An automated method of T cell scale down processing. The method including: activating T cells by automatically contacting the T cells with one or more activation reagents; transducing the T cells by automatically contacting the T cells with a recombinant viral vector; automatically inoculating T cells; automatically expanding the T cells; optionally, automatically debeading the T cells; and automatically harvesting the T cells. A system for an automated method of T cell scale down processing.

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for use in freezing liquid mixtures or suspensions containing sensitive substances, such as biopharmaceutical materials, under sterile conditions and in small-volume containers. The disclosed device enables the control of ice nucleation of the solution minoring the layer of volume that freezes, while controlling the ice growth rate in a bottom up geometry, and comprises a heat transfer surface (101) with means to control temperature, a holder (102) for multiple containers (109), pressing means (103) to press the holder against the heat transfer surface and optionally a contact promoting material. The disclosed method comprises pre-cooling the device to a temperature substantially below the solution nucleation temperature, placing a container into the holder, contacting the container with the heat transfer surface until a fraction of 10% of the total sample volume is frozen; interrupting the contact between the container and the heat transfer surface; contacting the container with the heat transfer surface at a predefined freezing rate, such that the freezing of the biological solution is homogeneous; until all the volume of the solution is frozen.

An environmental control assembly for controlling at least one environmental condition of one or more substances, the one or more substances being uncontained or contained within a substance container, the assembly comprising a first enclosure comprising a thermal insulator configured to provide a thermal shield to the substance, a second enclosure comprising at least one deformable environmental control material configured to regulate at least one environmental condition of the substance, wherein the second enclosure at least partially physically contacts with at least one of the substance and the substance container, and a housing at least partially comprising the first enclosure and the second enclosure.

Manual and automated methods of pre-charging an empty or partially empty insulated container with CO2 snow are provided. A first location such as a charging location charges CO2 liquid into a container to create a pre-charged container with CO2 snow. The charging location prepares the pre-charged container for delivery to a second location, either by itself, or through a third party. The second location may be a clinical site, which upon receipt of the pre-charged container, loads a perishable item such as a biological sample into the pre-charged container. A user receives the pre-charged container with perishable item and removes the perishable item from the pre-charger container for testing (e.g., biological testing). Depending on the level of depletion of the CO2 snow in the pre-charged container, the user returns the depleted container to the first location or the intermediate location.

An organ container includes a pouch-shaped body. The body has an opening and is capable of storing an organ that is inserted from the opening into an inner space. The body is formed of a styrene elastomer. The body has inner and outer surfaces each having a uneven shape. This structure suppresses a temperature rise in the organ stored in the body and reduces damage to the organ when some sort of impacts is applied to the organ. Moreover, the uneven shape of the inner surface of the body allows holding of a low-temperature preservation solution and thereby improves insulation effectiveness of the organ. The uneven shape of the outer surface of the body facilitates the surgeon's handling of the organ container and thereby improves workability.

Methods, systems, and compositions are provided for extracting bone marrow cells from bone obtained from deceased donors, for preparing the bone marrow for cryopreservation, and for obtaining desired cells from cryopreserved and fresh bone marrow

A lyophilization nest and method of using the same is described herein. In various embodiments, the lyophilization nest includes a base and first and second covers and is configured to support one or more receptacles each supporting one or more substances within interior spaces of the lyophilization nest. The interior spaces may be in fluid communication with the exterior of the lyophilization nest through one or more vent holes extending through the first and second covers. Each of the one or more vent holes have a corresponding sealing element configured to selectively form an air-tight seal within the vent holes, such that a controlled environment may be maintained within the interior spaces when the ambient conditions surrounding the lyophilization nest are not lyophilization conditions. The one or more sealing elements may be operable while the lyophilization nest is positioned within a sealed lyophilizer by depressing the sealing elements into corresponding vent holes to form the air-tight seal.

Methods are disclosed for viable preservation of biomaterials including both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells/materials such as human cells and tissues at subzero and suprazero temperatures. One embodiment provides a method wherein initial desiccation and subsequent cooling of the biological samples is below their glass transition temperature (Tg) to achieve a stable glassy state without exposing the biomaterials to excessive osmotic/chemical stresses for long periods of time. Another embodiment provides a method that includes combining the initial desiccation with subsequent freeze-drying to achieve a glassy state of biomaterials. Another embodiment provides a desiccation medium with low salt, high osmolyte/glass former content and desiccation of biomaterials in a spherical droplet to avoid the edge effect.

The present application provides a unique way for storing biomaterials, blood, blood products, vaccines, organs in an organ and fluid preservation and transportation system. The organ and fluid preservation and transportation system can comprise a docking system, a container system comprising an upper container, an inner container, an outer container, electronics, and a heating/cooling module. The upper container can attach to the outer container, and/or inner container and create an airtight seal with the environmental conditions staying consistent when sealed wherein the container system can be docked to the docking system wherein the docking system heats or cools down the container system.

Disclosed is a refrigerating device that includes: a refrigeration mechanism; and a cooling chamber. The cooling chamber is operatively coupled to the refrigeration mechanism using any or a combination of a latching mechanism and a screwing mechanism, and is configured to hold a load to be cooled. The refrigeration mechanism can be a thermo-electric assembly (TEA) and the device can include a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller to set and regulate temperature inside the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber can be a vacuum flask, open end of the vacuum flask configured to be thermally sealed with the TEA. The vacuum flask provides thermal insulation between the load and ambient environment. In an exemplary embodiment, the vacuum flask can be thermally sealed with the TEA by configuring the TEA in a collar of thermal insulation, the collar configured to hold the vacuum flask by means of threads configured on the collar and the vacuum flask.