The present disclosure provides a microfluidic device for simulating a blood-brain barrier and a blood-brain barrier simulation system including the same, and the microfluidic device includes: a first channel; a second channel which is adjacently connected to the first channel through one or more microholes and configured to culture neural stem cells; and a chamber which is connected to both ends of the first channel and contains a culture medium.

A large-scale cell culture system is provided. The large-scale cell culture system according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: an incubator that includes an inner space to provides a culture environment in which a cell is stably cultured; a cell culture part that is disposed in the inner space and includes multiple supporters for cell culture disposed therein; a medium supply part that is disposed in the inner space and stores a predetermined amount of medium supplied to the cell culture part; and a pump that is disposed in the inner space, and is connected to the cell culture part and the medium supply part through a connection pipe, respectively, and circulates the medium so that the medium stored in the medium supply part is recovered to the medium supply part after being supplied to the cell culture part, the multiple supporters being provided in a plate shape having a predetermined area, and arranged in a state separated apart from each other at a predetermined distance along a height direction inside the cell culture part.

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for expansion of stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), that improve translational success of the cells in the treatment of various conditions. The subject invention utilizes cell self-aggregation as a non-genetic means to enhance their therapeutic potency in a microcarrier bioreactor. In one embodiment of the method cells are cultured in a container or vessel in the presence of thermally responsive microcarriers (TRMs) wherein cells adhere to the surface of the TRMs. After a period of time the cell culture temperature is reduced so that the cells detach from the TRMs. The detached cells are allowed to form 3D aggregates. The 3D aggregates can be collected and treated to dissociate the cells. Dissociated cells can then be used for transplantation in methods of treatment or for in vitro characterization and study.

Embodiments described herein generally provide for expanding cells in a cell expansion system. The cells may be grown in a bioreactor, and the cells may be activated by an activator (e.g., a soluble activator complex). Nutrient and gas exchange capabilities of a closed, automated cell expansion system may allow cells to be seeded at reduced cell seeding densities, for example. Parameters of the cell growth environment may be manipulated to load the cells into a particular position in the bioreactor for the efficient exchange of nutrients and gases. System parameters may be adjusted to shear any cell colonies that may form during the expansion phase. Metabolic concentrations may be controlled to improve cell growth and viability. Cell residence in the bioreactor may be controlled. In embodiments, the cells may include T cells. In further embodiments, the cells may include T cell subpopulations, including regulatory T cells (Tregs), for example.

A tissue processing system for dissociation of and release of cellular components from adipose tissue to prepare stromal vascular fraction includes a portable tissue processing unit for containing biological material including adipose tissue during enzymatic digestion processing and a digestion drive unit configured to receive the tissue processing unit for rotational processing of the tissue processing unit about an axis of rotation. The unit has an upright orientation and a reclined orientation in which the axis of rotation is at a reclined angle to horizontal relative to the upright orientation. The digestion drive unit is configured to receive and drive rotation of the tissue processing unit in the reclined orientation. Methods for processing biological material including adipose tissue include enzymatically digesting adipose tissue with rotation of a tissue processing unit around an axis of rotation in a reclined orientation.

A fluidic cartridge comprises a fluidic disk having a plurality of alignment openings; a fluidic chip comprising a body, one or more channels formed in the body in fluidic communications with input ports and output ports for transferring one or more fluids between the input ports and the output ports, and a plurality of protrusions formed on the body and received in the alignment openings of the fluidic disk for aligning the fluidic chip to the fluidic disk; an actuator operably engaging with the one or more channels for selectively and individually transferring the one or more fluids through the one or more channels from at least one of the input ports to at least one of the output ports at desired flow rates; and a tube member defining a cylindrical housing for accommodating the fluidic disk, the fluidic chip and the actuator therein.

Growth and harvesting methods and systems herein include a growth container with one or more meshes attached thereto. The growth container and its meshes can hold a substrate. The growth container and its meshes can be vertically oriented to allow fungal biomass (e.g., mycelium, fruiting body, primordia, etc.) to grow from the substrate and through the meshes. The growth containers can be cylindrical or a rectangular box having meshes extending along vertically oriented longitudinal sides. The meshes may be provided on two opposite sides of the growth cylinders. These meshes can expose the substrate to a growth environment to facilitate growth of the fungal biomass. A cutter is configured to move relative to the growth container to harvest the fungal biomass across the mesh while preventing the substrate from sticking to the harvested fungal biomass.

A device for simulating a function of a tissue includes a first structure, a second structure, and a membrane. The first structure defines a first chamber. The first chamber includes a matrix disposed therein and an opened region. The second structure defines a second chamber. The membrane is located at an interface region between the first chamber and the second chamber. The membrane includes a first side facing toward the first chamber and a second side facing toward the second chamber. The membrane separates the first chamber from the second chamber.

Embodiments described herein generally provide for expanding cells in a cell expansion system. The cells may be grown in a bioreactor, and the cells may be activated by an activator (e.g., a soluble activator complex). Nutrient and gas exchange capabilities of a closed, automated cell expansion system may allow cells to be seeded at reduced cell seeding densities, for example. Parameters of the cell growth environment may be manipulated to load the cells into a particular position in the bioreactor for the efficient exchange of nutrients and gases. System parameters may be adjusted to shear any cell colonies that may form during the expansion phase. Metabolic concentrations may be controlled to improve cell growth and viability. Cell residence in the bioreactor may be controlled. In embodiments, the cells may include T cells. In further embodiments, the cells may include T cell subpopulations, including regulatory T cells (Tregs), helper, naïve, memory, or effector, for example.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a cell culture system includes: a cell culture container; a liquid storage part configured to store a liquid including a culture medium or a reagent to be supplied to the cell culture container; and a cell collection part configured to collect cells cultured in the cell culture container, wherein the cell culture container, the liquid storage part, and the cell collection part are connected by spatially closed-system lines at least during a period from feeding of the liquid to the cell culture container to removal of the cultured cells, and wherein the cell culture container is arranged in an incubator in a form of a multistage shelf including a liquid supply/discharge port.