Simultaneous to the increased life expectancy in the course of industrialization the number of many diseases of the cardiovascular system as well as the number of metabolic and neurological diseases such as diabetes, Parkinson´s and Alzheimer´s is globally increasing. Concerning these diseases there is even today still a lack of suitable diagnostic possibilities, medication and therapeutic approaches to improve the patients´ quality of life.

Examinations on stem cell material are an important basis for the research development in this field. To achieve significant and transferable results, it is necessary to multiply the cell material unter examination. For this purpose the cells are cultivated under sterile conditions in drop-shaped nutrition solutions. By adding messengers the stem cells develop to specific differentiated cells like they occur in the human body. During their growth they are forming three-dimensional aggregates, which can be used as testing systems like for testing new medication. The method described in which the cells are manually pipetted requires an enormous amount of time and material.

The aim of the research project LabBag^® is to develop a mini laboratory in a bag in which the nutrition solution is forming “hanging droplets” autonomously under sterile conditions. The so called “lab in a bag” should not only enhance the cell yield and process reliability, but at the same time reduce the staff and material expenses by 90 percent.