Provided are methods and related devices for preparing a cell and tissue culture, including a hanging drop culture. Microwells are specially loaded with cell mixtures using a removable reservoir and forcing cells into the underlying microwells. The removable reservoir is removed and the cells partitioned into the individual microwells and covered by an immiscible layer of fluid. The microwells and immiscible layer is inverted and the cells in the microwells cultured. The microwells may have shape-controlling elements to control the three-dimensional shape of the culture.

A method for preparing droplets using a microfluidic chip system is provided. The microfluidic chip system includes a droplet generation device, a power generation device, a collection bottle, a connection device, and a preparation platform, the droplet generation device includes a chip body, the chip body defines a continuous phase inlet for receiving a continuous phase and a dispersed phase inlet for receiving a dispersed phase. The power generation device is activated to form a pressure difference among the collection bottle, the connection device, and the chip body, wherein the pressure difference promotes the dispersed phase and the continuous phase to converge and flow into the collection bottle in form of the droplets.

The invention relates to a cellular microcompartment comprising successively, organized around a lumen, at least one layer of pluripotent cells, an extracellular matrix layer and an outer hydrogel layer. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such cellular microcompartments.

Method and apparatuses for forming gel droplets including biological tissue (e.g., cells), and in particular, methods and apparatuses for removing oil from the gel droplets comprising dissociated cells (including micro-organospheres) are described herein. Although it is beneficial to use oil in the formation of these gel droplets, and particularly micro-organospheres, oil may inhibit growth and survival of the cells within the gel droplets. The methods and apparatuses described herein may permit the removal of oil and may enhance survival and quality of the resulting gel droplets.

A hanging drop device is provided in the present disclosure. The hanging drop device includes a hanging drop box and a negative pressure module. The hanging drop box includes a plate and a cover. The cover is coupled with the plate to jointly delimit a pressure chamber. The cover includes an upper surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of wells are recessed from the upper surface, and each of the wells is communicated with the pressure chamber through a hole. The negative pressure module is communicated with the pressure chamber. Each of the wells is for containing a liquid, the negative pressure module is for generating a negative pressure in the pressure chamber, so as to drive the liquid in each of the wells to pass through the hole, and the liquid forms a hanging drop hanging from the bottom surface of the cover.

Micro-Organosphers, including Patient-Derived Micro-Organospheres (PMOS s), apparatuses and methods of making them, and apparatuses and methods of using them. Also described herein are methods and systems for screening a patient using these Patient-Derived Micro-Organospheres, including personalized therapies.

Compositions and methods are provided that extend the range of biological assays, such as immunoassays. In one embodiment a plurality of discrete test sites are used. Data for the proportion of test sites that indicate the presence of the analyte of interest and data that provides a statistical value for a signal generated by the population of discrete test sites is gathered. The results of these digital and statistical approaches are aggregated to provide an extended dynamic range. In another embodiment two or more reagent additions are provided in a serial fashion to a single test site or vessel. Such additions present different reagent sets with different dilutions of the same sample, and permit simultaneous characterization of both high and low abundance analytes in a single multiplexed assay while avoiding the high dose hook effect observed for high abundance analytes at low sample dilutions. These approaches can be combined to provide further improvements in dynamic range.

A hanging drop device is provided in the present disclosure. The hanging drop device includes a hanging drop box and a negative pressure module. The hanging drop box includes a plate and a cover. The cover is coupled with the plate to jointly delimit a pressure chamber. The cover includes an upper surface and a bottom surface, a plurality of wells are recessed from the upper surface, and each of the wells is communicated with the pressure chamber through a hole. The negative pressure module is communicated with the pressure chamber. Each of the wells is for containing a liquid, the negative pressure module is for generating a negative pressure in the pressure chamber, so as to drive the liquid in each of the wells to pass through the hole, and the liquid forms a hanging drop hanging from the bottom surface of the cover.

Method and apparatuses for forming gel droplets including biological tissue (e.g., cells), and in particular, methods and apparatuses for removing oil from the gel droplets comprising dissociated cells (including micro-organospheres) are described herein. Although it is beneficial to use oil in the formation of these gel droplets, and particularly micro-organospheres, oil may inhibit growth and survival of the cells within the gel droplets. The methods and apparatuses described herein may permit the removal of oil and may enhance survival and quality of the resulting gel droplets.

The method for analysis and cell culture comprises the following steps: generating a train (14) of ordered drops (16) in a carrier fluid (40), the train (14) of drops (16) comprising at least one culture drop (42), the culture drop (42) comprising a culture medium (50) and at least one cell (4), circulating the train (14) of drops (16) in a tube (10), incubating the train (14) of drops (16) in the tube (10), measuring at least one parameter indicative of the content of the culture drop (42) in the tube (10) at different times, recovering the culture drop (42) at one end (36) of the tube (10),

the steps being carried out in a controlled atmosphere (6).