Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing carrier particles for the cultivation of biological cells, comprising the steps of providing an aqueous suspension of hydrogel beads and freeze-drying of the hydrogel beads so that dry hydrogel particles are formed, wherein at least one lyoprotectant substance is added to the suspension, the hydrogel beads are loaded in the suspension with the lyoprotectant substance and the dry hydrogel particles receive a shape under the effect of the lyoprotectant substance, which shape approximates a spherical particle shape and is still maintained after rehydrating. The invention also relates to carrier particles for a cultivation of biological cells, which comprise dry hydrogel particles, preferably having a protein coating, and to applications of the carrier particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a treatment device (100) which is designed for extracorporeal blood treatment of blood of a subject (2) for an immunotolerance enhancement of the subject (2), comprising at least one container (10) which has an interior (11) for receiving a blood sample (1) of blood of the subject (2) and an exchange device (20) designed to supply and/or discharge the blood sample (1) into or out of the interior (11) of the container (10) and comprising a cell exposure device (30) which is positioned in the container (10) and has biological cell material (31) with surface molecules, said cell material being arranged in the interior (11) of the container (10) for a material interaction with the blood sample (1), including a reaction of endogenous immune cells in the blood with the surface molecules of the cell material. The invention also relates to a kit for extracorporeal blood treatment and to a method for operating the treatment device.

Abstract: A sample holder device 100, 101 which is designed to hold biological samples 1 includes a base body 10 having at least one wall 11 which is arranged to delimit a sample receptacle 12, wherein the at least one wall 11 includes, at least on a surface facing the sample receptacle 12, a planar, carbon-based material which is impermeable to a liquid in sample receptacle 12, wherein the carbon-based material has such a high carbon content that the carbon-based material is opaque and electrically conductive. The sample holder device includes, e.g., a dish, in particular petri dish 101, a planar substrate, a multiwell plate, a sample beaker, in particular in the form of a beaker glass, a sample tube, in particular in the form of a test tube or a tube for cryopreservation (cryovial), and/or a hollow fiber. Methods for using the sample holder device are also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bioreactor (100) which is designed for cultivating biological cells (1), comprising a container (10) configured to receive a cultivation medium (2), and a plurality of substrate filaments (20) which are arranged in the container (10) and are configured for a temporary adherent coupling of the biological cells (1) to the substrate filaments (20). The substrate filaments (20) are provided with a surface layer (21) which is switchable between an adherence state, in which the biological cells (1) can be QI coupled adherently to the surface layer (21), and a release state, in which the adherent coupling of the biological cells (1) to the surface layer (21) is reduced in comparison to the binding state. The invention also relates to a method for processing biological cells (1) in the bioreactor (100).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional, preferably porous, hydrogel structures by means of layer build-up technique, wherein the method comprises the following steps. Providing (S1) of a liquid hydrogel solution, preferably a liquid alginate solution, and a, preferably transportable, sample carrier. Layerwise applying (S2) the liquid hydrogel solution onto the sample carrier in a temperature environment, the temperature of which is below the freezing point of the hydrogel solution, to produce a frozen 3D layered hydrogel structure. In order to increase advantageously the porosity of the 3D layered hydrogel structure, i.e. the proportion of small voids, cavities and/or depressions in the 3D layered hydrogel structure, the method according to the invention further comprises the step of drying (S3) of the frozen 3D layered hydrogel structure, e.g. by means of freeze-drying, to produce a porous 3D hydrogel structure.

Abstract: A culture vessel (100), which is designed for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2), comprises a vessel wall (10), which has a cover portion (11) and a floor portion (12), wherein the cover portion (11) is designed to provide a culturing surface (13), and the floor portion (12) is designed to receive a liquid (3), the vessel wall (10) encloses an interior (20) of the culture vessel on all sides, the culturing surface (13) has holding elements (14), which are designed to position the drops (2), wherein the culturing surface (13) can receive the drops (2) hanging freely in the interior (20), and the vessel wall (10) is movable such that the holding elements (14) can be wetted with the liquid (3) from the floor portion (12). A method for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2) in the culture vessel (100) is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to an encapsulating device (100), which is designed to encapsulate a sample (1, 2) in a polymer capsule, comprising a drop generator (10), which is designed to provide a drop (3) of a suspension, which drop contains the sample (1), and a cross-linking device (20), which is designed to polymerize the drop (3), wherein the drop generator (10) has a retaining device (11), which is designed to accommodate the drop (3) in a hanging state, and the cross-linking device (20) is designed to feed a polymerization substance to the hanging drop (3) on the retaining device (11) and to form the polymer capsule. The invention further relates to a method for encapsulating a sample (1, 2) in a polymer capsule.

Abstract: A substrate unit for cryopreservation of a biological sample includes: a substrate platform having on a front side thereof a cultivation surface for receiving the biological sample; a first chamber including the cultivation surface of the substrate platform, wherein the first chamber is configured for receiving a cultivation liquid; a second chamber configured for receiving a temperature control medium; and a chamber bracket for receiving the substrate unit in a cryopreservation device in a pivotable manner, wherein the first and second chambers are connected to each other in an adjacent manner, and the substrate platform forms a separating wall between the first chamber and the second chamber, and wherein the back side of the substrate platform faces the second chamber. The invention further relates to a cryopreservation device, wherein the substrate unit is arranged in a rotatable manner, and a method for the cryopreservation of a biological sample.

Abstract: The invention relates to an encapsulating device (100), which is designed to encapsulate a sample (1, 2) in a polymer capsule, comprising a drop generator (10), which is designed to provide a drop (3) of a suspension, which drop contains the sample (1), and a cross-linking device (20), which is designed to polymerize the drop (3), wherein the drop generator (10) has a retaining device (11), which is designed to accommodate the drop (3) in a hanging state, and the cross-linking device (20) is designed to feed a polymerization substance to the hanging drop (3) on the retaining device (11) and to form the polymer capsule. The invention further relates to a method for encapsulating a sample (1, 2) in a polymer capsule.

Abstract: A culture vessel (100), which is designed for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2), comprises a vessel wall (10), which has a cover portion (11) and a floor portion (12), wherein the cover portion (11) is designed to provide a culturing surface (13), and the floor portion (12) is designed to receive a liquid (3), the vessel wall (10) encloses an interior (20) of the culture vessel on all sides, the culturing surface (13) has holding elements (14), which are designed to position the drops (2), wherein the culturing surface (13) can receive the drops (2) hanging freely in the interior (20), and the vessel wall (10) is movable such that the holding elements (14) can be wetted with the liquid (3) from the floor portion (12). A method for culturing biological cells (1) in hanging drops (2) in the culture vessel (100) is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a substrate unit (100), in particular for the cryopreservation of a biological sample (1) containing biological cells (2, 2.1, 2.