A method is provided for monitoring a flow behavior of mixed components without requiring additional instrumentation or sampling. The method is carried out by determining ratios of the power required to rotate a mixing impeller at different rotational speeds and then comparing the ratios. Characteristics about the mixed components are determined based on differences between the ratios.

The present invention relates to a cell reprogramming apparatus using energy capable of promoting an environmental influx, and more particularly, the cell reprogramming apparatus has an effect of inducing reprogramming into new types of pluripotent cells having pluripotent characteristics or arbitrary differentiated cells having a different expression type from the differentiated cells by applying energy such as ultrasonic waves, laser, or heat treatment to the differentiated cells.

A method of reconstituting a powdered cell culture media includes providing a mixing apparatus and providing a powdered cell culture media to the fluid chamber of the mixing apparatus, prior to introducing fluid to the chamber. The method further includes introducing fluid to the chamber through an influent port, wherein the influent port is tangentially oriented relative to an inner wall of the fluid chamber to thereby cause the fluid to follow the wall of the fluid chamber in a circular motion, creating a vortex flow in the fluid chamber by introducing fluid at a sufficient flow rate, and enhancing the vortex flow with a geometric fluid flow aid by further channeling the water around the wall of the fluid chamber, around the geometric flow aid. The method further includes continuing to introduce fluid to the chamber and collecting reconstituted fluid that exits the chamber through the effluent port.

A photobioreactor system and a process for its use is illustrated, whereby water and nutrients from multiple sources are balanced (mixed using aeration) to the specific requirements of the particular photosynthetic organism strain used, sterilized, further mixed to balance the system and seeded with the photosynthetic microorganism, e.g. microalgae (dilution of a concentrated stock or added to an existing algal biomass). In accordance with such an embodiment, the algal biomass is then grown for a most efficient number of hours in a totally controlled environment where temperature (using aeration, an internal coil cooling system, or a combination thereof), pH (via CO.sub.2 delivery) and light delivery (using internal lighting directly inside the algal biomass) are optimized to the algal strain grown.

Bioreactors are provided that include a vessel and a jet mixer disposed in the vessel. Methods that utilize the bioreactors are provided, involving placing a microorganism or cells and a fluid medium in the bioreactor.

A cell culture device includes a storage tank having one or a plurality of cell culture units. The cell culture units includes a culture liquid main chamber having a circulation space through which a culture liquid of cells circulates, a permeable membrane having one surface to which the cells are able to adhere, said one face facing the circulation space, a first culture liquid storage chamber having an airtight structure in which the culture liquid is to be stored, a second culture liquid storage chamber in which the culture liquid is to be stored, a culture liquid introduction flow path that introduces the culture liquid from the first culture liquid storage chamber into the circulation space of the culture liquid main chamber, and a culture liquid lead-out flow path that introduces the culture liquid from the circulation space into the second culture liquid storage chamber.

A cell culture device includes a storage tank having one or a plurality of cell culture units. Each of the cell culture units includes a first liquid storage chamber having an airtight structure in which a liquid is to be stored, a second liquid storage chamber in which the liquid is to be stored, a culture liquid storage chamber having a culture liquid storage space in which a culture liquid of cells is to be stored, a permeable membrane having one surface to which the cells are able to adhere, said one face facing the culture liquid storage space, and a liquid lead-out flow path that introducing the liquid from a space on the other surface side of the membrane into the second liquid storage chamber, the first liquid storage chamber being set as a supply source of the liquid.

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.

An immobilized enzyme fiber reactor includes a plurality a fibers disposed within a hollow conduit. The fibers have an enzyme, such as a phospholipase, attached thereto. The enzymes can be attached to the fibers via an anchor group and, optionally, a bifunctional crosslinker. The enzymes can be applied, stripped, and reapplied without disassembling the reactor or discarding the fibers. The immobilized enzyme fiber reactor can be used to treat oils including phospholipids, such as soybean oil, and reduce an impurity content thereof.

An apparatus for culturing cells includes a bioreactor. The bioreactor may be modular and may include in a chamber a fixed bed, such as an unstructured or structured fixed bed (such as a spiral bed) for culturing cells, with a return column arranged centrally within the chamber. The modular bioreactor may include a plurality of structured fixed bed arranged in a stacked configuration. The modular bioreactor may include an outer casing forming a space for conditioning (e.g., insulating, heating, cooling) at least a chamber in which cells are cultured. The bioreactor may also include an impeller with radially curved blades, and may also suspend the impeller so that it may move from side-to-side and align with an external drive. Related methods are also disclosed.