Disclosed herein are methods for contacting in a closed container a host liquid including target cells, microbubble reagents comprising gas-core lipid-shelled microbubbles, and one or more antibodies or other ligands that bind to cell surface molecules on the target cells, wherein the one or more antibodies or other ligands are bound to the target cells or the microbubbles, wherein the contacting under conditions to produce target cells linked to microbubbles via the one or more antibodies or other ligands and activating the target cells to generate activated target cells.

The invention provides a microfluidic device comprising at least one cell culture chamber, the at least one cell culture chamber being connected to at least two openings, the device being configured to supply at least one physiologically active substance from at least one of the openings to the at least one cell culture chamber in such a manner as to form a concentration gradient or concentration gradients in the at least one cell culture chamber when cells and a hydrogel are introduced into the at least one cell culture chamber to culture the cells in a 3D-gel medium.

A method of differentiating a primordial germ cell into a primordial follicle in vitro includes culturing a primordial germ cell and a supporting cell adjacent to the primordial germ cell under a pressurized condition or a low oxygen concentration condition.

Decellularization methods for tissue are provided. The method can include: exposing a tissue to a water-saturated, supercritical CO.sub.2. The method can further comprise, prior to exposing the tissue to the water-saturated, supercritical CO.sub.2, saturating a stream of supercritical CO.sub.2. The tissue can be exposed to the water-saturated, supercritical CO.sub.2 at a treatment temperature of about 35° C. to about 40° C. (e.g., about 37° C.). In one embodiment, the water-saturated, supercritical CO.sub.2 is completely saturated with water at the treatment temperature. The tissue can be exposed to the water-saturated, supercritical CO.sub.2 at a constant flow rate, such as less than 3 mL/min (e.g., about 0.5 mL/min to about 2.5 mL/min).

Methods and devices are disclosed for processing stromal precursor cells (i.e., cells which can differentiate into connective tissue cells, such as in muscles, ligaments, or tendons) which can be obtained from fatty tissue extracts obtained via liposuction. Normal processing of a liposuction extract involves centrifugation, to concentrate the stromal cells into a semi-concentrated form called “spun fat”. That “spun fat” can then be treated by mechanical processing (such as pressure-driven extrusion through 0.5 mm holes) under conditions which can gently pry the stromal cells away from extra-cellular collagen fibers and other debris in the “spun fat”. The extruded mixture is then centrifuged again, to separate a highly-enriched population of stromal cells which is suited for injection back into the patient (along with platelet cells, if desired, to further promote tissue repair or regeneration).

A microfluidic chip for circulating tumor cell separation, comprising a first shell layer, a second shell layer, and a filter membrane between the first shell layer and the second shell layer. A first channel is formed between the filter membrane and the first shell layer; a second channel is formed between the filter membrane and the second shell layer; the first shell layer is provided with m input interfaces and n output interfaces, wherein m is greater than or equal to 1 and n is greater than or equal to 1; the second shell layer is provided with x input interfaces and y output interfaces, wherein x is greater than or equal to 1 and y is greater than or equal to 1. The chip is used for circulating tumor cell separation to achieve high flux, high efficiency, and a simple method, and facilitate promotion.

A culture module is contemplated that allows the perfusion and optionally mechanical actuation of one or more microfluidic devices, such as organ-on-a-chip microfluidic devices comprising cells that mimic at least one function of an organ in the body. A method for pressure control is contemplated to allow the control of flow rate (while perfusing cells) despite limitations of common pressure regulators. The method for pressure control allows for perfusion of a microfluidic device, such as an organ on a chip microfluidic device comprising cells that mimic cells in an organ in the body, that is detachably linked with said assembly, so that fluid enters ports of the microfluidic device from a fluid reservoir, optionally without tubing, at a controllable flow rate.

A method of purifying adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from a sample of adipose tissue, including: flowing the sample onto a polymer surface having at least one vertical helical-shaped portion, vertical threaded shaped portion, or vertical grooved shaped portion at a first flow rate of 10 to 150 ml/min allowing separation into a first remaining sample including mesenchymal stem cells on the polymer surface and into a second resulting solution being evacuated from the polymer surface; flowing a saline solution onto the polymer surface at a second flow rate of 100 to 500 ml/min, the first flow rate being slower than the second flow rate; and collecting the saline solution including purified mesenchymal stem cells in a collector. Also, an apparatus and a system for purifying adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, the use of the apparatus, and a method of isolating and purifying adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from an adipose tissue sample.

Systems and methods for culturing cells are disclosed. A system can comprise an auxetic scaffold substrate. The substrate can comprise scaffold units at least a portion of which comprise living cells. Scaffold units can be configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded state. Units can comprise an interior void having a contracted volume in the contracted state and an expanded volume in the expanded state, in which the expanded volume is greater than the contracted volume. Units can be configured to pass a fluid into the interior void of the corresponding unit when the unit transitions from the contracted state to the expanded state. Units can be configured to pass the fluid out of the interior void of the corresponding unit when the unit transitions from the expanded state to the contracted state.

An adipose tissue particle processing system includes a container and a filter screen assembly. The filter screen assembly has a first open end configured to receive adipose tissue from a syringe, and a second closed end opposite to the first open end located in the interior of the container. The filter screen assembly further includes a screen portion between the first open end and the second closed end, the screen portion including a plurality of apertures having diameters selected for processing the adipose tissue received through the first open end into controlled fat aspirate particle sizes that are output through the plurality of apertures into the interior of the container.