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 using a multiple well plate having a body with an upper surface, the body defining a plurality of first holes and a plurality of second holes, each hole having an upper edge defined by the upper surface and each of the first holes connected in fluid communication with a respective one of the second holes, said method comprising: 
 placing a frit into each of the plurality of first holes;    placing a tissue into each of the plurality of first holes and onto the frit;    dispensing a media into each of the plurality of first holes;    inserting a pipette into each of the plurality of second holes; and    aspirating the media from the first holes by applying a suction pressure to the second holes using the pipette, the suction pressure drawing the media from the first hole, into the second hole and into the pipette so as to flush the media from the multiple well plate.    
     
     
         2 . A method of using the multiple well plate of  claim 1 , further comprising re-dispensing the media into each of the plurality of first holes after aspirating the media from the first holes.  
     
     
         3 . A method of using the multiple well plate of  claim 1 , further comprising removing a lid from the multiple well plate before placing the frit and replacing the lid after aspirating the media.  
     
     
         4 . A method of using the multiple well plate of  claim 1 , wherein dispensing a media into each of the plurality of first holes includes dispensing the media into the respective ones of the second holes using the pipette.  
     
     
         5 . A method of using the multiple well plate of  claim 1 , wherein said body further defines a channel connecting each of the first holes to the respective one of the second holes in fluid communication and wherein said aspirating draws the media through the channel.  
     
     
         6 . A method of using the multiple well plate of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue includes a plant tissue.  
     
     
         7 . A method of using the multiple well plate of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue is a duckweed tissue.  
     
     
         8 . A method of using a frit material to support a tissue for growth, comprising: 
 suspending the frit material above a supply of nutrients;    wicking the nutrients through a porous, hydrophilic structure of the frit material; and    supplying the nutrients through a top surface of the frit to the tissue so that the tissue is continuously supplied with nutrients and growth of the tissue is promoted.    
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 8 , further comprising storing up to 550 μl of nutrients in the frit before supplying the nutrients.  
     
     
         10 . A method of exchanging a fluid media in a multiple-well plate defining a plurality of wells each connected in fluid communication with an adjacent one of a plurality of aspiration holes, the method comprising: 
 positioning a plurality of dispensing pipette tips each over a respective one of the plurality of wells of the multiple-well plate;    dispensing media out of each of the dispensing pipette tips and into the respective well over which the dispensing pipette tip is positioned;    repeating positioning and dispensing out of the dispensing pipette tips until all of the wells of the multiple-well plate are filled;    inserting a plurality of aspirating pipette tips each into a respective one of the plurality of aspiration holes;    aspirating media using each of the aspirating pipette tips to suction the media out of the respective aspiration hole in which the aspiration tip is positioned;    washing the aspirating pipette tips at a washing station; and    repeating inserting, aspirating and washing until all of the wells of the multiple well plate are emptied of the media.    
     
     
         11 . A computer program product for controlling exchange of fluid media in a multiple-well plate defining a plurality of wells each connected in fluid communication with an adjacent one of a plurality of aspiration holes, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising: 
 a first executable code portion for positioning a plurality of dispensing pipette tips each over a respective one of the plurality of wells of the multiple-well plate;    a second executable code portion for dispensing media out of each of the dispensing pipette tips and into the respective well over which the dispensing pipette tip is positioned;    a third executable code portion for repeating positioning and dispensing out of the dispensing pipette tips until all of the wells of the multiple-well plate are filled;    a fourth executable code portion for inserting a plurality of aspirating pipette tips each into a respective one of the plurality of aspiration holes;    a fifth executable code portion for aspirating media using each of the aspirating pipette tips to suction the media out of the respective aspiration hole in which the aspiration tip is positioned;    a sixth executable code portion for washing the aspirating pipette tips at a washing station; and    a seventh executable code portion for repeating inserting, aspirating and washing until all of the wells of the multiple well plate are emptied of the media.