akura™ Flow OoC Platform.
Akura™ Organ-on-Chip Training & Support
Personal support and consulting to set up the first experiments with InSphero’s scientific experts.
Akura™ Organ-on-Chip Technology Access Package
Allows for discounted Refills & Voucher (2000 CHF) for InSphero products (valid 6 months)
Frequently Asked Questions
A detailed experimental protocol for the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform is available in the product manual. Below, we’ve provided answers to some frequently asked questions to help you get started.
What types of 3D models can be cultured using the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform?
The Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform supports various scaffold-free 3D cell culture models, including organoids, spheroids, and microtissues. The ULA coating on the chip’s compartments and microchannels helps preserve model integrity and minimizes cell adhesion during long-term culture. For optimal results, we recommend that your 3D model meet the following criteria:
- 3D models that can be generated as scaffold-free spheroids or organoids using Akura™ 96 or 384 Microplates.
- 3D models with a compact morphology (150 µm to 600 µm in diameter) for successful pipette transfer and maintaining structural integrity throughout the experiment (taking proliferation and growth into account).
- Pre-established quality control criteria for 3D models should be followed to assess functionality before loading them into the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform.
Can I add suspension cells into the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform?
No. We do NOT recommend adding suspension cells to the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform. Due to the design and flow properties of the chip, suspension cells will sediment within a few hours, accumulating in the medium reservoirs or clogging the microfluidic channels.
If you’re interested in studying multi-tissue crosstalk involving suspension cells (e.g. immune cells or metastatic cancer cells, engineered T-cells), we recommend using the Akura™ Immune Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform.
What is the material of the Akura™ Flow Chip?
The Akura™ Flow Chip is made from polystyrene. The bottom has a thickness of 125 µm. Polystyrene is a transparent material (90% transparency at wavelengths of 400-800 nm), making it ideal for high-content imaging applications. The chip’s cell-repellent properties help maintain spheroid morphology and function over the long term, while also preventing cell adhesion.
Is the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform compatible with standardized lab equipment?
Yes, the Akura™ Flow format is compatible with standard microtiter plates, as specified by the SLAS Microplate Standards Advisory Committee (ANSI SLAS 1-2004 (R2012)). Four chips are placed in an aluminium handling frame, with compartments spaced 4.5 mm apart, corresponding to the positions of a standard 384-well plate.
A fully assembled plate consists of 8 units, each with 10 compartments designed to accommodate spheroids up to 600 µm in diameter. The Akura™ Flow Plate’s technical specifications are available for automation system programming and imaging.
How is the flow generated in the system?
The flow in the Akura™ Flow Chips is generated via a gravity-driven perfusion system. When a handling frame loaded with four chips is placed on the Akura™ Programmable All-in-One Tilter inside a standard laboratory incubator, the frame tilts back and forth. This motion induces flow by gravity, with the chips rotating around their short axis at angles of up to 20°. No tubing or pumping is required.
Is the Akura™ Programmable All-in-One Tilter required for use?
Yes, we highly recommend using the Akura™ Programmable All-in-One Tilter to control gravity-based flow in your Organ-on-Chip cultures.
Specifically designed for automated flow control in InSphero’s Akura™ Flow microfluidic culturing platforms, the tilter can be placed inside a standard laboratory incubator. It provides programmable reciprocal motion, adjustable tilting angles (0° to ±85°), and customizable pause sequences, all controlled by a microprocessor. These settings generate gravity-based flow in the microfluidic channels, with adjustable intervals (1 second to customizable durations) and pausing times at defined angles.
Flow conditions such as shear stress, velocity, and flow rate can be precisely controlled through the integrated fluidic system. Parameters can be adjusted depending on the experimental setup and specific needs of the model. Conventional cell-culture rockers in general do not offer a pause option in the tilted orientation impeding flow control.
Can I aggregate my 3D model within the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform?
The Akura™ Flow Chip is designed for pre-formed spheroids/organoids. We recommend aggregating your 3D model in Akura™ 96 or 384 microplates, following your established protocol.
After quality control, the spheroids/organoids can be transferred into the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform. This approach also allows for the use of multi-organ models with different production durations and media requirements. Transfer can be done manually, semi-automated, or fully automated, with protocols for Opentrons OT-2 liquid handlers available upon request.
How do I load my spheroid/organoid model into the Akura™ Immune Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform?
Loading the 3D spheroid/organoid model into the platform is simple. Once your spheroids or organoids meet the recommended size criteria (200-600 µm) and pass your quality control, they can be transferred using a pipette directly into the dedicated compartments via contact transfer.
The Akura™ Immune Flow Chip is open from the top, which facilitates easy loading into the compartments. We recommend using a pipette with low shear force to avoid damaging delicate tissue structures. The pipette tip should be broad enough to ensure the spheroid is not destroyed or damaged during transfer. For optimal results, trimming the tip of a 10-20 µL pipette is advised.
Transfer can be performed manually, semi-automated, or fully automated, with protocols for Opentrons OT-2 liquid handlers available upon request.
Can I perform live-cell imaging in the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform?
Yes, the platform is compatible with live-cell imaging systems.
The transparent bottom membrane shows good optical properties and is compatible with various microscope systems, including confocal and fluorescence microscopes. Be sure to use appropriate imaging media (e.g., without phenol red) and settings to maintain cell integrity during imaging.
Can I use the Akura™ Flow Organ-on-Chip Platform with other analytical techniques, such as RNA sequencing or mass spectrometry?
Absolutely! The platform is versatile and can be used with a variety of analytical techniques, including RNA sequencing, proteomics, and mass spectrometry. The organ-on-chip models can be harvested after culture for downstream analysis, providing insights into gene expression, protein secretion, and metabolic activity.
