Abstract: High-throughput co-culture models, for example, relevant to the cell barrier interface, are disclosed that employ under-side cell seeding in a miniaturized and automated system and process. The seeding method, which can be implemented in a scalable and low-cost manner, can eliminate the need for an inversion process by adjusting/optimizing the density of the cell suspension medium to float cells of interest so they can attach under a membrane.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive drum, a charging member, a developing member, a transfer member, first and second gears, a drive source, and a control unit. The charging member contacts the photosensitive drum and forms a charging portion to charge a surface of the photosensitive drum. The control unit performs control in such a manner that an image forming operation of performing image formation by rotating the photosensitive drum at a first rotational speed is executable. Where the control unit executes the image forming operation, the control unit performs a switch operation of stopping the photosensitive drum in a state in which the photosensitive drum is driven, while a non-image forming operation to be executed after the image forming operation is executed, and rotationally driving the photosensitive drum again at a second rotational speed faster than the first rotational speed, a plurality of times.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a charging unit that charges an image bearing member, a developing unit that forms a toner image on an latent image formed on the image bearing member, a transfer unit that transfers the toner image onto a transfer material, a charge neutralizer that neutralizes a charge of the image bearing member downstream of a transfer portion and upstream of a charging portion in a rotating direction of the image bearing member, a conductive collecting unit that collects a material adhering on the image bearing member downstream of the transfer portion and upstream of the charging portion, wherein the developing unit collects residual toner on the image bearing member, an voltage application unit sets a potential difference between the voltage applied to the collecting unit and the surface electric potential of the image bearing member not more than a discharge threshold.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a 3D structure comprising a tissue layer having a first surface defining an interior chamber and an opposing second surface supporting a first plurality of cells outwardly positioned from the interior chamber, wherein the interior chamber comprises an extracellular matrix mixture. The present disclosure also provides a method of making a 3D structure, the method comprising mixing an extracellular matrix mixture at a first temperature with a culture medium at a second temperature, the second temperature greater than the first temperature, culturing a first plurality of cells in the extracellular matrix mixture and culture medium, and forming a 3D structure having an interior chamber enclosed by the first plurality of cells configured to interface with an environment external to the 3D structure.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides A method and system for forming a microscale cell-laden matrix using an aqueous two-phase system (“ATPS”) comprising a mixture of a first material and a second material having a phase boundary between the first and second materials. The method can comprise mixing an enzyme with the first material, mixing a protein with the second material, and mixing a suspension comprising cells with one of the first material or the second material, wherein the enzyme, protein, and suspension comprising cells generate the cell-laden matrix and wherein the first material comprises a first polymer comprising polyethylene glycol and the second material can be a second polymer selected from the group consisting of dextran, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyvinyl alcohol, or ficoll.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to cryopreservation and particularly, but not exclusively, to devices, systems, and methods for cryopreservation of biological materials such as oocytes, zygotes, and embryos. In particular, provided herein are methods of using microfluidic devices to exposing biological material to a vitrification solution having a time dependent concentration of a cryoprotectant agent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of isolating extracellular vesicles using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), including (a) preparing an ATPS by mixing a first material and a second material, which are immiscible with each other, with a body fluid or an aqueous solution containing extracellular vesicles and (b) isolating extracellular vesicles concentrated in the second material of the ATPS. This method can exhibit very high isolation efficiency, a simple isolation manner, and a very short isolation time. The isolation of extracellular vesicles using the ATPS requires no ultracentrifuge and achieves almost 100% isolation efficiency within a short time of about 10˜20 min, and thus the method of the invention is practical, is economical due to low costs thereof, can increase the purity of extracellular vesicles contaminated with protein, enables the diagnosis of disease using the isolated extracellular vesicles, and can be applied to various fields using extracellular vesicles.

Abstract: Provided herein are macromolecular structures comprising charged macromolecules. In particular, provided herein are synthetic neutrophil extracellular traps and uses thereof.

Abstract: Motile particles are sorted from non-motile particles in a microfluidic sorting device wherein a stream of sort fluid containing motile and non-motile particles is caused to flow adjacent a media stream in non-turbulent fashion through a sort channel, during which flow motile particles cross the interface between the adjacent flow streams, entering the media stream, and forming a motile particle-depleted sort stream. The sorting devices are easily and inexpensively fabricated and have numerous uses, in particular sorting of motile from non-motile sperm.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to cryopreservation and particularly, but not exclusively, to devices, systems, and methods for cryopreservation of biological materials such as oocytes, zygotes, and embryos.

Abstract: Microfluidic cryopreservation technology is provided and particularly, but not exclusively, devices, systems, and methods for cryopreservation of biological materials such as oocytes, zygotes, and embryos. The present microfluidic devices and related systems and methods are configured to maintain biological material in a housing chamber when subjected to a constant volumetric flow of fluid of changing fluid density.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of isolating extracellular vesicles using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS), including (a) preparing an ATPS by mixing a first material and a second material, which are immiscible with each other, with a body fluid or an aqueous solution containing extracellular vesicles and (b) isolating extracellular vesicles concentrated in the second material of the ATPS. This method can exhibit very high isolation efficiency, a simple isolation manner, and a very short isolation time. The isolation of extracellular vesicles using the ATPS requires no ultracentrifuge and achieves almost 100% isolation efficiency within a short time of about 10˜20 min, and thus the method of the invention is practical, is economical due to low costs thereof, can increase the purity of extracellular vesicles contaminated with protein, enables the diagnosis of disease using the isolated extracellular vesicles, and can be applied to various fields using extracellular vesicles.

Abstract: Motile particles are sorted from non-motile particles in a microfluidic sorting device wherein a stream of sort fluid containing motile and non-motile particles is caused to flow adjacent a media stream in non-turbulent fashion through a sort channel, during which flow motile particles cross the interface between the adjacent flow streams, entering the media stream, and forming a motile particle-depleted sort stream. The sorting devices are easily and inexpensively fabricated and have numerous uses, in particular sorting of motile from non-motile sperm.

Abstract: Motile particles are sorted from non-motile particles in a microfluidic sorting device wherein a stream of sort fluid containing motile and non-motile particles is caused to flow adjacent a media stream in non-turbulent fashion through a sort channel, during which flow motile particles cross the interface between the adjacent flow streams, entering the media stream, and forming a motile particle-depleted sort stream. The sorting devices are easily and inexpensively fabricated and have numerous uses, in particular sorting of motile from non-motile sperm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solution microarrays. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous 2-phase system for solution microarrays and uses thereof. Additional embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to cryopreservation and particularly, but not exclusively, to devices, systems, and methods for cryopreservation of biological materials such as oocytes, zygotes, and embryos.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solution microarrays. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous two-phase system for solution microarrays and uses thereof. Additional embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solution microarrays. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous 2-phase system for solution microarrays and uses thereof. Additional embodiments are described herein.

Abstract: The present invention relates to solution microarrays. In particular, the present invention relates to an aqueous 2-phase system for solution microarrays and uses thereof. The present invention further relates to systems and methods for performing assays within the solution microarrays (e.g., diagnostic assays).

Abstract: The invention relates to tunable elastomeric nanochannels for nanofluidic manipulation. In particular, the present invention relates to nanochannels for performing biological assays.