Corning launches Elplasia® 12K Flask, advancing the speed and reproducibility of drug screening and other critical applications

Newest 3D cell culture solution from Corning enables production of ~12,000 spheroids of uniform size and geometry in a single flask

Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today announced an addition to its 3D cell culture portfolio that provides a new solution to support spheroid culture, commonly used in advanced therapy development and cancer research. The Corning® Elplasia® 12K flask features a unique microcavity geometry that enables easy spheroid formation, culture, treatment, assessment, and harvest, with approximately 12,000 spheroids of uniform size and shape per flask, generating 125 times more yield than conventional 96-well spheroid plates. Conventional spheroid production methods have limitations for bulk 3D culture, including lack of reproducibility, wide distribution of spheroid sizes, and limited quantities achievable.

Critical in drug screening and other applications such as cell therapy research, spheroids are coveted for their ability to more closely resemble the original tumor from which they were derived. The Corning® Elplasia® 12K flask is designed in a convenient format and is compatible with many tumor, normal, and primary cell types often used in 3D cell culture.

“This new tool will allow for uniform and highly reproducible formation of spheroids at the volumes essential to further research in areas like cell therapy research, 3D tissue engineering, and extracellular vesicle and biomolecule production,” said John Tobin, Vice President and General Manager at Corning Life Sciences. “Corning continues to add solutions to its 3D portfolio that address the growing complexity of advanced research and the need to scale spheroid production for applications across the industry.”

Corning’s Elplasia® 12K flask is a plug-and-play solution that is ready-to-use, sterile, and requires no specialty reagents to support the bulk production of spheroids, all in a footprint similar to that of a T-75 flask. It features Corning’s Ultra Low Attachment (ULA) surface, an optically clear flask bottom for easy spheroid visualization and gas permeable polystyrene film microcavity substrate to support long-term 3D cell culture.

Demand for spheroids continues to increase as research and technology in drug screening, cancer research, and advanced therapies rapidly evolves. The Corning® Elplasia®12K flask will be vital to advancing the effectiveness of 3D spheroids in many areas of research, and to meeting the need for better methods of producing and replicating spheroids of uniform size in mass quantities. Corning is dedicated to continuing to solve for challenges presented by the fast pace of research and to evolving alongside the science to support breakthrough discoveries in critical disease areas.

To learn more about Corning Life Sciences products, please contact a customer service representative at 1-800-492-1110, toll free in the United States; (+1) 1-978-442-2200 internationally; or visit http://www.corning.com/lifesciences.

About Corning Incorporated 

Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world’s leading innovators in materials science, with a 170-year track record of life-changing inventions. Corning applies its unparalleled expertise in glass science, ceramic science, and optical physics along with its deep manufacturing and engineering capabilities to develop category-defining products that transform industries and enhance people’s lives. Corning succeeds through sustained investment in RD&E, a unique combination of material and process innovation, and deep, trust-based relationships with customers who are global leaders in their industries. Corning’s capabilities are versatile and synergistic, which allows the company to evolve to meet changing market needs, while also helping its customers capture new opportunities in dynamic industries. Today, Corning’s markets include optical communications, mobile consumer electronics, display, automotive, solar, semiconductors, and life sciences.

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