A method for generating an in vitro cardiac tissue model. The method includes steps of: forming an elongated tissue by disposing a plurality of cardiomyocytes within a culture plate; culturing the tissue such that each end of the elongated tissue contacts one of a pair of attachment wires adhered to the culture plate; and electrically stimulating the elongated tissue in culture.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to the delivery of electrical stimuli via cell-penetrating nanoelectrodes. Such electrical stimuli leads to differentiation of cells, including but not limited to adipose derived stem cells, to neural lineage, specifically to neural cells.

Disclosed are methods of increasing proliferation of CD8+ T cells comprising exposing a target site to an alternating electric field for a period of time, the alternating electric field having a frequency and field strength, wherein the frequency and field strength of the alternating electric field increases proliferation of CD8+ T cells at the target site. Disclosed are methods of generating a pro-inflammatory response in a target site comprising exposing the target site to an alternating electric field for a period of time, the alternating electric field having a frequency and field strength, wherein the frequency and field strength of the alternating electric field generates a pro-inflammatory response at the target site. Disclosed are methods of increasing proliferation of CD8+ T cells comprising exposing CD8+ T cells to an alternating electric field for a period of time, the alternating electric field having a frequency and field strength, wherein the frequency and field strength of the alternating electric field increases proliferation of CD8+ T cells. Disclosed are methods of treating a subject in need of a CD8+ T cell response comprising applying an alternating electric field to a target site of the subject for a period of time, the alternating electric field having a frequency and field strength, wherein the target site comprises one or more CD8+ T cells.

The present disclosure provides ex vivo chamber-specific cardiac tissues, methods for generating the cardiac tissues in a bioreactor, and methods of using the cardiac tissues. Examples of cardiac tissues that can be generated include, but are not limited to, atrial tissues, ventricular tissues, and composite tissues having an atrial tissue connected to a ventricular tissue.

The invention relates to a carrying device for beverage cans which allows the manual carrying of beverage cans grouped together in the form of a “pack”, which device comprises a body devoid of side walls, having on its surface at least one opening defining a contour with proportions which allow the tight passage therethrough of a beverage can, the contour of said opening having a plurality of tabs that can be folded or bent in relation to the body itself and extending into the same opening, said tabs having a distribution according to at least one sequence, said sequence comprising two contiguous tabs followed by a gap followed by another tab followed by another gap.

A cell activation reactor and a cell activation method are provided. The cell activation reactor includes a body, a rotating part, an upper cover, a microporous film, and multiple baffles. The body has an accommodating space, which is suitable for accommodating multiple cells and multiple magnetic beads. The rotating part is disposed in the accommodating space and includes multiple impellers. The microporous film is disposed in the accommodating space and covers multiple holes of the accommodating space. The baffles are disposed in the body. When the rotating part is driven to rotate, the interaction between the baffles and the impellers separates the cells and the magnetic beads.

The subject invention pertains to a device and methods for inducing tensile strain on a hydrogel and/or hydrogel-encapsulated cells and/or tissues. The device includes a hydrogel-based mold for cell culture and a magnet-combined rail slider for cyclic tensile stretch. The resulting hydrogel-based device provides controllable tensile strain to cells and/tissues, from which cells and/or tissues can be encapsulated in hydrogels and strain can be applied cyclically.

Embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for stimulating the production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from a population of cells. Some embodiments relate to a method for stimulating the production of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from a population of cells, the method comprising: (i) exposing a culture media comprising the population of cells to acoustic wave energy and (ii) harvesting the EVs produced from the population of cells following the exposure. Some embodiments relate to an apparatus for use in stimulating the production of EVs from a population of cells, the apparatus comprising: (i) an acoustic wave generator configured to generate acoustic energy at a selected power and frequency; and (ii) a receptacle for accommodating a population of cells in a culture media, the receptacle being configured to receive acoustic energy generated by the acoustic wave generator.

A microscale bioreactor system for and method is disclosed for providing improved cell culture growth conditions in a small-volume vessel. For example, a microbioreactor system is provided that may include a small-volume vessel and wherein the small-volume vessel may include a field of actuatable surface-attached microposts. Further, the microbioreactor system may include an actuation mechanism for actuating the surface-attached microposts into movement. In some embodiments, the surface-attached microposts may be functionalized with, for example, activation signals for converting standard T-cells in a growth media to activated T-cells. Further, a method of using the microbioreactor system for providing cell culture growth conditions including enhanced oxygenation and nutrients distribution in a small-volume vessel is provided.

Dynamic polymer surfaces are provided that include alternating micropatterns of adhesive domains and environmental stimuli-responsive repulsive domains, where application of a select environmental stimulus activates polymer structures of the repulsive domains to change conformation with respect to the adhesive domains. The dynamic polymer surfaces are useful for sorting, screening, and enriching target particles (such as cells) in a sample and for culturing and harvesting cells. Products, such as cell culture systems, including the dynamic polymer surfaces are also provided.