Devices for the propagation or storage of microorganisms are provided including a first layer that has a first portion of a surface of the first layer, to which a first water-swellable gelling agent comprising a first clay is affixed. The devices further include a second layer that is separable from the first layer and has a first portion of a surface of the second layer, to which a second water-swellable gelling agent is affixed. Methods for detecting and enumerating at least one microorganism in a sample are provided. The methods include providing a device, separating the first layer from the second layer, adding an aliquot of a sample containing at least one microorganism onto the first or second water-swellable gelling agent to form an inoculated device, laminating the first layer back to the second layer, and incubating the inoculated device. Kits and methods of making the devices are also provided.

The present application is directed, at least in part, to a process for forming droplet interface blayers (DIBs). In one or more embodiments, a housing is produced wherein the housing includes at least one aperture that comprises a cis portion and a trans portion, at least one cis electrode receptacle and at least one trans electrode receptacle, wherein the cis electrode receptacle is operatively connected to the cis portion, and the trans electrode receptacle is operatively connected to the trans portion. In at least one embodiment, the number of cis and trans electrode receptacles equals the number of apertures. Electrodes are treated with a buffer and then inserted into each of the cis and trans electrode receptacles.

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 in some embodiments. A coating agent may be applied to a surface, such as the cell growth surface of a hollow fiber in a bioreactor, by controlling the movement of a fluid in which a coating agent is suspended, by changing flow rates, by changing flow directions, by rotation of the bioreactor, and/or combinations thereof.

Embodiments for coating a bioreactor with a reagent are described. The embodiments may provide for changing flow rates, direction of flow, and/or bioreactor rotation to enhance the coating of the bioreactor prior to growing cells in the bioreactor.

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.

Embodiments herein disclose a method for fabricating high aspect ratio structures. The method includes depositing a predefined quantity of a viscoelastic fluid on a top surface of a bottom cell plate and compressing the viscoelastic fluid deposited on the top surface of the bottom cell plate using a bottom surface of a top cell plate. The viscoelastic fluid is a blend of a solvent and a polymer. At least one of the top cell plate and bottom cell plate comprises a plurality of lands, sealed source holes and/or unsealed source hole for penetration of a low-viscous fluid. Further, the method includes separating the top cell plate and the bottom cell plate to induce out of plane stretching of the high viscous fluid and obtaining a plurality of high aspect ratio structures between the top cell plate and the bottom cell plate due to the penetration of the low-viscous fluid.

A cell culture carrier includes a first substrate. The first substrate has a plurality of wells on an upper surface and includes a porous body. The porous body has pores with an average pore diameter of 0.05 μm or more and 10 μm or less, and has a porosity of 25% or more and 50% or less. The first substrate has a thickness from a lowermost portion of the well to a lower surface of the substrate of 50 μm or more and 10 mm or less.

The disclosure relates to the fabrication of a three dimensional [3-D] cell culture membrane comprising one or more functionalized surfaces adapted to provide cell culture conditions suitable for the analysis of proliferation, differentiation or function of cells, typically eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells.

A cell culture matrix for a perfusion-flow fixed-bed reactor is provided. The cell culture matrix includes a substrate having a porous sheet for adhering cells thereto. The sheet has a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a thickness separating the first side and the second side, and a plurality of openings formed in the substrate, arrayed in a regular pattern, and passing through the thickness of the substrate. The porous sheet is wound into a cylindrical shape having a plurality of wound layers, and the cell culture matrix does not include a spacer material or physical barrier between the plurality of wound layers of the substrate.

An object is to provide a method of manufacturing a vessel for embryoid body formation excellent in formability of an embryoid body and suitable for optical observation.