AN INTEGRATED SMART INCUBATOR FOR REMOTE MONITORING AND CULTURING BIOLOGICAL CELLS

Abstract

An integrated incubator system was proposed aiming to remotely monitor the dynamic growth processes of live cells, while maintaining optimal conditions for cell culture. As it enables the user to adjust the values of the variables for the environmental conditions needed for the growth of cells according to the type of cell being examined, it also guarantees a sterile environment, and provides a media handler tube for changing the cell-culture media without opening the incubator door, as well as display and record cell images remotely through a user-friendly interface. The incubator is designed with commercially available and low-cost components, with the main objectives of controlling the rate of cell growth, by effectively controlling the environmental conditions surrounding the cells (O2, CO2, temperature, pH and RH), while continuously monitoring the cells growth. The proposed model was evaluated and practically tested using biological experiments conducted at the Egyptian Animal Health Research Institute.