Celartia, the pioneering Life Sciences group and manufacturers of Petaka^TM reveal  how some of the most innovative aspects of the product offers some truly unique applications in the research labs, cell line supply & cord blood collection .

Cells are normally cryopreserved for storage and transportation, and this process exposes cells to toxic chemicals such as DMSO. The patented gas diffusion channel in Petaka^TM carefully regulates the cell and media exposure to oxygen thus maintaining a stable & optimum pH for cell culture. By simply withdrawing the cells from the heat source, they are put into a state of suspended animation induced by the moderate hypothermic temperatures which is characterized by cell cycle-G2 arrest, membrane changes, body shrinkage, spindle relaxation and metabolic changes. The result is a gene expression pattern adjustment, which is functional and entirely reversible when reintroducing the cells to heat at 37ºC.

In this state, cells may be left (depending on cell type) for between 2-8weeks without media change, allowing very simple, inexpensive short to medium term cell storage or pause of the cell culture, by simply maintaining the cells away from light and within a temperature range of between 16-22ºC. At these temperatures cells are arrested at G2/M phase. Those in G1 and S phase are not and pass through to G2 phase.

This application unique to Petaka^TM offers a wide number of advantages other cell culture devices:

• Allows to pause the cell culture at any moment avoiding freezing or throwing away the cells at confluence due. The cell culture can then  be recovered again days or weeks later to continue the work.
• Reduces the need for working out of usual hours such as emergencies, holidays or weekends
• Enables the transportation of as many as 30 million cells in one single Petaka^TM internationally in an A4 size insulated bubble envelope weighing less than 100g as opposed to current practice of 7-10kg parcels mostly consisting of dry ice carrying a vial with 2 million cells.
• Allows for the possibility to study if this dormant state closely replicates cancer cell dormancy
• Cells are not exposed to any toxicity
• Recovery of cells on arrival can be as high as 90%
• Receiving cells in Petaka^TM is very safe

Take a look at some CHO cells at stages prior to dormancy, dormant state itself & then in recovery after dormancy by clicking here.

Visit Celartia's new comprehensive website at www.celartia.com