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OMEGAAG

AXON GUIDANCE AND CHEMOTAXIS DEVICE

We designed the OMEGAAG device to help you easily create in vitro models  to study axon guidance and chemotactic factors. This advanced microfluidic device for neurons has 4 chambers that are each connected to a central viewing area via a series of microfluidic microchannels. Thanks to these microchannels, you can easily establish uniform gradients of chemotactic factors in the viewing area and perform axon guidance experiments such as growth cone turning assays

Of course, just like our OMEGA series, the OMEGAAG devices feature open chambers for even more versatility and come ready-to-go and pre-bonded to glass so you can start your experiments right away!

Check out the TOP ADVANTAGES, APPLICATIONS, FORMATS, and USER GUIDES below!

TOP ADVANTAGES

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CREATE UNIFORM GRADIENTS

The flow of fluid across the microchannels can be controlled by simply adjusting the relative fluid volumes in each of the chambers. This asymmetric volume loading of the chambers can serve to fluidically isolate adjacent chambers (like for our neuronal co-culture OMEGA devices), but can also be used to control the direction of flow into and out from the viewing area. This way you can easily establish a uniform chemical gradient across the viewing area.

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ACCESS CULTURES DIRECTLY

As with all OMEGA series devices, the OMEGAAG has open tops giving you direct access to your cultures! The chambers are even large enough to house tissues that are several millimeters in diameter, enabling the use of explants or self-assembled 3D cultures (e.g. spheroids, organoids). This means that the source chambers can be used for culturing cells or tissues – allowing you to get creative with new types of in vitro assays such as growth cone turning assays.

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VERSATILE

In a basic application, simply load molecules of interest to the two respective source chambers to create a uniform gradient of chemotactic factors in the viewing area. Neurons that have been seeded in the neuronal chamber will project axons through the microchannels into the viewing area where they are exposed to this gradient and can be monitored for growth cone turning behavior. Alternatively, you can take full advantage of the open chamber design and use cultures or tissue explants to release molecules and produce a long-lasting and uniform gradient across the viewing area. 

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PHYSIOLOGICALLY RELEVANT

Neurons depend on their highly polarized structural configuration to properly perform their primary physiological function. Devices of the OMEGAAG series replicate neuronal polarity in vitro by employing microfabricated channels, which physically separate the neuronal chamber from the viewing area of the experimental unit. Despite their small size, the microchannels are large enough for axons, but not cell bodies, to pass through and project into the viewing area where they are exposed to chemotactic factors  creating a more physiological model.

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START RIGHT AWAY

We know bonding devices can be a real hassle! That's why we ship OMEGAAG axon guidance and chemotaxis devices pre-bonded and completely ready-to-go so that you can focus on performing experiments without losing any time. OMEGAAG devices are pre-bonded to #1.5 glass coverslips ideal for imaging. All devices come sterile in PBS. There is no need for you to use any plasma treatment!

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AFFORDABLE

Thanks to our proprietary fabrication method and in-house production, we can keep our prices affordable! Get everything you need to set up your experiments with our OMEGAAG starter kits and save money later with our OMEGAAG refill kits!

APPLICATIONS

GROWTH CONE TURNING ASSAY

As a tool to study axon guidance, neurons seeded in the neuronal chamber will project axons through microchannels into the viewing area where they are exposed to a gradient of chemotactic factors from the source chambers. These factors can be specifically loaded into adjacent source chambers. Alternatively, the source molecules can be released from another type of culture or explant that has been established within one or both the source chambers. As they elongate into the viewing area, the neuronal growth cones are monitored for turning behavior.

GROWTH CONE TURNING ASSAY

As a tool to study axon guidance, neurons seeded in the neuronal chamber will project axons through microchannels into the viewing area where they are exposed to a gradient of chemotactic factors from the source chambers. These factors can be specifically loaded into adjacent source chambers. Alternatively, the source molecules can be released from another type of culture or explant that has been established within one or both the source chambers. As they elongate into the viewing area, the neuronal growth cones are monitored for turning behavior.

FORMAT

OMEGAAG

Every OMEGAAG device contains four chambers that each adjoin to a common central viewing area via a series of microfluidic channels. One experiment can be performed per device.

Starter Kit includes:
3 x OMEGAAG 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-oag-001)

Refill Kit includes:
3 x OMEGAAG devices (shipped sterile)
3 x 35 mm round culture dishes (sterile)
(SKU: eN-oag-002)

Refill Kit Plus includes:
3 x OMEGAAG devices (shipped sterile)
3 x evaporation minimizing culture inserts (reusable)
3 x 35 mm round culture dishes (sterile)
(SKU: eN-oag-003)

USER GUIDE