A microfluidic apparatus can comprise a dielectrophoresis (DEP) configured section for holding a first liquid medium and selectively inducing net DEP forces in the first liquid medium. The microfluidic apparatus can also comprise an electrowetting (EW) configured section for holding a second liquid medium on an electrowetting surface and selectively changing an effective wetting property of the electrowetting surface. The DEP configured section can be utilized to select and move a micro-object in the first liquid medium. The EW configured section can be utilized to pull a droplet of the first liquid medium into the second liquid medium.

The subject invention provides methods and systems for producing microbe-based compositions that can be used in the oil and gas industry, environmental cleanup, agriculture, and many other applications. More specifically, the subject invention provides methods and systems for producing microorganisms and/or growth by-products thereof using a hybrid solid state-submerged fermentation method, wherein a matrix comprised of a solid material covered in an alginate coating is formed inside a liquid fermentation vessel. In some embodiments, the solid material is a plurality of natural loofa sponges.

A bioreactor with a closed vessel, a reaction chamber, and at least one barrier, wherein the bioreactor is configured to support a biologically active environment. The barrier for the reaction chamber of the bioreactor includes pores and a media flow path connected to the pores. The media flow path is configured to have a diameter that is smaller than the average diameter of the pores. The barrier of the bioreactor includes a surface feature, internal structural feature, or combinations thereof, which are configured to improve or enhance the growth of cells or microorganisms.

Devices, systems, and methods can be used for the automated production of dendritic cells (DC) from dendritic cell progenitors, such as monocytes obtained from peripheral blood, and the automated generation of immunotherapeutic products from those dendritic cells, all within a closed system. The invention makes it possible to obtain sufficient quantities of a subject's own DC for use in preparing and characterizing vaccines, for activating and characterizing the activation state of the subject's immune response, and to aid in preventing and/or treating cancer or infectious disease.

Provided are a cell screening device and a cell screening method, for use in performing screening on different cells. The cell screening device is provided with: at least two flowing channels, used for allowing a solution containing cells to flow through; a communicating path, used for allowing the adjacent flowing channels to communicate with each other; a detection unit, used for detecting the types of cells in the solution flowing in the flowing channels; and a screening actuator, generating push force according to the detection result of the detection unit, so as to push cells in the solution flowing in the flowing channel to flow into the adjacent flowing channel through the communicating path.

Disclosed are compositions, methods, and systems for propagating microorganisms for fermentation.

An extra-capillary fluid cycling unit for maintaining and cycling fluid volumes in a cell culture chamber includes a housing and a first flexible reservoir extra-capillary fluid reservoir disposed in the housing. The extra-capillary fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with a cell culture chamber. A second flexible reservoir is also located in the housing, the second flexible reservoir being in fluid communication with a pressure source. A sensor plate is movably disposed in the housing between the extra-capillary reservoir and the second reservoir, wherein the second reservoir is pressurized to move the sensor plate in relation to the extra-capillary reservoir to cause fluid cycling and maintain fluid volumes in the cell growth chamber.

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.

Said brewing system is intended to be fitted to a bioreactor which can be used in particular in milk and cheese factories, fermented dough production units, breweries, wine-making units or even low-temperature fermentation units in an aerobic or anaerobic environment, in particular lacto-fermentation units for the purpose of preserving vegetables, wastewater treatment stations, fish farming ponds with or without temperature control. According to the invention, said brewing system comprises:—at least one flexible and sealed brewing chamber (2, 3),—means (4) for receiving a fluid referred to as the filling fluid,—means (5, 51, 70, 71) for transferring the filling fluid between the brewing chambers (2, 3), and means (4) for receiving the filling fluid as well as varying the volume of the filling fluid admitted into each brewing chamber.

Culture systems and methods of using same. The systems include a housing defining an inner space. The inner space includes a headspace and at least a portion of a reservoir. A surface for immobilizing cells is moveable between the headspace and the reservoir. The systems can be used for coculturing methanotrophs and phototrophs for processing biogas and wastewater, particularly from anaerobic digesters.