OMEGANMJ
NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION DEVICE
The OMEGANMJ device helps you easily model 3D neuromuscular junctions (NMJ) in vitro.
Each experimental unit of our NMJ-on-a-chip™ device consists of one neuronal chamber and one muscle chamber connected by microchannels. The channels fluidically isolate the adjacent chambers, providing physical distance between the neuron and skeletal muscle cultures while allowing neuronal axonal projections full access to the muscle culture.
To create a physiologically-relevant innervated human skeletal muscle model, our specialized microfluidic device for compartmentalized motor units takes full advantage of 3D muscle culture technologies. The muscle chamber contains two built-in micropillars that serve as anchor points that aid the formation of stable and mature 3D skeletal muscle microtissue.
Each OMEGANMJ features two experimental units so you can easily collect more data. As always, all devices come ready-to-go and pre-bonded!
Check out the TOP ADVANTAGES, APPLICATIONS, FORMATS, and USER GUIDES below!
TOP ADVANTAGES
LONG-TERM CULTURES
Current attempts to create a neuromuscular junction model in vitro rely on culturing monolayers of skeletal muscle. The problem is, monolayer cultures (i.e. 2D) of skeletal muscle do not fully mature as they cannot be kept in culture for a sufficient period of time. Thanks to the two built-in micropillars in the muscle chamber, 3D skeletal muscle microtissues can form! Compared to monolayer cultures, these self-assembled 3D cultures are more stable for long-term culture applications and mature rapidly and more completely, making 3D skeletal muscle cultures ideal for establishing long-term neuron muscle co-cultures.
PHYSIOLOGICALLY RELEVANT
In the body, motor neuron somas do not come in physical contact with skeletal muscle. Rather, neurons interact exclusively through their projecting axons with the muscle. Our NMJ-on-a-chip™ device helps you replicate key characteristics of neuromuscular junctions in vitro by employing microfabricated channels, which physically separate the neuron’s soma from the muscle culture. Despite their small size, the microchannels are large enough for axons, but not cell bodies, to pass through and interact with muscle tissue located in the adjacent chamber. With this, you can easily set up neuromuscular disease models. For example, this could be particularly powerful for creating an in vitro ALS model.
CHOOSE YOUR FORMAT
Jumping directly to neuron-3D muscle co-cultures seems daunting and you would rather build your in vitro NMJ model step by step? Then make sure to check out the basic OMEGA and OMEGAMP device! These two devices are great for getting used to working with neuronal compartmentalization and 3D muscle tissues, respectively. When you are ready for your full NMJ model, we recommend getting the OMEGANMJ neuromuscular junction device Starter Kit, which has everything you need to get off the ground including three OMEGANMJ devices (6 experiments), evaporation minimizers as well as microscopy adapter. To minimize waste, we also offer Refill Kits which include don't include any accessories.
START RIGHT AWAY
We know bonding devices can be a real hassle! That's why we ship our OMEGANMJ devices pre-bonded and completely ready-to-go so that you can start right away and focus on performing experiments without losing any time. OMEGANMJ devices are pre-bonded to a ~200µm high-transmissive PDMS base. The thin base is ideal for imaging the nerve-muscle connection. All devices come sterile in PBS. This means the microchannels arrive wet and there is no need for you to use any plasma treatment!
ACCESS CULTURES DIRECTLY
The unique open chamber design gives you direct access to your cultures! With OMEGANMJ devices, you can explore new types of experimental paradigms not possible with standard closed-chamber devices. For example, chambers are large enough to house tissues that are several millimeters in diameter, easily accommodating tissue explants or self-assembled 3D cultures (e.g. spheroids, organoids) in addition to primary or iPSC-derived neurons. Additionally, conventional patch-clamp electrodes can openly access the cultures, allowing you to examine the electrophysiological properties of the cultures.
AFFORDABLE
Thanks to the streamlined design of only two chambers per experimental unit, the OMEGANMJ device accommodates more experiments per area compared to conventional (and less advanced!) neuronal co-culture devices. With the OMEGANMJ, you can build next-generation neuromuscular junction models, while increasing your data output and saving money! Our microfluidic neuron muscle co-culture device comes fully assembled, which ensures that you won't waste any of the precious devices attempting to bond them, saving you not just money but also a lot of frustration. Get everything you need to set up your experiments with our OMEGANMJ Starter Kits and save even more money later with the OMEGANMJ Refill Kits.
APPLICATIONS
MODEL NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS
By harnessing the potential of microfluidics and self-assembled 3D cultures, the OMEGANMJ is the ideal platform for the development of next-generation neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorder models and assays. With our NMJ-on-a-chip™ technology you can easily model ALS in vitro. Of course, other conditions and diseases involving motor units such as muscular dystrophies (e.g. Duchenne’s, Becker’s) and Kennedy’s disease (SBMA) can also be recreated.
MODEL NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS
By harnessing the potential of microfluidics and self-assembled 3D cultures, the OMEGANMJ is the ideal platform for the development of next-generation neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorder models and assays. With our NMJ-on-a-chip™ technology you can easily model ALS in vitro. Of course, other conditions and diseases involving motor units such as muscular dystrophies (e.g. Duchenne’s, Becker’s) and Kennedy’s disease (SBMA) can also be recreated.
FORMATS
OMEGANMJ
Every OMEGANMJ device contains two pairs of adjoined chambers, meaning that two independent experiments can be performed with one device.
Starter Kit includes:
3 x OMEGANMJ devices (shipped sterile)
3 x evaporation minimizing culture inserts (reusable)
3 x 35 mm round culture dishes (sterile)
1 x Microscopy adapter for OMEGA series devices
(SKU: eN-onmj-001)
Refill Kit includes:
3 x OMEGANMJ devices (shipped sterile)
3 x 35 mm round culture dishes (sterile)
(SKU: eN-onmj-002)
Refill Kit Plus includes:
3 x OMEGANMJ devices (shipped sterile)
3 x evaporation minimizing culture inserts (reusable)
3 x 35 mm round culture dishes (sterile)
(SKU: eN-onmj-003)
USER GUIDE
