A structured bag for cell culture is provided herein. The structured bag includes a top portion, a bottom portion having a shape, and a sidewall extending between the top portion and the bottom portion and at least partially defining an interior compartment for receiving fluid. The bottom portion is configured to maintain the shape to support the structured bag such that the structured bag is free standing when placed on a surface.

A sample preparation method includes: irradiating a first region of a sample with light at a time t1; irradiating a second region different from the first region with the light at a time t2 after the time t1; and fixing the sample at a time t3 after the time t2. A sample preparing apparatus includes: a light radiating unit that irradiates a first region of a sample with light at time t1 and irradiates a second region different from the first region with the light at a time t2 after the time t1; and a fixing unit that fixes the sample at a time t3 after the time t2.

A cell culture vessel includes a vessel body, support columns, and a stabilizer device. The vessel body defines a cell culture chamber enclosed between a bottom wall and a top wall. The support column is within the cell culture chamber and extends between the top wall and the bottom wall. The stabilizer device covers a width and length of the cell culture chamber and has a column engaging structure that is sized to slidingly engage the support column such that the stabilizer device is movable along the support column as a liquid culture medium is received in the cell culture chamber. The support column guides the stabilizer device along a length of the support column as the stabilizer device rises with rising liquid level in the cell culture chamber during a liquid culture medium filling operation.

Exemplary embodiments describe apparatuses and related processes for improving mixing and sheer in a fixed film reactor. One process can include recycling at least a portion of a biogas product through at least one sparger below a fixed film zone in the fixed film reactor at conditions sufficient for mixing and sheering the film from an internal structure within the fixed film zone. Often, a cross-sectional area of the fixed film zone fills at least about 90% of a cross-sectional area of the fixed film reactor.

It is possible to efficiently replace a medium, clean spheres, and arrange spheres at regular intervals in the formation of spheres. A member is capable of capturing spheres, the member having a first surface and a second surface on an opposite side of the first surface, and having a plurality of recesses; the recess having an opening formed in the first surface, and one microhole being formed for each opening in the second surface; a circle or inscribed circle of the opening having a diameter a of 50 μm or more and 1 mm or less, a circle or inscribed circle of the microhole having a diameter b of 1 μm or more and less than 200 μm, and a and b satisfying a>b.

A platform for testing cell response to biochemical agents. The TrophoWell™ includes a well which contains a gel, and a plurality of capillaries that open into it. Cells and various biochemical agents such as drugs and growth factors are flown through those capillaries. The platform allows for the evaluation of cell response by imaging. The platform is a cost effective testing platform and can be used in the fields for drug discovery and personalized medicine.

Embodiments of the current invention include a hydrogel formed from crosslinked polyethylene glycol into which acrylated glucose oxidase has been immobilized through crosslinking to the gel. These hydrogels can be used to create hypoxia under ambient conditions for at least 72 hours and can be used to create hypoxic gradients. These embodiments permit the study of cells under a variety of hypoxic conditions.

This disclosure relates generally to containers (such as bags) having surfaces comprising one or more aptamer sequences. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to containers such as bags comprising a fluoropolymer attached to aptamer sequences having binding affinity for one or more biological agents, and to transductions methods using such containers. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a container (e.g., a bag) having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface comprising a fluoropolymer; attached to the fluoropolymer, a plurality of functional groups; and attached to each of at least a portion of the functional groups, a first aptamer sequence having a binding affinity for a viral vector.

A microfluidic device for modeling a tumor-immune microenvironment can include a multiwell plate defining a plurality of microenvironment units fluidically coupled with a plurality of wells. Each microenvironment unit of the plurality of microenvironment units can include one or more compartments. Each microenvironment unit can include a trapping feature positioned within the one or more compartments. The trapping feature can be defined by a portion of at least one of a sidewall or a floor of the one or more compartments. The trapping feature can restrict movement of a tissue sample introduced into the one or more compartments and to allow fluid to flow past the tissue sample. The microfluidic device can include a plurality of micropumps each coupled with a respective well and configured to control movement of a respective fluid sample through each respective well.

The invention relates to a method for producing at least one closed region on a carrier surface of a carrier, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a. adding a first fluid comprising at least one cell and/or at least one particle to the carrier surface and b. adding a second fluid, wherein the second fluid is immiscible with the first fluid and at least partially covers the first fluid and c. acquiring at least one item of cell information and/or of at least one item of particle information and d. producing the closed region on the basis of the at least one acquired item of cell information and/or the at least one acquired item of particle information.