Abstract: Described are devices for tethering biological materials, which in applicable embodiments support the growth and differentiation thereof. In a specific embodiment, the biological materials are cells and the cells grow/differentiate into tethered three-dimensional aggregates. The devices disclosed herein may be used in various methods/assays relating to tethered biological materials, such as to tethered three-dimensional aggregates of cells.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for the adaptive passage of a culture of cells and apparatus and methods for dissociating cell colonies are described. The systems may include an imaging module, a pipette module, a handling module, and/or a stage module. Coordinated operation of the modules, optionally in an automated manner, is effected by at least one processor based on one or more characteristics of the culture of cells calculated from one or more images captured at more than one time point. A first apparatus for adaptive passage of a culture cells includes an imaging module and at least one processor, which apparatus may be included in the systems or used in the methods. A second apparatus for dissociating cell colonies, may also be included in the systems or used in the methods, includes impact bumper(s) collidable with impact bracket(s) to transmit a dissociative force to a culture of cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the automated culture of cells and apparatus and methods for dissociating one or more colonies in a culture of cells are described. The automated systems include at least an imaging module, a pipette module, a handling module, and optionally a stage module. Coordinated operation of the foregoing modules is effected by at least one processor based on one or more characteristics of the culture of cells calculated from one or more images captured at a first time point and at one or more subsequent time points. The apparatus includes a mounting surface, having one or more impact bumpers, connected to a rotatable drive, a platform rotatable dependently or independently of the drive, and one or more impact brackets connected to the platform and collidable with the one or more impact bumpers to transmit a dissociative force to a culture of cells in a cell culture vessel upon the platform.