Novel Uses of 3D Printing for in vitro Biomedical Research

3D printing is now a useful tool for the laboratory. Engineers and scientists can create much needed small prototype parts or replacement parts for research equipment. With many common laboratory tools such as pipettors or mini centrifuges being created for availability in open source websites like Thingiverse or the NIH 3D Print Exchange, new and useful laboratory equipment can be created and collaboratively shared with the scientific community. In this spirit, we have created a 3D printable cell culture dish warming system custom fit for 35mm dishes using an upright microscope. After printing, assembly, and attachment to an economical hot water pump, the media in the dishes are easily maintained at 35°C, keeping cells viable for longer periods when performing time course studies under a microscope. A 3D printed dome for containing CO2/O2 was also created and can be added to the warming system for complete stage-top incubation. This system can be used with or without an optical condenser and the dome can be sealed for inverted microscopes. A study using the dish warming system was run for 2 h to test the capability of the system to maintain temperature stability.