Abstract: A cell culture system for culturing cells is provided. The cell culture system including a cell culture vessel with a cell culture chamber for culturing cells, an inlet through which liquid can flow for filling the cell culture vessel, and an outlet through which fluid can exit the cell culture vessel. The system also includes at least one fill sensor arranged to detect liquid within the cell culture vessel reaching a fill level at a predetermined position of the cell culture vessel during filling of the cell culture vessel, where the at least one fill sensor can generate a detection signal when liquid within the cell culture vessel reaches the fill level. Also included is an actuator to change an orientation of the cell culture vessel in response to the detection signal.

Abstract: Vial assemblies comprise a tubular body and a cap, the cap including a first portion configured to abut a lip of an open end of the tubular body, a threaded portion configured to couple to threading on an internal surface of the tubular body, and a second portion protruding from the threaded portion and extending into a cavity of the tubular body. Methods for storing and removing frozen samples from such vial assemblies are also described.

Abstract: A cell culture apparatus includes one or more plates having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface. The first major surface comprises a structured surface defining a plurality of wells. Each well has an interior surface defining an upper aperture and a nadir, wherein the upper aperture of each well has a diametric dimension in a range from 100 micrometers to 2000 micrometers. The apparatus also includes a plurality of spacers extending from the first major surface along a length of the bottom surface. A plurality of flow channels are defined between adjacent rails.

Abstract: A fluidic device for culturing cells includes a microplate and plate lid. The microplate includes multiple wells and channels, the channels extending between the wells such that the channels interconnect the wells. The plate lid releasably engages the microplate to thereby enclose the wells and the channels. The wells include a culture surface such that a cell culture medium received therein is deposited over the culture surface. At least one channel that extends between adjacent ones of the wells is spaced from the culture surfaces of the adjacent wells defining a gap between the at least one channel and the culture surfaces of the adjacent wells for collection of the cell culture medium.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for non-invasive measurement of cell cultures are described that provide for remote monitoring of cell status. The system includes a cell culture vessel, at least one monitoring layer, at least one measurement device, and a communication component. The cell culture vessel may include at least one cell culture chamber configured for cell growth and for closed-system operation. The monitoring layer is external to the at least one cell culture chamber. In some cases, the communication component is configured to transmit data from the monitoring layer to a remote location.

Abstract: A cell culture apparatus includes one or more plates having a first major surface and an opposing second major surface. The first major surface comprises a structured surface defining a plurality of wells. Each well has an interior surface defining an upper aperture and a nadir, wherein the upper aperture of each well has a diametric dimension in a range from 100 micrometers to 2000 micrometers. The apparatus also includes a plurality of spacers extending from the first major surface along a length of the bottom surface. A plurality of flow channels are defined between adjacent rails.

Abstract: A modular cell culture system includes a standalone cell culture subunit with an interior cavity to house a cell culture substrate in a cell culture space, a radial flow manifold below the cell culture space, a fluid inlet to supply fluid to a center of the manifold, and a fluid outlet to remove fluid from the cavity. The cavity is arranged for fluid to flow in from the fluid inlet, then through manifold, then through the cell culture space, and then out through the fluid outlet. The subunit further includes an alignment feature on at least one of a top and a bottom of the standalone cell culture subunit. The manifold can supply fluid at a uniform rate across a width of the cell culture space, and the alignment feature aligns with an alignment feature of another standalone cell culture subunit, such that multiple standalone cell culture subunits are stackable.

Abstract: A sensing cell culture vessel having one or more sensors on or in the vessel is configured to collect readings of various parameters or characteristics of a cell culture located within the sensing cell culture vessel and transmit the readings. The sensing cell culture vessels may be accompanied by a sensing plate having means for reading the one or more sensors and transmitting the one or more sensors to a server hosting electronic lab notebook for analyzing and storage of the readings. Sensing plates may further be equipped with cameras for imaging cell cultures located in the sensing cell culture vessels and transmitting the images to the server hosting the electronic lab notebook for analyzing and storage of the images. Embodiments of the invention allow for the continuous and automatic monitoring of cell cultures.

Abstract: A connected ecosystem for a laboratory environment comprises an electronic lab notebook, and instrumented biosafety cabinet, and one or more sensing vessels containing cell cultures. The electronic lab notebook interfaces with the instrumented biosafety cabinet to provide instructions, guidance, and monitoring of a user during the set up of the experimental protocol and to receive commands from the user via one of several input modalities. After the experimental protocol has been set up in the instrumented biosafety cabinet, cell cultures may be moved to an incubator where the connected ecosystem may provide automatic monitoring of the cultures. The automatic monitoring is provided by sensors integrated into cell culture vessels and supplemented by images of the cell cultures captured by a camera. The user may be informed of deviations from expected results detected based on the automatic monitoring.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a cell culture media extending material capable of releasing nutrients into the cell culture environment slowly overtime. In embodiments, this material is a part of a cell culture vessel. In embodiments, the material is a coating or a film on a surface of a cell culture material. In additional embodiments, the material is a surface upon which cells are cultured, such as a cell culture vessel or a microcarrier.

Abstract: Vial assemblies comprising a tubular body and a flexible bottom or flexible liner are described herein, wherein the flexible bottom or liner is configured to compress at least partially upon the application of force. Methods for storing and removing frozen samples from such vial assemblies are also described herein.

Abstract: A cell culture vessel, cell culture monitoring system, and Raman spectroscopy system for non-invasive measuring of a cell culture are provided. The vessel includes a cell culture chamber that operates as a closed system, a wall defining a boundary of the cell culture chamber and separating the interior space of the cell culture chamber from an exterior of the cell culture chamber, and a window disposed in the wall and separating the interior space of the cell culture chamber from an exterior of the cell culture chamber. The cell culture chamber includes an interior space for housing at least one of the cell culture and a cell culture media. The window includes a polymer and allows monitoring of the cell culture via a monitoring module disposed on the exterior without the monitoring module coming into physical contact with the cell culture or the cell culture media.

Abstract: A spheroid cell culture article including: a frame having a chamber including: an opaque side wall surface; a top aperture; a gas-permeable, transparent bottom; and optionally a chamber annex surface and second bottom, and at least a portion of the transparent bottom includes at least one concave arcuate surface, is disclosed. Methods of making and using the article are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to agarose and methylcellulose storage and transport mediums, systems for cell storage and transport, and cell storage and transport methods. The instantly-disclosed agarose and methylcellulose storage and transport medium is ideally suited for 3D spheroid cell culture storage and transport. In particular aspects, the storage and transport mediums, systems, and methods are used in combination with or performed in labware that combine 3D spheroid culture with a gas permeable, micro-patterned design that allows for protection and prolonged maintenance of spheroid cell (e.g. hepatocytes) viability and functionality during storage and transport.

Abstract: A cell culture insert for use in culturing cells to promote the formation of spheroids and methods of using these spheroid-promoting cell culture inserts. The cell culture insert includes a porous membrane and one or more sidewalls that are non-adherent to cells and cause the cells in the insert to associate with each other and form spheroids.

Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications.

Abstract: A cell monitoring plate comprises a flat surface on which multiple cell culturing vessels may be stacked. The flats surface has multiple optical imaging systems embedded therein to fully image a cell culture vessels stacked on the plate. Each one of the multiple optical imaging systems provides both illumination and imaging through a single aperture in the surface of the monitoring plate.

Abstract: A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications.

Abstract: An ex vivo cell culture sustained release composition, including: a mixture comprising: a sustenant; and a non-biodegradable binder; and a non-biodegradable and water insoluble encapsulant coat that encapsulates the mixture, as defined herein. Also disclosed is a method for sustainably providing a sustenant to a cell culture in aqueous media, including contacting a cell culture with the sustained release composition.

Abstract: Various implementations of a system and method for analyzing extracellular vesicles (EVs) are disclosed having a number of innovative features. In one implementation, a method for analyzing EVs includes binding EVs to an optical waveguide biosensor and phenotyping the bound EVs. Phenotyping can include binding a labeled ligand to the EVs and/or rupturing the EVs and analyzing their cargo. In another implementation, a system for analyzing EVs includes EVs bound to an optical waveguide biosensor and a labeled ligand bound to the EVs. In another implementation, a kit for analyzing EVs includes a micro plate having wells containing optical waveguide biosensors functionalized with a binding agent configured to bind to EVs and at least one of: (a) labeled ligands configured to bind to the extracellular vesicles or (b) a reagent configured to rupture the extracellular vesicles.