The present invention relates to collapsible and/or foldable fermentation and/or culture vessels fabricated of an adjustable frame including sections of gas permeable material or in the alternative a non-rigid gas permeable polymeric container or bag fabricated of either a gas permeable or non-gas permeable material with the further benefit of more efficient inventory space and disposal space, wherein the gas permeable material or non-gas permeable material comprises an analyte or pH sensing material integrated or impregnated into at least one section of the material.

An apparatus and method for preparing and culturing cells comprises a gas permeable chamber having at least an inlet and an outlet for introducing culture medium and cells. A cell growth substrate placed at the end(s) of the gas permeable chamber for cells anchored or embedded. The present invention discloses a simple but efficient cell culture method by slowly rotating the cell culture apparatus horizontally combining with a partially filled culture media in the gas permeable container in order to be able to expose the carriers and submerge the carriers intermittently, to achieve an optimal cell culture environment through the efficient oxygen transfer, CO2 balance, with sufficient nutrient supply, without vigorous agitation to achieve oxygen transfer. The horizontally rotation movement with the present cell growth apparatus efficient the nutrition, carbon dioxide and oxygen transfer during cultured process for production of cellular protein products, viruses or harvesting the cells.

Provided are photocurable resins comprising a poly(siloxane)-based copolymer together with a photoinitiator, and other optional ingredients such as a photocurable diluent, a photoabsorber, a photosensitizer, or a hydrophillic additive. Also provided are methods of stereolithographically printing a 3-D object from a disclosed resin. Also provided is an improved method for stereolithographically printing a 3-D object, the improvement comprising the use of a disclosed photocurable resin. Further provided is a 3-D microfluidic device such as an artificial lung prepared from a disclosed photocurable resin.

Methods of production of edible filamentous fungal biomat formulations are provided as standalone protein sources and/or protein ingredients in foodstuffs as well as a one-time use or repeated use self-contained biomat reactor comprising a container with at least one compartment and placed within the compartment(s), a feedstock, a fungal inoculum, a gas-permeable membrane, and optionally a liquid nutrient medium.

A multi-layer microfluidic bioreactor is used in methods for culturing cells. A grooved semipermeable substrate can capture and grow cells using perfusion culture methods. Microfluidic geometry directs flow over grooves for cell expansion and along grooves for cell harvesting. The bioreactor and methods can be optimized for high density and automated processing for growth of cells.

The disclosure relates generally to a cell culture apparatus and a cell culture method. One aspect of the disclosure is an oxygen-permeable bag comprising one or more polymer films defining a boundary of an interior compartment of the bag, each of the one or more polymer films comprising an inner layer adjacent the interior compartment of the bag, the inner layer comprising a fluoropolymer, and adhered to the inner layer, an outer layer comprising polymer; a first port formed in an exterior surface of the bag and in fluid communication with the interior compartment; a second port formed in an exterior surface of the bag and in fluid communication with the interior compartment; and contained in the interior compartment, a plurality of microcarriers.

According to exemplary embodiments, provided herein are methods for nutrient fortification, including determining a nutrient profile for a first food product, modeling a micronutrient profile based on the nutrient profile, culturing yeast in the micronutrient profile and applying the cultured yeast to a second food product.

An improved method of culturing cells for cell therapy applications that includes growing desired cells in the presence of antigen-presenting cells and/or feeder cells and with medium volume to surface area ratio of up to 1 ml/cm.sup.2 if the growth surface is not comprised of gas permeable material and up to 2 ml/cm.sup.2 if the growth surface is comprised of gas permeable material. The desired cells are at a surface density of less than 0.5×10.sup.6 cells/cm.sup.2 at the onset of a production cycle, and the surface density of the desired cells plus the surface density of the antigen presenting cells and/or feeder cells are at least about 1.25×10.sup.5 cells/cm.sup.2.

A cell culture bag includes a body formed of a composite film including a first fluoropolymer and a second fluoropolymer. The body defines a cell culture compartment configured to hold a cell culture. The first fluoropolymer has a first thickness and the second fluoropolymer at least partially impregnates the first thickness of the first fluoropolymer. The composite film has a second thickness from 0.01 mm to 0.059 mm and a tensile strength in one direction of 10,000 psi to 92,000 psi. The composite film also has O.sub.2 flux of 2,000 cm.sup.3/M.sup.2/atm/day to 20,000 cm.sup.3/M.sup.2/atm/day and a total transmittance from 70% to 100%. A cell culture assembly includes a plurality of the cell culture bags connected in series. A cell culture container includes a cell culture compartment and a composite film connected to the cell culture compartment, the composite film including a first fluoropolymer and a second fluoropolymer.

A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus is defined as an integral structure having a plurality of cell culture chambers in combination with tracheal space(s). The body of the apparatus has imparted therein gas permeable membranes in combination with tracheal spaces that will allow the free flow of gases between the cell culture chambers and the external environment. The flask body also includes an aperture that will allow access to the cell growth chambers by means of a needle or cannula. The size of the apparatus, and location of an optional neck and cap section, allows for its manipulation by standard automated assay equipment, further making the apparatus ideal for high throughput applications.