An apparatus for controlling an experimental temperature of experimental material is disclosed. The apparatus can include a structural holder structured to hold the experimental material, the structural holder including a surface to receive the experimental material. The apparatus can also include a first layer, a second layer and a third layer of respectively a phase change material, a reflective material and an insulating material, the first layer disposed on the surface of the structural holder, the second layer disposed on the first layer, and the third layer disposed on the second layer, at least the first layer of the phase change material being configured to control the experimental temperature of the experimental material when held by the structural holder.

A laser processing machine for killing specific cells from a group of cells on a surface of a layer containing an ingredient capable of absorbing laser light, the laser processing machine being configured to: control a laser light source to output laser light at 5 W or less and at a wavelength of 380 nm or greater such that the laser light source is applied to a second area on a second surface of the layer opposed to the first surface; and control an actuator to provide a relative movement between the second area where the laser light is applied and the layer at a rate of 2000 mm/sec or less such that the irradiated second area absorbs energy to generate heat that kills unwanted cells on a first area of the first surface and the laser light does not instantly kill the specific cells on the first area upon irradiation.

A cell culture vessel for use with a laser processing machine, including: a layer containing an ingredient that generates heat upon laser irradiation; the layer kills specific cells from among a group of cells cultured on a first surface of the layer when a second surface of the layer is irradiated with laser light having an output of 5W or less at a wavelength of 380 nm or greater and a relative movement between a second area on the second surface where the laser light is applied and the layer is at a rate of 2000 mm/sec or less such that the second area absorbs energy of the laser light to generate heat that kills the specific cells that are present on a first area of the first surface and the laser light does not instantly kill the specific cells on the first area upon irradiation with the laser light.

Embodiments of a cell culture incubator system provided herein have two or more individual incubators and atmospheric regulation system configured to regulate atmospheric conditions within the environmental chamber of each individual incubator. The atmospheric regulation system has a single integrated controller system that controls atmospheric regulation of each of the individual incubators independently of the one or more other individual incubators. Atmospheric conditions within each of the individual incubators include at least the oxygen level and the total gas pressure, which are regulated independently of each other.

Embodiments of a cell culture incubator system provided herein have two or more individual incubators and atmospheric regulation system configured to regulate atmospheric conditions within the environmental chamber of each individual incubator. The atmospheric regulation system has a single integrated controller system that controls atmospheric regulation of each of the individual incubators independently of the one or more other individual incubators. Atmospheric conditions within each of the individual incubators include at least the oxygen level and the total gas pressure, which are regulated independently of each other.

A method of killing specific cells from among a group of cells cultured in a culture vessel by quick and brief laser treatment, the cell culture vessel comprising a main body and a to-be-irradiated layer attached to the main body, the to-be-irradiated layer containing an ingredient capable of absorbing laser light upon laser irradiation, the group of cells being cultured on the surface of the to-be-irradiated layer, the method comprising: applying laser light to a partial area of the to-be-irradiated layer directly below the specific cells.

Incubation system and method for automated cell culture and/or testing. An exemplary incubation system may comprise a housing forming a chamber. A rack may define storage positions to support an array of sample holders inside the chamber. A detection robot may be configured to capture one or more images of cells contained by one or more wells of each sample holder while the sample holder remains at one of the storage positions of the rack. A fluid handling station may be configured to add fluid to, and/or remove fluid from, one or more wells of each of the sample holders inside the housing. At least one plate robot may be configured to move sample holders between the rack and the fluid handling station. A computer may control operation of the detection robot, the fluid handling station, and the at least one plate robot.

Embodiments described herein generally provide for the expansion of cells in a cell expansion system using an active promotion of a coating agent(s) to a cell growth surface. A coating agent may be applied to a surface, such as the cell growth surface of a hollow fiber, by controlling the movement of a fluid in which a coating agent is suspended. Using ultrafiltration, the fluid may be pushed through the pores of a hollow fiber from a first side, e.g., an intracapillary (IC) side, of the hollow fiber to a second side, e.g., an extracapillary (EC) side, while the coating agent is actively promoted to the surface of the hollow fiber. In so doing, the coating agent may be hydrostatically deposited onto a wall, e.g., inner wall, of the hollow fiber.

The invention provides an in vitro method for inducing macrophage polarization to an M2 phenotype. The method comprises the in vitro exposure of macrophages to repeated series of hypoxia-reoxygenation. Activated M2 macrophages obtained by this method overexpress molecules important for tissue remodeling and amelioration of inflammation, thus they are useful as cell therapy for tissue regeneration. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the M2 macrophages obtained by the method, as well as a device for inducing hypoxia and re-oxygenation conditions on isolated macrophages according to the method.

Described herein are various embodiments directed to microfluidic cell culture devices, systems, and methods. Embodiments of devices and systems disclosed herein may be used to grow and characterize one or more phenotypes of a cell sample. An apparatus may include an apparatus including a substrate defining a cavity, and further include a scaffold disposed within the cavity. The substrate and the scaffold may collectively define a set of channels including a first channel and a second channel. The first channel may be configured to receive and culture a cell sample during use. The second channel may be configured to receive a fluid during use. The scaffold may be configured to permit diffusion of the fluid through the scaffold and into the first channel.