CO₂ incubators

Tissue engineered products are biological medicinal products that contain or consist of biotechnologically processed cells or tissues. They are used for the regeneration, restoration, or replacement of human tissue. 
In tissue engineering, human body cells are harvested and cultured in the laboratory to form larger cell clusters, which are then used to replace or regenerate diseased tissue – such as skin, cartilage, or bone – in a patient.
 

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a method of artificial insemination used in human reproductive medicine. The goal of this application is to fuse an egg and a sperm cell in a petri dish containing cell culture medium. 

Fertilization and the development of human embryos begin in a CO₂ incubator. After two to three days, the embryos can be transferred back into the uterus. The optimal conditions in the incubator are approximately 37°C, 5 or 6% by volume CO₂, and humidity levels of around 95%.

To prevent mix-ups, the staff label the petri dishes precisely. The inner glass doors of the CO₂ incubators also allow constant monitoring of the petri dishes.
In veterinary medicine, for example with cattle, the process is similar. The oocytes are placed in a petri dish with sperm. The incubation period is 21 hours, during which time the sperm fertilize the oocytes. On the 8th day after fertilization, the embryos are transferred from the CO₂ incubator to the recipient animals.
 

The examination of cell cultures plays an important role in the diagnostic analysis of pathogens. Based on the results, precise hygiene protocols can be formulated, and the resistance of viruses to biopharmaceuticals can be evaluated. One method often used in this context is the swab test, where cell cultures that are susceptible to viruses are exposed to them in order to test their biological function. CO₂ incubators are the ideal tool for the various process steps involved, such as thawing and transferring the cells, as well as infecting the cell lines and staining the cell cultures. During this application, conditions in the interior are usually set to 37°C and 5 vol. % CO₂.

The samples are evaluated after 72 hours at the latest. The blue coloration of the cell layer makes it possible to characterize the plaques in more detail either with the naked eye or under a microscope. BINDER CO₂ incubators are particularly good for diagnostic purposes or virus identification, since they maintain exceptionally stable incubation conditions. The inner glass doors for segmented access help here, too. What's more, the risks of cross-contamination and the silent spread of contamination are consistently and reliably eliminated thanks to automatic hot air sterilization at 180°C.
 

Biosensors are measuring devices consisting of a biological detection element and a physical sensor (transducer) that are in direct contact with each other. The biological component can consist of an enzyme, an antibody, DNA, receptors, or entire cells and tissue sections. The interaction between the substance being tested and the biological component produces a biochemical signal that is then converted into an electrical or optical signal by the transducer. Biosensors are generally categorized according to the physical measuring principle on which they are based – there are electrochemical sensors, optical sensors, and whole-cell biosensors. Biosensors are used in fields such as medicine, food quality control, and environmental analysis.  One of the best-known examples is enzyme sensors for glucose measurement.

An impressive example: cardiomyocytes from embryonic chickens were reaggregated into spheroids (3D architecture) in a rotary culture and connected to microelectrodes. Reference substances were used to test the extent to which conclusions can be drawn about applying the stimulus to a living system. The spheroids were produced in petri dishes in CO₂ incubators at 37°C, 5 vol. % CO₂, 72 rpm, and 20 mm orbit.
 

CO₂ incubators play an important role in preparing samples and tests in all areas of cancer research such as drug research and the development of 3D invasions, assays, and biosensors – from a simple monolayer through to the reproduction of patient tumors by means of 3D cell culture models (drug research and development of treatments).

Depending on the cell cultures, both CO₂ incubators operating at 37°C, 5 vol. % CO₂ and 95% RH under normoxic culture conditions and CO₂/O₂ incubators at 37°C, 5 vol. % CO₂, and hypoxic conditions of 1 vol. % O₂ are used in the fields of immunology and tumor biology (how malignant tumors develop).

In clinical research – for example into oncogenes and tumor suppressors – CO₂ incubators operating at 37°C and 5 vol. % CO₂ are used under normoxic conditions.
 

A CO₂ incubator is a gassed incubator that is used for in vitro cell cultivation. Cell cultivation is the process by which living cells are cultivated and propagated outside of an organism under controlled conditions. Cell cultures often form the basis of clinical and biotechnological research. In a CO₂ incubator, an atmosphere is created that is as close to natural conditions as possible in order to facilitate cell growth. To achieve this, the temperature, humidity, and CO₂ concentration must precisely match the requirements of the cell cultures.

The interior of a CO₂ incubator is completely sealed off from the environment to create a defined atmosphere inside the unit. To enable laboratory technicians to view the samples during the growth phase, in addition to the regular door, most CO₂ incubators feature a glass door that provides additional protection against contamination.

The interior is made of corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel and should have as few sharp edges and crevices as possible to prevent contamination from accumulating. Especially in the sensitive areas of cell cultivation, even a single germ can ruin weeks of work.

The incoming CO₂ gas passes through a sterile filter and must be distributed evenly throughout the entire interior, as the samples are usually positioned on shelves at different heights. The challenge lies in ensuring homogeneity throughout the entire interior so that a uniform CO₂ concentration is maintained for all samples under constant temperature and humidity conditions.