Plate and method for high throughput screening

Abstract

A multiple well plate and method for media exchange, including a body defining a plurality of cell wells each connected via a channel to one of a plurality of aspiration holes, is provided. The cell wells contain a porous, hydrophilic frit which is suspended on a ledge above a reservoir of fluid media and supports a tissue sample. The properties of the frit wick the fluid media upwards to supply the tissue sample with nutrients for growth and proliferation. Old media is aspirated from the wells by a liquid handling device which inserts a pipette tip into the aspiration holes. The pipette tip applies a suction pressure which draws the media out of the cell well, through the channel, into the aspiration hole and out through the pipette tip. New media is dispersed through the pipette tip and directly into the cell well.

1 . A method of making a plate for holding a porous frit that supports a tissue, the porous frit and the tissue bathed in a media that is regularly aspirated and refreshed by a pipette device, said method comprising: 
 providing a body with an upper surface;    defining a first hole in the body by drilling through the upper surface of the body to form a first hole upper edge and drilling below the upper surface and into the body to form a first hole bottom portion;    defining a second hole in the body by drilling through the upper surface of the body to form a second hole upper edge and drilling below the upper surface and into the body to form a second hole bottom portion; and    connecting the first hole bottom portion to the second hole bottom portion by forming a passage in the body and between the first hole bottom portion and the second hole bottom portion.    
     
     
         2 . A method of making the plate of  claim 1 , wherein forming the passage includes inserting a saw into the first hole bottom portion and moving the saw laterally until encountering the second hole bottom portion.  
     
     
         3 . A method of making the plate of  claim 1 , wherein the body is defined from a single piece of material.