Abstract: The disclosure provides methods and systems for tissue engineering including an apparatus and methods for the growth, maintenance, and use of robust tissue sheets using tissue manipulation devices. The tissue manipulation devices provide a method of anchoring the tissue sheets to the cell culture substrate to promote prolonged maturation and subsequent increased mechanical strength. The tissue manipulation devices also provide a technique to facilitate removal of the sheet from the culture container and subsequent production steps to assemble more complex three dimensional organs from the robust sheet. The tissue manipulation devices also facilitate automated handling of the sheets in the assembly processes. The disclosure provides methods and composition derived from robust human sheets to build tissue engineered blood vessels, heart valves, stents, and endarterectomy patches and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to bioreactors having an enclosed chamber, a sheet growth module, a rollable mandrel, and a clamp for holding the sheet to the mandrel for rolling for the manufacture of a tissue engineered blood vessel (TEBV). The TEBV is made from a cultured fibroblast sheet rolled into a multilayer vessel which has sufficient burst strength to withstand physiological blood pressure without the inclusion of smooth muscle cells or synthetic scaffolding.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods, compositions and apparatuses, such as squirt guns and of the water emitting devices, that eject a flow of aqueous fluid having visible bioluminescence, providing "glow-in-the dark" emissions. The devices contain a population of a mechanical stress-stimulatable bioluminescent organisms, such as Pyrocystis species such as lunula and fusiformis, in suspension in a fluid. The fluid luminesces when ejected from an aperture of the device. The devices may also include a fluid flow generator, such as a mechanical pump, capable of inducing the flow of the fluid through the flow path and a trigger or valve capable of activating said fluid flow generator. In addition, the invention provides containers for viably storing populations of the bioluminescent organisms, methods and media for culturing and diluting the organisms, and kits of an emitter, a storage apparatus, suitable bioluminescent organisms, and culture media.