µ-Slide 15 Well 3D

In the early days, one of our first customers, Prof. Stefan Zahler, came to us with a practical problem. Standard 96 well plates, in his view, were simply not well suited for angiogenesis assays.

For these experiments, endothelial cells need to be seeded on a Matrigel layer at least 0.8 mm thick and as uniform as possible. In conventional wells, most of the required volume ends up forming a meniscus along the hydrophilic walls.

Stefan summed it up nicely. “It would be much better if the cells were in one flat plane”.

That comment sparked the idea of a well-in-well geometry. Inspired by a simple observation that a completely filled glass has a perfectly flat liquid surface, we designed a geometry that minimizes curvature and keeps the assay plane ideal for imaging.

The result was a slide built specifically for angiogenesis assays and quantitative microscopy. A small geometric change that made a big difference, and one that lives on today in the µ-Slide 15 Well 3D.

Culture-Inserts

During a visit to the University of Karlsruhe, a professor told us about her work on tumor metastasis. She wanted to grow malignant and healthy cells right next to each other, close enough to interact but without mixing at the start.

At the time, we had already been experimenting with silicone adhesives. That led to one of those classic lab ideas where you simply try something and see what happens. We cut off a piece of a slightly larger plastic straw, added a tiny amount of silicone, and stuck it opening down onto a cell growth surface. To our surprise, it worked. One cell type grew inside the ring, the other around it. The cells stayed separate, adjacent, and perfectly positioned for interaction studies.

Not long after, we met a specialist in silicone processing who showed us how silicone parts could be molded and made naturally sticky using simple techniques. Suddenly, we could produce inserts in almost any shape and apply them like self-adhesive stamps.

What started with a plastic straw turned into a completely new product family. That is how the ibidi Culture-Inserts were born, driven by real scientific questions and a bit of creative improvisation.

ibidi Pump System

Our very first product was the µ-Slide I, similar to today’s µ-Slide I Luer. When we showed it to cell biologists, the conversations often led to the same question: What happens if endothelial cells are cultured under flow instead of static conditions?

So, we tried it. We bought a large peristaltic pump, seeded endothelial cells in the channel, connected everything, and placed the setup in the incubator. The next morning, we were excited. And then very disappointed. The cells were gone.

That failure changed everything. We knew the solution had to be gentle, cool, and designed for life inside an incubator. The key idea came during a flight to the United States. Somewhere between takeoff and landing, the concept of gently moving liquid back and forth and turning it into a steady flow took shape. No heavy motors. No excess heat. Just movement that cells could tolerate.

The first prototype was anything but elegant. Modified lab tubes, borrowed parts, and a fair amount of improvisation. But it worked. Early users tested it, trusted it, and kept using it.

Over time, additional flow patterns were added to better reflect real blood vessels. What started as a failed experiment and an idea at cruising altitude became a system built around one simple principle. Happy cells lead to better science.

µ-Slide Chemotaxis

In 2003, biotechnology student Elias joined ibidi through a research collaboration while still studying. His task sounded simple on paper. Could chemical gradients be created inside an existing µ-Slide I, and could cells be guided to follow them?

The answer was yes. But not easily.

Experiments worked, but they were fragile, hard to reproduce, and far from ideal for long-term observation. Instead of stopping there, Elias started sketching something new. A slide designed from the beginning around one key requirement: a stable gradient that stays put while cells do what cells do.

The result was a new geometry that allowed gradients to remain stable over long periods, making it possible to observe directed cell migration in real time under the microscope. Together with Dr. Pamela Zengel and Roman, and in close collaboration with researchers working on endothelial chemotaxis, the concept was refined, patented, and turned into a dedicated cell carrier system.

What started as a student project became a published method, a patented technology, and ultimately a product that many researchers still rely on today. Over time, the slide evolved from 2D to 3D, became easier to use, and grew with the needs of the community.