Abstract: According to various embodiments, a reagent fluid dispensing device may be provided. The reagent fluid dispensing device may include a chamber for receiving a reagent fluid, the chamber having a first opening and a second opening; a first fluid conduit connected to the first opening of the chamber; a reservoir connected to the first fluid conduit, the reservoir having a first opening, wherein the first opening of the reservoir is connected to the first fluid conduit to form a passive valve, wherein the reservoir is dimensionalized for storing a predetermined volume of the reagent fluid; and a pneumatic conduit connected to the second opening of the chamber, wherein selective application of pneumatic pressure to the chamber through the pneumatic conduit transfers the reagent fluid from the reservoir to the chamber through the first fluid conduit. According to various embodiments, a microfluidic device including the reagent fluid dispensing device, and a method of dispensing a reagent fluid may be provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for conducting and monitoring chemical reactions comprises a base and a thermal cycler mounted on the base. A plurality of heat-conducting receptacles are mounted on the thermal cycler and in heat-communication therewith. Each receptacle comprises an opaque body defining a bore having an open end, a first window, and a second window. A cartridge is removably mounted on the receptacles. The cartridge comprises a plurality of light-transmitting reaction vessels, and conduits connected to the reaction vessels for processing and transferring fluid. The reaction vessels are received in the bores of the receptacles through the open ends of the bores. A light emitter is mounted on the base for illuminating the reaction vessels through the first windows of the reaction vessels. A light detector is mounted on the base for selectively receiving and detecting light emitted from the reaction vessels through the second windows of the receptacles.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional scaffold construct comprising encapsulated cells, the method comprising: (a) providing a solution comprising cells, a photoinitiator, and a plurality of units capable of forming polymer chains; (b) providing a photolithography instrument comprising a two-photon laser; and (c) using the instrument to apply the laser to the solution to activate the photoinitiator thereby facilitating polymerisation of said units to form polymer chains, and, cross-linking of the polymer chains; wherein the laser is applied to the solution in three-dimensions in a pre-defined pattern to assemble said construct, and said cells are encapsulated within the assembled construct.

Abstract: According to various embodiments, a reagent fluid dispensing device may be provided. The reagent fluid dispensing device may include a chamber for receiving a reagent fluid, the chamber having a first opening and a second opening; a first fluid conduit connected to the first opening of the chamber; a reservoir connected to the first fluid conduit, the reservoir having a first opening, wherein the first opening of the reservoir is connected to the first fluid conduit to form a passive valve, wherein the reservoir is dimensionalized for storing a predetermined volume of the reagent fluid; and a pneumatic conduit connected to the second opening of the chamber, wherein selective application of pneumatic pressure to the chamber through the pneumatic conduit transfers the reagent fluid from the reservoir to the chamber through the first fluid conduit. According to various embodiments, a microfluidic device including the reagent fluid dispensing device, and a method of dispensing a reagent fluid may be provided.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for regulating the temperature of a chemical and/or biological sample and a method of using the same. The apparatus includes at least one temperature control module. The temperature control module includes a heater, a conductor of caloric, and a temperature sensor. The heater of the temperature control module is adapted to thermally communicate with a removable substrate, on which said chemical and/or biological sample is placed, via the conductor of caloric. The temperature sensor of the temperature control module is adapted to detect and control the temperature of the substrate via the conductor of caloric. The apparatus is designed such that the substrate is situated above said temperature control module to entirely cover said temperature control module.

Abstract: A system for focusing a light beam may be used for multi-photon stereolithography. It comprises a collimator or expander for adjusting the beam divergence and a scanner for directing the beam onto a focusing device to focus the beam to a focal point or beam waist and to scan the focused beam. A controller controls adjustment of the beam divergence so that the focal point or beam waist is scanned substantially in a plane. A light source may be provided to generate the light beam. The expander may comprise a diverging lens and a converging lens for expanding the beam to produce a collimated beam. The divergence of the collimated beam is dependent on the distance between the diverging lens and the converging lens, which may be adjusted to adjust the beam divergence. The focusing device may comprise a dry objective lens to focus the collimated beam onto the target material to induce multi-photon absorption in the target material at the beam waist of the focused beam.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of processing a biological and/or chemical sample. The method includes providing a fluid droplet, which includes an inner phase and an outer phase. The outer phase is immiscible with the inner phase, and the outer phase is surrounding the inner phase. The inner phase includes the biological and/or chemical sample. The fluid droplet furthermore comprises magnetically attractable matter. The method also includes providing at least one surface, which is of such a texture and such a wettability for the fluid of the inner phase of the fluid droplet, that the fluid droplet remains intact upon being contacted therewith. The method further includes disposing the fluid droplet onto the at least one surface. The method also includes performing a process on the biological and/or chemical sample in the fluid droplet.

Abstract: Two-photon stereolithography can be performed using a photocurable material comprising a poly(meth)acrylate having a (meth)acrylate functionality of at least 3 and a molecular weight (MW) of at least 650, a urethane(meth)acrylate having a (meth)acrylate functionality of 2 to 4 and a MW of 400 to 10,000, a di(meth)acrylate made from bisphenol A or bisphenol F; and a photoinitiator. A beam of light is focused to a focus region of the material to induce two-photon absorption in the focus region, and thus polymerization of the material in the focus region. The beam is scanned across said material according to a pre-selected pattern so that the beam is focused to different pre-selected regions, to induce polymerization of the material at the pre-selected regions.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for regulating the temperature of a chemical and/or biological sample and a method of using the same. The apparatus includes at least one temperature control module. The temperature control module includes a heater, a conductor of caloric, and a temperature sensor. The heater of the temperature control module is adapted to thermally communicate with a removable substrate, on which said chemical and/or biological sample is placed, via the conductor of caloric. The temperature sensor of the temperature control module is adapted to detect and control the temperature of the substrate via the conductor of caloric. The apparatus is designed such that the substrate is situated above said temperature control module to entirely cover said temperature control module.

Abstract: Apparatus for conducting and monitoring chemical reactions comprises a base and a thermal cycler mounted on the base. A plurality of heat-conducting receptacles are mounted on the thermal cycler and in heat-communication therewith. Each receptacle comprises an opaque body defining a bore having an open end, a first window, and a second window. A cartridge is removably mounted on the receptacles. The cartridge comprises a plurality of light-transmitting reaction vessels, and conduits connected to the reaction vessels for processing and transferring fluid. The reaction vessels are received in the bores of the receptacles through the open ends of the bores. A light emitter is mounted on the base for illuminating the reaction vessels through the first windows of the reaction vessels. A light detector is mounted on the base for selectively receiving and detecting light emitted from the reaction vessels through the second windows of the receptacles.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses involving biocompatible structures for tissue engineering and organ replacement and, more specifically, biocompatible structures formed by three-dimensional fabrication, are described. In some embodiments, the biocompatible structures are scaffolds for cells that can be used as tissue engineering templates and/or as artificial organs. The structures may be three-dimensional and can mimic the shapes and dimensions of tissues and/or organs, including the microarchitecture and porosities of the tissues and organs. Pores in the structure may allow delivery of molecules across the structure, and may facilitate cell migration and/or generation of connective tissue between the structure and its host environment. Structures of the invention can be implanted into a mammal and/or may be used ex vivo as bioartificial assist devices.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses involving biocompatible structures for tissue engineering and organ replacement and, more specifically, biocompatible structures formed by three-dimensional fabrication, are described. In some embodiments, the biocompatible structures are scaffolds for cells that can be used as tissue engineering templates and/or as artificial organs. The structures may be three-dimensional and can mimic the shapes and dimensions of tissues and/or organs, including the microarchitecture and porosities of the tissues and organs. Pores in the structure may allow delivery of molecules across the structure, and may facilitate cell migration and/or generation of connective tissue between the structure and its host environment. Structures of the invention can be implanted into a mammal and/or may be used ex vivo as bioartificial assist devices.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of processing a biological and/or chemical sample. The method includes providing a fluid droplet, which includes an inner phase and an outer phase. The outer phase is immiscible with the inner phase, and the outer phase is surrounding the inner phase. The inner phase includes the biological and/or chemical sample. The fluid droplet furthermore comprises magnetically attractable matter. The method also includes providing at least one surface, which is of such a texture and such a wettability for the fluid of the inner phase of the fluid droplet, that the fluid droplet remains intact upon being contacted therewith. The method further includes disposing the fluid droplet onto the at least one surface. The method also includes performing a process on the biological and/or chemical sample in the fluid droplet.

Abstract: There is provided a method and/or system which allow on-chip preconditioning of complex real-world samples and/or handling of limited amounts of target material, and/or on-chip nucleic acid amplification process, using a free droplet containing magnetic attractable material. The nucleic acid amplification process comprises controlling the position of the magnetic attractable material and performing the nucleic acid amplification in a thermocycling droplet located onto at least one temperature zone. The low thermal masses of the herein described heaters/temperature sensors come along with fast temperature transitions within the corresponding temperature zones allowing impressing temperature gradients in at least one temperature zone between subsequent or within the same thermocycle(s). Additionally, the variable residence times of the droplet in a given temperature zone permit to customize the denaturation, annealing and/or extension times within the same or between different PCR runs.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses involving biocompatible structures for tissue engineering and organ replacement and, more specifically, to methods and apparatuses involving biocompatible structures formed by three-dimensional fabrication for tissue engineering and organ replacement. In some embodiments, the biocompatible structures are scaffolds for cells that can be used as tissue engineering templates and/or as artificial organs. The structures may be three-dimensional and can mimic the shapes and dimensions of tissues and/or organs, including the microarchitecture and porosities of the tissues and organs. In some cases, a structure formed by three-dimensional fabrication comprises a wall defining a cavity and a plurality of pores in at least a portion of the wall. The pores may permeate the wall and enable exchange of a component (e.g., a molecule and/or a cell) between a portion interior to the cavity and a portion exterior to the cavity.

Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for regulating the temperature of a chemical and/or biological sample and a method of using the same. The apparatus includes at least one temperature control module. The temperature control module includes a heater, a conductor of caloric, and a temperature sensor. The heater of the temperature control module is adapted to thermally communicate with a removable substrate, on which said chemical and/or biological sample is placed, via the conductor of caloric. The temperature sensor of the temperature control module is adapted to detect and control the temperature of the substrate via the conductor of caloric. The apparatus is designed such that the substrate is situated above said temperature control module to entirely cover said temperature control module.