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(Master Thesis) Automated 3D cell culture monitoring with a robotic-mounted miniature digital microscope
You will be responsible for the camera concept, build and test on the automated organoid synthesis system, including the integration with the robotic arm to position the camera and data transfer.
Context: Organoids are ”in vitro miniaturized and simplified model systems of organs [which] self-organize into complex structures” usually derived from stem cells [1]. Since 2009, the organ-on-a-chip approach to
synthesising viable non-vascularized small organoids progressed significantly and is currently the most used
approach. The method of choice is to grow an organ or organoid in a gel. Most organoid engineering in
academic research is carried out manually and is, therefore, labour intensive. The vascularization is critical
to nourish cells with nutriments and transport drugs. Methods to generate vascularized organoids have been discovered but the vasculature creation is uncontrolled, manual and poorly understood. Research is currently getting both non-vascularized and vascularized organoid synthesis automated.
This Master Thesis is your opportunity to work on an exciting project, which has an impact on research as well as the pharmaceutical industry.
Task description: We currently perform research with the aim to build a fully-automated organoid synthesis robotic system that takes care of organoids 24/7 and gathers data without disturbing organoids.
The robot system includes miniature digital microscope(s) to allow automating the organoid health assessment.
Context: Organoids are ”in vitro miniaturized and simplified model systems of organs [which] self-organize into complex structures” usually derived from stem cells [1]. Since 2009, the organ-on-a-chip approach to synthesising viable non-vascularized small organoids progressed significantly and is currently the most used approach. The method of choice is to grow an organ or organoid in a gel. Most organoid engineering in academic research is carried out manually and is, therefore, labour intensive. The vascularization is critical to nourish cells with nutriments and transport drugs. Methods to generate vascularized organoids have been discovered but the vasculature creation is uncontrolled, manual and poorly understood. Research is currently getting both non-vascularized and vascularized organoid synthesis automated. This Master Thesis is your opportunity to work on an exciting project, which has an impact on research as well as the pharmaceutical industry.
Task description: We currently perform research with the aim to build a fully-automated organoid synthesis robotic system that takes care of organoids 24/7 and gathers data without disturbing organoids. The robot system includes miniature digital microscope(s) to allow automating the organoid health assessment.
Is a compact camera (including lens(es) and detector, excluding electronic) smaller than 15mm in height at less than 4 mm distance from living cells feasible? The camera will be used as a digital microscope.
You will be responsible for the camera concept, build and test on the automated organoid synthesis system, including the integration with the robotic arm to position the camera and data transfer (image analysis is excluded).
Workpackages:
• Review the relevant literature on concepts for miniature image acquisition hardware.(20%)
• Design and build the elaborated concept including integration with the robot device that is holding the camera.(60%)
• Test if the developed concept allows the required image acquisition.(20%)
Is a compact camera (including lens(es) and detector, excluding electronic) smaller than 15mm in height at less than 4 mm distance from living cells feasible? The camera will be used as a digital microscope. You will be responsible for the camera concept, build and test on the automated organoid synthesis system, including the integration with the robotic arm to position the camera and data transfer (image analysis is excluded).
Workpackages: • Review the relevant literature on concepts for miniature image acquisition hardware.(20%) • Design and build the elaborated concept including integration with the robot device that is holding the camera.(60%) • Test if the developed concept allows the required image acquisition.(20%)
Cédric Schicklin, Ph.D. sc. med. student
Cedric.schicklin@unibas.ch +41 61 207 54 66
Professor: Prof. Dr. Georg Rauter
Cédric Schicklin, Ph.D. sc. med. student Cedric.schicklin@unibas.ch +41 61 207 54 66 Professor: Prof. Dr. Georg Rauter