Embodiments described herein generally relate to passively replacing media in a closed cell expansion system to reduce or prevent the dilution of chemical signaling used to inhibit signaling pathways that keep a cell population in the lag phase of cell growth. To prevent such dilution, active inlet fluid flow to the system may be halted. To replace fluid lost by the system, a bag containing media may be attached to the waste line in replacement of the waste or outlet bag connected thereto. By turning off one or more pumps, media from the replacement bag is added to the system at the rate of evaporation. Chemical signaling dilution may be prevented while conserving system resources. Enhancement of chemical signaling to reduce the lag phase of cell growth may further be accomplished by adding molecules, such as chemical-signaling proteins, from a direct source to the system.

Systems and methods for the dynamic co-culturing of two cell populations are provided. The system includes a barrier configured to physically separate a stimulator cell population from a responder cell population disposed within a container. The barrier is permeable to the secreted factors of at least one of the cell populations. The responder cell population can thereby be altered by exposure to the secreted factors to produce a population of reprogrammed cells that includes biomolecules (e.g., nucleic acids) originating from the stimulator cell population and/or that exhibits one or more additional or modified functional activities than a parental population of the reprogrammed cells.

Provided herein are tubular membrane filter elements, tangential flow filtration systems comprising such filter elements and methods of using such filter elements and filtration systems.

Devices and systems for cell culture that include one or more hollow fibers or channels integrated into a chamber are provided. The hollow fibers or channels and/or the chamber are seeded with one or more cell types. Methods of co-culturing two or more cell types in the devices are also provided.

The present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing and differentiating mammalian stem cells, and in one embodiment human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSc), e.g., manufacturing neuron progenitors, e.g., derived from iPSC, on a large scale by the use of an automated hollow fiber reactor system. In one embodiment, human iPSc that can be differentiated into cardiomyocytes or neuron progenitors are provided. The method comprises seeding a hollow fiber reactor with stem cells such as iPSc, or differentiated iPSc, growing and expanding the seeded cells using appropriate growth factors and nutrients, and harvesting the cells after expansion from the hollow fiber reactor walls, e.g., with the use of an enzyme. The method can produce billions of cells per week from seeding the reactor with a minimum number of starting stem cells or neuron progenitor cells.

The invention relates to devices for the culture of cellular aggregates comprising a three-dimensional network of interconnected vessels of a biocompatible liquid- and gas-permeable photo polymerised material, wherein the three-dimensional network is connected to a plurality of inlets and a plurality of outlets for the delivery of liquids, and overlayed with a secondary hydrogel network wherein the cellular aggregates are embedded. Herein defined vessels within the three-dimensional network are blocked, thereby defining at least one spatially segregated network within and structurally in contact with the three-dimensional network, wherein the at least one spatially segregated network is connected to a separate inlet and a separate outlet, allowing the supply of a liquid to a subregion within the three-dimensional network.

A microalgae culture broth producing system includes a device for culture broth sterilization using a micro bubble generator, an air compression and pressure equalization device for the injection of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the atmosphere into the culture broth. The system also includes an air chilling device to maintain suitable culture broth temperature when water temperature is too high, an automatic carbon dioxide supply device to promote photosynthesis, and a sealed vertical photobioreactor to block out pollutants and increase dissolved carbon dioxide and oxygen concentration. The system further includes a high-efficiency harvesting device using hollow fiber membranes, and a hot air drying device using the waste heat generated by air compression.

The connection support device includes a rod-shaped member insertable into respective hollow portions of two or more cell structures, the rod-shaped member being inserted into the hollow portions, the rod-shaped member including a circular cross section having an outer diameter capable of adhering to inner surfaces of the cell structures when the rod-shaped member contracts after maturing, and a total length longer than a sum of respective lengths of the two or more cell structures, and two presser devices including clamp portions capable of being fixed to the rod-shaped member by clamping and fitting to the rod-shaped member, the rod-shaped member being made of a material with oxygen permeability.

The cell culture system comprises: a culturing tank housing a liquid culture medium containing cells to be cultured; a hydrodynamic separation device for separating liquid medium supplied from the culturing tank into a cell-rich fraction having a relatively high cell density and a cell-poor fraction having a relatively low cell density; and a filtration separator for removing cells from the cell-poor fraction separated by the hydrodynamic separation device and recovering the liquid culture medium. The hydrodynamic separation device uses a vortex flow generated by flow along curved flow channel having a rectangular cross-section to separate the liquid culture medium. Alternatively, the cell-poor fraction from the hydrodynamic separator device is supplied to the culturing tank to reduce the cell density of the liquid culture medium, and the liquid medium is supplied to the filtration separator to remove the cells and recover the liquid medium.

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, nave, memory, or effector, for example.