Abstract: A microfluidic in vitro cornea device is provided, which can include a tear flow chamber, stromal chamber, endothelial chamber, and aqueous humor chamber. The stromal chamber is adjacent to and porously coupled with the tear flow chamber. The endothelial chamber is adjacent to and porously coupled with the stromal chamber. The aqueous humor chamber adjacent to and porously coupled with the endothelial chamber. A first porous wall is positioned between the tear flow chamber and the stromal chamber. A second porous wall is positioned between the stromal chamber and the endothelial chamber. The third porous wall is positioned between the endothelial chamber and the aqueous humor chamber. The device is configured as a microfluidic in vitro model of a cornea.

Abstract: The method involves computationally modeling a cornea by simulating physical cornea models with computational in silico models. The simulated data is compared with actual data from the physical models, and the simulation is iterated until a match is achieved. The method may also include calibrating diffusion parameters for testing substances, and configuring the models for analyzing instances of fluid-induced shear and substance transport. The simulated data may be used to obtain corneal pharmacokinetic models, and the method may be used to obtain predictions for time-dependent concentrations of molecules in the eye or systemic circulation. The computational models may consider instances of convective-diffusive transport and carrier-mediated transport in calculations and determinations of transport characteristics and values of different testing substances.

Abstract: The method involves computationally modeling a placenta by simulating physical placenta models with computational in silico models. The simulated data is compared with actual data from the physical models, and the simulation is iterated until a match is achieved. The method may also include calibrating diffusion parameters for testing substances, and configuring the models for analyzing instances of fluid-induced shear and substance transport. The simulated data may be used to obtain maternal-fetal pharmacokinetic in silico placenta models, and the method may be used to obtain predictions for time-dependent concentrations of molecules in fetal circulation. The computational models may consider instances of fluid-diffusive transport and carrier-mediated transport in calculations and determinations of transport characteristics and values of different testing substances.

Abstract: The method involves computationally modeling a placenta by simulating physical placenta models with computational in silico models. The simulated data is compared with actual data from the physical models, and the simulation is iterated until a match is achieved. The method may also include calibrating diffusion parameters for testing substances, and configuring the models for analyzing instances of fluid-induced shear and substance transport. The simulated data may be used to obtain maternal-fetal pharmacokinetic in silico placenta models, and the method may be used to obtain predictions for time-dependent concentrations of molecules in fetal circulation. The computational models may consider instances of fluid-diffusive transport and carrier-mediated transport in calculations and determinations of transport characteristics and values of different testing substances.

Abstract: A bioreactor can include: a tissue culture chamber; at least one inlet port into the tissue culture chamber; an inlet port member located in each inlet including an inlet tube extending into the tissue culture chamber; at least one outlet port into the tissue culture chamber; an outlet port member located in each outlet including an outlet tube extending into the tissue culture chamber; an optical cover; and a hydrogel can be located in the tissue culture chamber having at least one lumen fluidly coupling the inlet tube to the outlet tube, wherein an inlet interface region of the hydrogel is constrained around the inlet tube and an outlet interface region of the hydrogel is constrained around the outlet tube.

Abstract: A method of creating a reperfusion injury can include: providing a cell culture device having an internal chamber with at least one port coupled to a perfusion modulating system capable of modulating perfusion in the internal chamber, wherein the internal chamber includes a cell culture; perfusing a fluid through the internal chamber with the perfusion modulating system, wherein the perfusion modulating system includes at least one pump; reducing fluid flow through the internal chamber; reperfusing fluid flow through the internal chamber; and creating a reperfusion injury in the cell culture by the reperfusion of the fluid flow through the internal chamber. The cell culture includes at least one type of tissue cell. The cell culture can include a tissue construct formed of hydrogel and/or extracellular matrix.

Abstract: A portable platelet apheresis system can include: a whole blood inlet configured to receive whole blood; an anticoagulant source containing an anticoagulant; a mixer fluidly coupled with the whole blood inlet and anticoagulant source and configured to mix the whole blood and the anticoagulant; a whole blood sorter microfluidic network; a platelet poor outlet positioned to receive a platelet poor fraction; and a platelet concentrator outlet positioned to receive a concentrated platelet fraction. The whole blood sorter microfluidic network includes: a sorter constricted region having a first cross-sectional dimension; a sorter expansion region having a second cross-sectional dimension that is larger than the first cross-sectional dimension; at least one sorter side channel (platelet rich plasma channel) formed into a side of the sorter expansion region; and at least one sorter outlet (platelet poor plasma channel) that is downstream or medial from the at least one sorter side channel.

Abstract: A primer composition for amplifying a target nucleic acid of a plurality of target organisms can include: a first primer having in order: 3?-a first target specific sequence; a melt key region; and a first super primer region, wherein the first target specific sequence includes a nucleic acid sequence that specifically hybridizes with a first unique nucleic acid sequence of a first target organism over nucleic acid sequences of other organisms, the melt key region includes a nucleic acid sequence that has less than full identity with a melt key probe and a complement of the melt key region hybridizes with the melt key probe with at least one nucleotide mismatch with the melt key probe, and the first super primer region includes a nucleic acid sequence that is common to the plurality of target organisms.

Abstract: A fluidic device can include: a plurality of fluid conduits, each fluid conduit including a first conduit portion separated from a second conduit portion; and at least one transport body that is movably positioned between the first conduit portion and the second conduit portion of each fluid conduit. The at least one transport body can include: at least one port adapted to be aligned with a first conduit portion and a second conduit portion of at least one first conduit so as to fluidly couple the first conduit portion with the second conduit portion; and at least one blocking body portion adapted to be aligned with a first conduit portion and a second conduit portion of at least one second conduit so as to fluidly isolate the first conduit portion from the second conduit portion of the at least one second conduit.

Abstract: A method of creating a reperfusion injury can include: providing a cell culture device having an internal chamber with at least one port coupled to a perfusion modulating system capable of modulating perfusion in the internal chamber, wherein the internal chamber includes a cell culture; perfusing a fluid through the internal chamber with the perfusion modulating system, wherein the perfusion modulating system includes at least one pump; reducing fluid flow through the internal chamber; reperfusing fluid flow through the internal chamber; and creating a reperfusion injury in the cell culture by the reperfusion of the fluid flow through the internal chamber. The cell culture includes at least one type of tissue cell. The cell culture can include a tissue construct formed of hydrogel and/or extracellular matrix.

Abstract: A method of inducing ischemia includes: providing a cell culture device having a first cell culture in an internal chamber and a second cell culture in at least one fluid channel and a perfusion modulating system that causes changes in oxygen flow in the internal chamber and/or at least one fluid channel; flowing liquid media having oxygen through the internal chamber and at least one fluid channel of the cell culture device; modulating oxygen perfusion in the internal chamber with the perfusion modulating system by varying and selectively blocking the flow rate of at least one of the liquid media or oxygen through the internal chamber to induce varying levels of ischemia; and assaying for ischemia in the first cell culture.

Abstract: A method of assaying metastasis can include: providing a device of one of the embodiments; introducing the at least one cancer cell into the at least one internal chamber or at least one fluid channel; and studying metastasis of the at least one cancer cell. Optionally: introducing cancer cells into a first internal chamber; detecting escape of the cancer cell from the first internal chamber into the fluid channel; detecting migration of the cancer cell through the fluid channel; detecting adhesion of the cancer cell to a coating on the fluid channel; detecting invasion of the cancer cell into a second internal chamber from the fluid channel; or visualizing metastasis of the cancer cell with a visualization device.

Abstract: A method of testing an analyte can include using a cell culture device that includes: at least three distinct chambers between the top wall and bottom wall. The chambers can include: an internal chamber defined by at least one porous internal wall; one or more boundary layer chambers having at least an inner boundary layer chamber defined by the at least one porous internal wall and at least one porous inner boundary layer wall, the at least one porous internal wall having a plurality of pores fluidically coupling the central internal chamber to the one or more boundary layer chamber; and an outer chamber.

Abstract: A cell culture assay device can include: a substrate having a plurality of discrete microfluidic networks and a plurality of wells over the discrete microfluidic networks, each discrete microfluidic network having one or more wells fluidly coupled thereto, the wells extending upward from the discrete microfluidic networks; and a manifold body coupled with the substrate and having at least one fluid conduit pair for each microfluidic network and/or each well, each fluid conduit pair including a fluid inlet conduit and a fluid outlet conduit fluidly coupled to a corresponding microfluidic network and/or well. The substrate can be formed from a substrate base having the microfluidic networks coupled to a well plate having the wells associated with the microfluidic networks.

Abstract: A method of testing an analyte can include using a cell culture device that includes: at least three distinct chambers between the top wall and bottom wall. The chambers can include: an internal chamber defined by at least one porous internal wall; one or more boundary layer chambers having at least an inner boundary layer chamber defined by the at least one porous internal wall and at least one porous inner boundary layer wall, the at least one porous internal wall having a plurality of pores fluidically coupling the central internal chamber to the one or more boundary layer chamber; and an outer chamber. The method can include: introducing a test analyte into one of the outer chamber, boundary layer chamber, or internal chamber; incubating the test analyte with one of a first cell culture, second cell culture, or third cell culture; and determining whether or not the test analyte had an effect on the first cell culture, second cell culture, or third cell culture.

Abstract: A method of assaying metastasis can include: providing a device of one of the embodiments; introducing the at least one cancer cell into the at least one internal chamber or at least one fluid channel; and studying metastasis of the at least one cancer cell. Optionally: introducing cancer cells into a first internal chamber; detecting escape of the cancer cell from the first internal chamber into the fluid channel; detecting migration of the cancer cell through the fluid channel; detecting adhesion of the cancer cell to a coating on the fluid channel; detecting invasion of the cancer cell into a second internal chamber from the fluid channel; or visualizing metastasis of the cancer cell with a visualization device.

Abstract: A cell culture device can include: at least 3 distinct chambers between the top wall and bottom wall. The perimeter walls can include: an internal chamber defined by at least one porous internal wall; one or more boundary layer chambers having at least an inner boundary layer chamber defined by the at least one porous internal wall and at least one porous inner boundary layer wall, the at least one porous internal wall having a plurality of pores fluidically coupling the central internal chamber to the one or more boundary layer chamber; and an outer chamber.

Abstract: A method of assaying metastasis can include: providing a device of one of the embodiments; introducing the at least one cancer cell into the at least one internal chamber or at least one fluid channel; and studying metastasis of the at least one cancer cell. Optionally: introducing cancer cells into a first internal chamber; detecting escape of the cancer cell from the first internal chamber into the fluid channel; detecting migration of the cancer cell through the fluid channel; detecting adhesion of the cancer cell to a coating on the fluid channel; detecting invasion of the cancer cell into a second internal chamber from the fluid channel; or visualizing metastasis of the cancer cell with a visualization device.

Abstract: A method of assaying wound healing can include: growing cells on the matrix in the first flow channel; introducing an agent that removes the matrix from the junction; introducing a matrix material into the second flow channel so as to form the second matrix in the second flow channel and junction; and detecting cellular migration into the junction onto the second matrix. The agent that removes the matrix can include a biomolecule or chemical agent. The method can include removing cells in the matrix in the junction before introducing the matrix material into the second flow channel. A bioactive agent can be introduced into the junction to determine if it modulates cellular migration and/or clot formation into the intersection openings of tissue and vascular channels.

Abstract: An apparatus for assaying a tumor drug delivery vehicle and or drug can include an idealized microvascular network (IMN) of one or more interconnected idealized flow channels in fluid communication through a porous wall with a tissue space (e.g., idealized tissue space) containing animal cells and means for quantifying drug delivery through the IMN to the animal cells.