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T-Cell Growth System (T-CGS)
11.06.09
Scientists and payload developers can get more information on International Space Station research facilities by contacting the ISS Payloads Office or at 281-244-6187.

Overview | Description | Applications | Operations | Results | Publications | Images

Facility/Payload Overview

Brief Facility Summary

T-Cell Growth System (T-CGS) can propagate live mouse, rat, and human thymus tissue to investigate the problem of reduced white blood cell counts in long-duration crewmembers.

Facility Manager(s)

  • Carole Hammond, Paragon Space Development Corporation, Tucson, AZ

    • Co-Facility Manager(s)

    Information Pending

    Facility Developer

    Paragon Space Development Corporation, Tucson, AZ

    Sponsoring Agency

    National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

    Expeditions Assigned

    Information Pending

    Previous ISS Missions

    T-CGS is unique hardware that is being newly utilized for microgravity research.

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    Facility/Payload Description

    Facility Summary

    • The T-Cell Growth System (T-CGS) is designed to maintain cell cultures in a 2-dimensional petri dish by providing nutrients in a controlled fashion and a growth substrate in microgravity.


    • The growth nutrients are transferred via a wick to a growth substrate using a novel silica tile material. The units are designed to be maintained at 37 degrees C and to contain a 5% carbon dioxide/air combination environment through the use of non-permeable seals and material.

    Description

    T-Cell Growth System (T-CGS) can propagate live mouse, rat, and human thymus (T-Cell) tissue to investigate the problem of reduced white blood cell count in long-duration crewmembers. The T-CGS consists of a quartz dish system, seal, quartz lid, wicking silica tile, Millipore paper (as the substrate) and growth medium containment chamber. The system is designed to be loaded in a laboratory environment with precursor T-Cells, from mice, rats or humans. The T-Cells then propagate and mature into other precursor T-cells. The quartz is utilized to allow for adequate thermal mass for thermal control during shipping while also providing a robust, non-permeable system (unlike laboratory Petri dishes) to contain the carbon dioxide rich environment nominally present in incubators.

    The T-CGS is designed to allow for research into the physiological effects of microgravity on the development of cells, especially for the development of precursor immune cells.The T-CGS is 7.6 cm x 7.6 cm x 3.8 cm. The assembly weighs 15 kg and requires no power.

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    Operations

    Facility Operations

    The crewmember is responsible for placing the T-CGS inside an incubator following arrival at ISS for activation. Once competed the T-CGS will be returned to Earth.

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    Results/More Information

    Information Pending

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    Availability

    Information Pending

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    Related Web Sites

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    Publications

    Results Publications

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      Related Publications

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        Images

        imageT-Cell Growth System for use on the Shuttle and ISS. The sealed Petri Dish system propagates live mouse, rat, and human thymus tissue to investigate the problem of reduced white blood cell count in long-duration astronauts. Image courtesy of Paragon Space Development Corporation.
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        Information Provided and Updated by the ISS Program Scientist's Office
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