The present disclosure relates to an integrated methanol synthesis and fermentation system for the production of whole cells and biomolecules, and methods of using the same. In one embodiment, a system comprises a methanol synthesis apparatus adapted to produce unrefined methanol; a mixing apparatus adapted to receive unrefined methanol from the methanol synthesis apparatus; and a metering apparatus having at least one first input port in communication with mixing apparatus and at least one second output port in communication with a fermentation vessel.

Oscillating angularly rotating a container containing a material may cause the material to be separate. Denser or heavier material may unexpectedly tend to collected relatively close to the axis of rotation, while less dense or light material may tend to collect relatively away from the axis of rotation. Oscillation along an arcuate path provides high lysing efficiency. Alternatively, a micromotor may drive an impeller removably received in a container. Lysing may be implemented in batch mode, flow-through stop or semi-batch mode, or flow-through continuous mode. Lysing particulate material may exceed material to be lysed or lysed material and/or air may be essentially eliminated from a chamber to increase lysing efficiency.

A device for treatment of cells with particles is disclosed. The device includes a semi-permeable membrane positioned between two plates, the first plate defining a first flow chamber and comprising a port, a flow channel, a transverse port, and a transverse flow channel, the first flow chamber constructed and arranged to deliver fluid in a transverse direction along the first side of the semi-permeable membrane, the second plate defining a second flow chamber and comprising a port. A method for transducing cells is disclosed. The method includes introducing a fluid with cells and viral particles into a flow chamber adjacent a semi-permeable membrane such that the cells and the viral particles are substantially evenly distributed on the semi-permeable membrane. The method also includes introducing a recovery fluid to suspend the cells and the viral particles, and separating the cells from the viral particles. A method of activating cells is disclosed.

A system for growing algae includes a photobioreactor comprising a tubular structure having inner and outer surfaces, an annular space defined between the inner and outer surfaces, an inlet to allow an algae slurry to enter the annular space, and a mechanism configured to produce radially-directed contractions and expansions in the tubular structure. At least one of the inner and outer surfaces is transparent to at least some wavelengths of light useful for growing algae within the algae slurry.

A conjugation device includes at least one flow reactor having an inlet and an outlet, the flow reactor(s) being completely filled with a support such as a matrix including 1) chromatography beads, fibers or membranes, and 2) a biologic catalyzer, namely the enzyme ligase, which is immobilized onto this support; a fluid delivery unit in fluid communication with the inlet of the flow reactor(s) and configured to continuously provide the flow reactor(s) with at least one kind of reaction fluid such as antibody and linker-payload according to stages of the conjugation process, the at least one kind of process fluid including a first moiety and a second moiety of a conjugate to be produced; and a fluid collection unit in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow reactor(s) and configured to control collection of fluid flowing out of the outlet of the flow reactor(s) according to the stages of the conjugation process. In a period of enabling the at least one kind of reaction fluid to continuously flow through the flow reactor(s), a conjugation reaction is conducted between the first moiety and the second moiety under catalysis of the ligase to produce the conjugate.

A bioreactor includes a reservoir container for holding a liquid medium, a duct providing a flowpath in a generally vertical direction upward from the reservoir container, a plurality of fiber assemblies located within the duct, a top of which is higher than a top of the plurality of fiber assemblies, and a circulation system. The upper end of the duct comprises an overflow wall surrounded by a moat, a bottom of which is lower than a top of the overflow wall. The upper end of the duct and moat contact a pocket region that is bounded by a structure that is connected to the duct and that is isolated from fluid communication with an exterior of the pocket region. The liquid medium flows over the overflow wall within the pocket region, contacts gas in the pocket region, overflows into the moat and is removed therefrom by the circulation system.

A method displacing a fluid and simultaneously gas enriching a liquid cell culture medium with a gas. The method includes injecting a controlled volume of a gas or gas mixture into a one chamber by using a gas flow controller, the injection taking place through a gas inlet into a volume of liquid. This injection produces bubbling and agitation of the volume of liquid; a build-up of gas or gas mixture due to buoyancy in a hermetic space formed by the volume of liquid and the chamber, and a pressure increase in the chamber until a sufficient controlled pressure is reached of less than or equal to 10 bar. This increase displaces the volume of liquid by a fluid outlet connecting the volume of liquid to the exterior of the chamber. Also provided are a device implementing the method and a cell culture system in a multi-well culture plate.

An apparatus is described which includes at least one reactor, at least one linear piston pump, the or each piston pump including a tube, a piston and an arm coupled to the piston, the or each piston pump arranged to inject feedstock to a respective reactor, a beam or plate coupled to the arm(s) of the piston pump(s) configured to linearly drive the piston(s) and a linear actuator for driving the beam or plate. The piston pump has a volume of at least 50 milliliters and an output port having a diameter of at least 5 mm.

A container of the present invention includes a tube part and a spiral plate disposed inside the tube part. The spiral plate includes a spiral groove for converting a flow of a liquid moving inside the tube part into a vortex flow.

A probe assembly and a method of manufacturing a probe assembly. In one aspect there is a method of manufacturing a probe assembly comprising providing an electrode carrier carrying a plurality of electrodes, the electrode carrier comprising a top wherein the plurality of electrodes are exposed relative to the top and a bottom having a plurality of electrical contacts in electrical communication with the plurality of electrodes respectively; moulding a body around the electrode carrier to retain the electrode carrier whilst leaving the plurality of electrodes exposed. The invention also extends to a biomass monitoring system comprising a flexible enclosure including a probe assembly and support arrangement for receipt of the probe assembly in an engaged configuration.