Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a Type I-Type IV collagen hybrid gel, which maintains characteristics of a Type IV collagen and is superior in gel strength. It is the Type I-Type IV collagen hybrid gel obtained by mixing 100 to 500 parts by mass of the Type I collagen having fibrosis ability, relative to 100 parts by mass of the Type IV collagen having gelling ability. A three-dimensional structure is formed, where a membrane-like substance by the Type IV collagen is formed onto a fibrous substance by the Type I collagen, so as to be able to provide cell culture environment approximate to a basement membrane of a living body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell culture support for culturing mesenchymal stem cells, which includes en upper surface including a plurality of wells, in which the upper surface has a root mean square roughness Rq of 100 to 280 nm and a linear density of 1.6 to 10 per 1 ?m length.

Abstract: A cell culture plate that includes an upper portion having at least one discrete chamber with a top edge and a bottom edge; a substantially flat lower portion, wherein at least one layer of polymer fibers has been deposited on the upper surface of the lower portion, and wherein the at least one layer of polymer fibers is conducive to the growth of biological cells thereon; and wherein the bottom edge of the at least one discrete chamber is hermetically sealed to the fiber-coated upper surface of the lower portion to form a well using adhesives, laser welding, or ultrasonic welding.

Abstract: The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or detection of particles, such as cells and/or beads. The invention provides systems, including apparatus, methods, and kits, for the microfluidic manipulation and/or analysis of particles, such as cells, viruses, organelles, beads, and/or vesicles. The invention also provides microfluidic mechanisms for carrying out these manipulations and analysis. These mechanisms may enable controlled input, movement/positioning, retention/localization, treatment, measurement, release, and/or output of particles. Furthermore, these mechanisms may be combined in any suitable order and/or employed for any suitable number of times within a system.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a culture plate, and in particular to a culture plate comprising a lid wherein the peripheral side wall of the lid is formed at least partially of at least one filter element made of a filter material. This enables lateral, uniform ventilation of the culture plate even in a stacked arrangement of the culture plate, avoiding at the same time significant loss of culture medium by evaporation.

Abstract: A culturing apparatus has a culture vessel having a first elastic seal bonded on its upper surface and a culture space formed thereon, and a joint for supplying solution such as a medium to the culture vessel and a second elastic seal having microprojection formed at the lower face. The first elastic seal has a valve for supplying or discharging solution. The second elastic seal is formed with microprojection at the position corresponding to a valve for preventing a spill. The culture vessel and the joint are sucked between the first elastic seal and the second elastic seal, thereby forming an integral seeding device.

Abstract: A microchip is provided that forms cellular tissues having uniform shapes and sizes and that can culture the formed cellular tissues for long periods of time. The cellular tissue microchip comprises a plurality of cell-retaining cavities (12) for retaining cells, wherein a bottom surface (20) of the cell-retaining cavities has one adhesive region (30) that exhibits cellular adhesiveness and a non-adhesive region (32) that surrounds the adhesive region (30) and that exhibits cellular non-adhesiveness.

Abstract: A method and a container for production of a biomembrane are disclosed in the present invention. The biomembrane produced in the method and in the container of the present invention can be processed into a mask, wherein processes for changing the shape of the biomembrane are unnecessary. The mask produced from the biomembrane can be efficient to maintain the skin, and to supply the moisture thereto.

Abstract: The invention provides an automated system for producing induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from adult somatic cells. Further, the system is used for producing differentiated adult cells from stem cells. The invention system is useful for isolating somatic cells from tissue samples, producing iPSC lines from adult differentiated cells by reprogramming such cells, identifying the pluripotent reprogrammed adult cells among other cells, and expanding and screening the identified reprogrammed cells.

Abstract: The methods generally relate to three-dimensional culturing of cells with the steps of seeding a cell support structure in a device with at least one vessel for cell culture having a bottom, at least one wall and a cell support structure for three-dimensional cell culture. The cell support structure is inside the at least one vessel and the device is configured such that assays can be performed. Devices for performing cell culture and assays are also provided. It will be understood that the devices can have many different suitable configurations. In general, the devices are selected such that they can be used with suitable radiation based assays.

Abstract: A bioreactor for sampling the headspace above cells includes a glass reactor vessel having an interior space and a plurality of valves operatively coupled to the interior space of the glass reactor vessel. The bioreactor includes a sample holder configured to reside in the interior space. The interior space includes a charge of air with a known composition of volatile organic gases and, in some instances, doped with carbon dioxide. The sample holder may hold cells, bacteria, or viruses. The headspace may be sampled after incubation to determine the VOC content or content of specific VOC constituents. Examples include acetaldehyde and hexanaldehyde.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bioreactor including at least one reactor vessel in form of a plastic bag, a tray (4) for holding said at least one bag, a rocking device for limited rocking motions of the tray (4) around a rocking axis (2). According to the invention the bioreactor comprises a device (6,7,8,9) for enabling swinging of the tray (4) around a second axis (7) parallel to and distanced from the rocking axis (2).

Abstract: The invention provides a photo bioreactor (1) comprising a vessel (10) containing an aqueous liquid comprising a photosynthetic culture and a light distributor (30). The light distributor has a surface (31) arranged to receive light (40) and a tapered surface (32) arranged to emit at least part of the received light. At least part of the tapered surface. (32) is submerged in the aqueous liquid comprising the photosynthetic culture. Light may be distributed efficiently in the aqueous liquid comprising the photosynthetic culture by relatively simple and cheap means. The reactor allows a high illuminated volume fraction.

Abstract: A bioreactor processing unit (10) includes at least one cell culture module (200) comprising: a base (202) including a receiving station (204) for removably receiving a plurality of bioreactor vessels (400) at respective locations (206); and a clamp plate (240). The clamp plate (240) is removably connectable to the base (202). The system further includes a drive mechanism (226) and multiple fluid conduits. When the system is to be used for an experiment run, vessels (400) are loaded into the receiving station (204) and the clamp plate (240) is connected to the base (202), forming a connection between the drive mechanism and the vessels, for transmitting input motion from the drive mechanism (226) into multiple rotary motion outputs for turning a stirrer (416) in each vessel (400).

Abstract: An incubator comprising: a culture chamber configured to accommodate culture; a dish structure configured to contain a liquid; an ultrasonic vibrator provided in a part of the dish structure, the ultrasonic vibrator configured to atomize the liquid; and a gas-liquid contact structure configured to bring the atomized liquid into contact with air in the chamber to be cultured.

Abstract: The present invention details the design and operation of a miniaturized device array in which a range of simultaneous mechanical forces are produced by a single external pressure source. The invention is primarily embodied in a microfabricated device arrays designed to rapidly probe biological cell response to various combinations of mechanical, chemical and extra-cellular matrix parameters in a high-throughput fashion.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides compositions, systems, and tools for modeling liver inflammation and methods of using the same. The disclosure provides micropatterned hepatocyte co-cultures where individual cell populations remain functionally stable during long-term culture. The in vitro liver inflammation models of the present disclosure may be useful for evaluating inflammation-mediated toxicities of compounds in a pre-clinical setting.

Abstract: A gel molding apparatus is adapted to be used in combination with a vessel that has a plurality of solution chambers, and includes a lid plate and a plurality of columns that project from a top surface of the lid plate. Each of the columns has a bottom side connected to the top surface of the lid plate, a top side opposite to the bottom side, and a well recessed from the top side for receiving a gel suspension and having a depth from the top side. A method for gel molding is conducted via the gel molding apparatus. A culture apparatus includes the vessel and the gel molding apparatus. A method for culture is performed through the culture apparatus.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods of isolating and expanding a plurality of multipotent stem cells. Also described are methods of expanding stem cells on a substrate comprising an HC-HA complex. Also described are isolated and expanded stem cells produced by the methods and uses thereof, including stem cell therapy, as niche cells for supporting other types of stem cells, or as bioreactors for the production of HC-HA complexes. Also described are uses of HC-HA complexes as a carrier for stem cells.

Abstract: The invention provides an automated apparatus of cell culture having tanks of culture medium, of growth factors and of cells to be cultured, an incubator having a thermostated enclosure which houses a cell culture vessel, and control computer system. A supporting and agitation device of the culture vessel is provided in the enclosure, and the culture vessel is formed by a bag having at least one inlet port connected to the tanks and one outlet port connected devices for harvesting and storage of the cells after culture, these harvesting and storage devices and tanks being located outside the enclosure and being connected to the cell expansion bag ports by conduits which together with the cell expansion bag form a preassembled module passing through a wall of the enclosure.

Abstract: Provided is a technology such that, in nucleic acid analysis, a high degree of freedom in loading or unloading a reaction plate can be obtained and a sample can be efficiently analyzed. A reaction plate assembly includes a reaction plate with one or more reaction wells, a visible light transmissive cover mounted on the reaction plate and covering the reaction wells, and a visible light transmissive weight member covering the cover. The reaction wells are disposed in an arc shape along the circumference of a circle with a predetermined radius r1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a large-scale propagation and maintenance method of embryoid bodies generated from stem cells. More particularly, the present invention relates to a large-scale propagation and maintenance method of embryoid bodies retaining their intrinsic characteristics for a long period of time, comprising the step of continuously subculturing embryoid bodies that are primarily produced from embryonic stem cells or from induced pluripotent stem cells. According to the method of the present invention, after preparation of embryoid bodies from a limited number of stem cells, large-scale production and maintenance of embryoid bodies can be realized by a simple mechanical subculturing method without the continuous supply of stem cells.

Abstract: A method for providing portable biological testing capabilities free from biological contamination from an environment outside the device is provided. The method includes providing components configured to be assembled together to seal a volume against passage of biological materials between the volume and an environment outside the volume. The method further includes sterilizing the components and providing a sterilized culture medium. The method further includes assembling the components together with the sterilized culture medium within the volume. The method further includes sterilizing the assembled components by elevating the temperature. The method further includes flowing gas from within the volume to the environment while at an elevated temperature.

Abstract: A laboratory dish comprises an incubation container, containing cultured cells, for observation through a microscope, in which a partitioning member partitions an interior of the incubation container into a plurality of incubation chambers by substantially perpendicular walls. The partitioning member tightly fits to a bottom portion of the incubation container, thereby capable of retaining in separation a liquid inputted in each of the incubation chambers from liquids in the other incubation chambers. A cover member covers an upper portion of each of the incubation chambers partitioned by the partitioning member and tightly fitted to the partitioning member. A whole or part of the cover member is formed of a transparent member, and the upper portion of each incubation chamber is formed with an opening via which to input the liquid.

Abstract: A bioreactor system includes a housing and a hydrostatic loading module. The housing includes a chamber with an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet and outlet ports allowing the chamber to be continuously perfused with a culture medium while chamber is hydrostatically loaded.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for culturing live cells comprising a cell culture vessel (5), a fresh culture medium storage vessel (3), a used culture medium collection vessel (4), a supply conduit (9, 10) adapted to provide fluid communication between the fresh culture medium storage vessel and a first end of the cell culture vessel, an inlet of the supply conduit being located towards a base of the fresh culture medium storage vessel, a drainage conduit (12) adapted to provide fluid communication between a second end of the cell culture vessel and the used culture medium collection vessel, an inlet of the drainage conduit being disposed within the cell culture vessel such that in use it is it located in the culture medium, and a pump (2) adapted to pump fresh culture medium from the fresh culture medium storage vessel (3) to one end of the cell culture vessel (5) and pump used culture medium from the second end of the cell culture vessel to the used culture medium collection vessel (4).

Abstract: A method for producing highly uniform cell colonies in a cell culture dish with the use of stencils made from an elastomeric sheet sized to fit within the cell culture dish, having a singular opening or a plurality of openings of a number, pitch and diameter configured to optimally control the geometric growth parameters of a cell colony. The uniform cell colonies are produced by placing the stencil in a cell culture dish and hydropilizing the stencil. The stencil is overlayed with cell culture media and seeded with seed cells that are preferably grown for at least a day before the stencil is removed to produce a pattern of seeded cells with controlled pitch, colony diameter and density within the culture dish that grow to become highly uniform cell colonies. A kit with culture dish, stencil, culture media and growth media is also provided.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention include compositions, materials and methods for maintaining and propagating mammalian mesenchymal stem cells in an undifferentiated state in the absence of feeder cells and applications of the same.

Abstract: A cell culture apparatus consists of a vessel or array of vessels, each comprising a substantially flat bottom and substantially vertical sides, and composed of a substantially gas permeable material. The inner bottom surface of the vessel is commonly textured to provide the cells with adequate features for attachment and spreading. The vessel may include an integral annular flange which can be used to suspend the vessel from a suspensory element of a rack structure. To promote cell attachment and growth, the inner surfaces of the vessel bottom and sides may be coated with commonly available bio-active materials. Cells cultured in the system commonly grow in three dimensions for extended periods of time, and often produce significantly higher quantities of cellular products than cells grown in conventional labware.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rotation driving device for cell culturing, comprising: a power supplying unit operated by receiving an electric power from an outside; a rotational part rotated by the power supplying unit; and a driving part which is provided at an upper side of the rotational part and maintained in a stopped state during the rotation of the rotational part, and of which an inclination is changed according to a rotational direction of the rotational part. According to the present invention, there is provided a rotation driving device a rotation driving device which enables cells to be uniformly grown by equally distributing a culture solution with help of inclination control, of which a rotational speed is also controlled and which has a firm structure with a strong durability.

Abstract: A multiwell plate device is provided having a frame, a substantially flat substrate and a multiwell structure supported by the substrate. The multiwell structure includes multiple bottomless wells formed therein. The substrate is supported by the frame and may be processed by an automated arrayer or instrument that is used to print or spot arrays in a pattern on a reaction surface of the substrate. Thereafter, the multiwell structure may be engaged with the substrate and the multiwell structure and substrate may be engaged with the frame in an upright orientation. For scanning or other analysis, the multiwell structure and substrate may be disengaged from the frame, inverted 180°, and then reengaged with the frame in the inverted orientation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling biological functions with mechanical vibration are provided. Stimulation is applied to cells of one of an organism, bacteria or virus by mechanical vibration. The biological function comprises biological functions relating to cell growth. The biological functions relating to cell growth may include at least one of cell cultivation, cell proliferation, cell fusion, and cell differentiation.

Abstract: The invention features a culture system, culture system components and culture methods that are useful for the rapid and reliable generation of differentiated mesodermal cells, including cardiac myocytes, from stem cells, such as human embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells differentiated mesodermal cells, including differentiated cardiac myocytes.

Abstract: Systems for preparing cell culture dish media are provided which are well adapted for preparing cell culture media, supplements, additives and/or other ingredients in an efficient and versatile manner to form sterilized cell culture dish media having a variety of ingredients well adapted with respect to uniformity and nutritional content to culture microorganisms in a particularly effective manner. The systems include an array of filtration and steam sterilization devices to sterilize various types of media for selective combination of one or more of the types of media in a mixing chamber to form cell culture dishes (e.g., agar plates). Methods of preparing cell culture dish media and cell culture dishes are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus comprised of devices for simple, fast and cost-effective storage and plating of solid nutrient medium (SNM) for various uses in the field of microbiological analysis. The devices consist of a container which can be aseptically filled with SNM and equipped with a plunger to accurately press out needed amounts of the SNM; a cutting means to cut, hold and transfer SNM; a measuring means to measure the amount of SNM exiting the container; and a growth plate for storage of SNM, growth of microorganisms on SNM, and introduction of indicator substances to SNM for analysis of microorganisms.

Abstract: Gas permeable devices and methods are disclosed for cell culture, including cell culture devices and methods that contain medium at heights, and certain gas permeable surface area to medium volume ratios. These devices and methods allow improvements in cell culture efficiency and scale up efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus comprising, in combination: (a) a cell culture plate, the cell culture plate comprising a first substrate and a plurality of cell carriers on the substrate in a first pattern; and (b) a cell replication plate, the cell replication plate comprising a second substrate and a plurality of cell sampling posts on the second substrate in a second pattern corresponding to the first pattern. Each of the sampling posts is configured to align with a respective one of the cell carriers in a position in which cells growing on the cell carrier propagate onto the sampling post; so that a plurality of distinct cell colonies growing on the cell culture plate are replicated on the cell replication plate. Methods of using the same are also described.

Abstract: Provided is a Petri dish, which improves or maximizes productivity. The Petri dish includes a dish including a bottom and a side wall, and accommodating a culture solution, and a cover covering an upper portion of the dish. The bottom of the dish includes a support region having a first thickness, and a measurement region having a second thickness smaller than the first thickness.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for controlling the diameter of a mammalian hybrid coronary bypass graft. The system includes a controller having at least one input for receiving information and feedback information and an output for outputting control signals, including at least one steady flow system control signal; and a pressure/flow loop subsystem coupled to the controller. The pressure/flow loop subsystem includes a specimen holder, an external flow loop system coupled to the specimen holder, a steady flow system, and an output for outputting the feedback information. The pressure/flow loop subsystem receives the control signals and is capable of adjusting a diameter of a specimen in accordance with the control signals, when the specimen holder contains the specimen.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cell culture container, which enhances the efficiency of proliferation and differentiation of various cells including stem cells. The cell culture container according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a cell culture surface for adhering adult stem cells thereon to proliferate and differentiate the adult stem cells, and the cell culture surface includes a protrusion having a lotus leaf surface reproduction structure, which is disposed on the cell culture surface.

Abstract: Developing heart valves are exposed to dynamic strains by applying a dynamic pressure difference over the leaflets. The flow is kept to a minimum, serving only as a perfusion system, supplying the developing tissue with fresh nutrients. Standard heart valves were engineered based on B trileaflet scaffolds seeded with cells isolated from the human saphenous vein. Tissue compaction is constrained by the stent, inducing increasing pre-strain in the tissue. The dynamic strains the tissues are exposed to via the dynamic pressure difference, are estimated using finite element methods based on the mechanical properties of the neo-tissue, in order to get inside into the strain distribution over the leaflet.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention include compositions, materials and methods for maintaining and propagating mammalian mesenchymal stem cells in an undifferentiated state in the absence of feeder cells and applications of the same.

Abstract: A device for individually analysing cells of interest, comprising (a) a channel for receiving the contents of a cell of interest, wherein the channel has an input end and an output end, and (b) a cell trapping site in proximity to the input end of the channel, wherein (i) the input end of the channel is adapted such that an intact cell of interest cannot enter the channel; and (ii) the channel contains one or more analytical components for analysing the contents of the cell of interest. In use, a cell is applied to the device, where it is trapped by the cell trapping means. The cell cannot enter the channel intact, but its contents can be released in situ to enter the channel's input end. The contents can then move down the channel, towards the output end, and they encounter the immobilised reagents, thereby permitting analysis of the cell contents.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is a culturing media, having at least one agar material and a swarming inhibiting quantity of anti-swarming compound wherein the ratio of the at least one agar material relative to the quantity of the anti-swarming compound is such to ameliorate cellular swarming by a first microbe and increasing cellular growth rate of a second microbe relative to a swarm rate of the first microbe. The culturing media may have at least one nutrient. The culturing media may be used to prevent swarming of certain strains of cells, or it may be used as a regular culturing media.

Abstract: A system for identifying all of the known and unknown pathogenic or non-pathogenic organisms in a sample. A droplet generator creates droplets from the sample. The droplets constitute sub-nanoliter volume reactors containing the organism sized particles. A lysis device performs lysis of the organisms to release the nucleic acids. An amplifier amplifies the nucleic acids. A fractionater releases the nucleic acids from the droplets. A parallel analyzer identifies all of the known and unknown pathogenic or non-pathogenic organisms in the sample.

Abstract: A device (1) for housing a scientific sample comprising at least one sample well (2) and an on-board buffering substance (3) wherein the onboard buffering substance (3) at least partly surrounds the sample well (2). The on-board buffering substance (3) may be in the form of a matrix, such as a gel-like matrix. The device (1) may further comprise an insulating means. Also described is a substance for use in culturing and/or assaying a sample whereby the substance provides atmospheric and thermal buffering. The invention further provides a lid for a single-well or multi-well sample plate, the lid being configured to facilitate delivery of a sample through the lid into a well, and for sealing the well. The lid comprises moveable portions (52, 53) that have at least one orifice (54, 57) formed through the moveable portions (52, 53) such that a conduit is formed by alignment of the orifices (54, 57) of both the lid portions (52, 53).

Abstract: A micromachined patch-clamp apparatus is disclosed for holding one or more cells and providing electrical, chemical, or mechanical stimulation to the cells during analysis with the patch-clamp technique for studying ion channels in cell membranes. The apparatus formed on a silicon substrate utilizes a lower chamber formed from silicon nitride using surface micromachining and an upper chamber formed from a molded polymer material. An opening in a common wall between the chambers is used to trap and hold a cell for analysis using the patch-clamp technique with sensing electrodes on each side of the cell. Some embodiments of the present invention utilize one or more electrostatic actuators formed on the substrate to provide mechanical stimulation to the cell being analyzed, or to provide information about mechanical movement of the cell in response to electrical or chemical stimulation.

Abstract: A system has been constructed that recapitulate the features of a capillary bed through normal human tissue. The system facilitates perfusion of three-dimensional (3D) cell monocultures and heterotypic cell co-cultures at the length scale of the capillary bed. A major feature is that the system can be utilized within a “multiwell plate” format amenable to high-throughput assays compatible with the type of robotics commonly used in pharmaceutical development. The system provides a means to conduct assays for toxicology and metabolism and as a model for human diseases such as hepatic diseases, including hepatitis, exposure-related pathologies, and cancer. Cancer applications include primary liver cancer as well as metastases. The system can also be used as a means of testing gene therapy approaches for treating disease and inborn genetic defects.

Abstract: A system for hemodynamic simulation comprises a vessel having properties of a blood vessel, a reservoir containing a quantity of fluid, tubing connecting the vessel and reservoir, and at least one pump for circulating the fluid within the system. Fluid can be tissue culture medium or blood analog fluid, and the vessel may include mammalian cells attached to its inside. A drive system, comprising two reciprocating drive shafts that are coupled by a cam, enables the uncoupling of pulsatile flow and pulsatile pressure to provide independent control over wall shear stress and circumferential strain. The shaft drives two pumps that are 180 degrees out-of-phase and are connected upstream and downstream of the vessel, and effect this uncoupling.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices having active features such as valves, peristaltic pumps, and mixing portions are fabricated to have a thin elastomeric membrane over the active features. The active features are activated by a tactile actuator external to the membrane, for example, a commercial Braille display. The display may be computer controlled, for example by simple text editor software, to activate individual Braille protrusions or a plurality of protrusions to actuate the active portions of the microfluidic device. Integral devices can incorporate the tactile actuators in a single device, but still external to the membrane.