ClinoStar

The clinostat principle, utilized by the ClinoStar system, was historically a technique that used rotation to mitigate the gravitational effects on plants, making them grow horizontally. Later, it was discovered that the clinostat principle could be used to generate 3D constructs from biological materials.

The gentle rotation employed by the clinostat is beneficial as it creates a low-shear stress environment that minimizes the mechanical forces acting on cells, allowing them to grow and develop more naturally.

The ClinoStar system is designed to promote the growth, maintenance, and functionality of large tissue constructs, including spheroids and organoids. This is achieved by keeping cells suspended in a static orbit using a clinostat and a rotating bioreactor (ClinoReactor).

The cells are continuously rotated, which counterbalances gravitational forces and reduces shear stress. This also maximizes the nutrient availability for the constructs. In addition to promoting nutrient and oxygen delivery, dynamic environments can also help to remove waste products from the culture, thereby improving cell health and function (Figure 1).