Development, manufacture and distribution of flexible 3D cell culture products based on microformed polymer films

300MICRONS GmbH

KarlsruheNew on Amplifa

2015Founded (spin-off from KIT)

HRB 722307, Amtsgericht MannheimCommercial register

GmbHLegal form

About 300MICRONS

300MICRONS GmbH, based in Karlsruhe, develops, manufactures and distributes flexible 3D cell culture solutions for academic research and industrial research and development. The core product is microcavity or microwell arrays made from thin polymer films with characteristic round well bottoms, which can be dense or porous. The arrays are integrated into multiwell plates and culture inserts for high-content imaging and high-throughput screening, or used as inserts in flow chambers of microfluidic bioreactors and organs-on-chips. Manufacturing is based on a proprietary technology of the founders: microscale thermoforming (deep drawing) of very thin polymer films made of polystyrene (PS) and polycarbonate (PC) with film thicknesses below 25 µm, combined with micro- and nanoscale functionalizations of the film surface such as cylindrical micropores, nanotopographies and cell-adhesive micropatches. In addition to its own product lines, the company offers OEM solutions based on customer-specific microwell arrays (CUSTOMARRAYs) as well as consulting and support for setting up bioassays. In 2015 the company was spun off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Site: Karlsruhe
Processes: Microscale thermoforming (deep drawing) of thin polymer films into microcavity/microwell arrays, Manufacture of 3D ion track-etched porous microwells (micropores in the film), Micro-/nanoscale film functionalization (topographic, physical, chemical, biological:, Integration of microwell arrays into multiwell plates, culture inserts, microfluidic bioreactors /, Consulting/support for 3D cell culture applications and bioassays (adaptation of existing or, OEM solutions / customer-specific microwell arrays (CUSTOMARRAY), Application and bioassay support / technical consulting, Adaptation of existing products or development of customer-specific products (design and materials)
Materials: Polystyrene, Polycarbonate, Microscale thermoforming (deep drawing), 3D ion track-etched porous microwells, Film functionalization (micro-/nanoscale)
Founded: 2015
Industries: Academic research, Industrial R&D, Pharma, High-content imaging / high-throughput screening, Organs on chips / microphysiological systems, Bioartificial organs / tissue engineering

01
Engineering and design (custom product development, OEM)
02
Microscale thermoforming of thin polymer films
03
Manufacture of 3D ion track-etched porous microwells
04
Film functionalization (micro-/nanoscale)
05
Integration into multiwell plates, inserts, microfluidic bioreactors
06
Consulting and application support for bioassays

Materials and Processes

Polystyrene

Proven cell culture substrate material for microwell arrays, e.g. in the STATARRAYs®.

Polycarbonate

Substrate material for porous microwell arrays, e.g. in the DYNARRAYs®.

Microscale thermoforming (deep drawing)

Proprietary core process for forming thin polymer films into microcavity/microwell arrays with well bottom thicknesses below 25 µm.

ITE

3D ion track-etched porous microwells

Production of micropores in the film for molecular diffusion, medium perfusion and cell contacts.

Film functionalization (micro-/nanoscale)

Topographic, physical, chemical or biological modifications such as nanotopographies and cell-adhesive micropatches.

Locations

Karlsruhe

Headquarters, development and manufacturing

Materials: Polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC)

Products and Components

**Microwell arrays made from polymer film (STATARRAYs®, DYNARRAYs®)**Microthermoforming · Pharma/research

Inside the production

Microwell array technology of 300MICRONS GmbH

Industries

Academic researchIndustrial R&DPharmaHigh-content imaging / high-throughput screeningOrgans on chips / microphysiological systemsBioartificial organs / tissue engineeringToxicity and efficacy testing (ADME-Tox, 3R)

Processes & technical limits

Processes	Tolerance	Max. part	Weight	Lot size	Materials
Microscale thermoforming (deep drawing) of thin polymer films into microcavity/microwell arraysPlastics	–	–	–	–	Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC)
Manufacture of 3D ion track-etched porous microwells (micropores in the film)Plastics	–	–	–	–	Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC)
Micro-/nanoscale film functionalization (topographic, physical, chemical, biological:Surface	–	–	–	–	Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC)
Integration of microwell arrays into multiwell plates, culture inserts, microfluidic bioreactors /Engineering	–	–	–	–	Polystyrene (PS), Polycarbonate (PC)
Consulting/support for 3D cell culture applications and bioassays (adaptation of existing orEngineering	–	–	–	–	–

Additional services

OEM solutions / customer-specific microwell arrays (CUSTOMARRAY)Application and bioassay support / technical consultingAdaptation of existing products or development of customer-specific products (design and materials)

History

2015
Spin-off from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)