A pulsatile perfusion bioreactor for culturing one or more engineered blood vessels having a lumen and a wall is provided. The bioreactor includes a chamber for holding the engineered blood vessel and cell culture media; a mechanical property monitoring system for measuring axial tensile stress and strain, circumferential tensile stress and strain, and/or shear stress imparted on the vessel wall; and a pump system for delivering cell culture media through the vessel lumen, wherein the vessel is exposed to a composite pressure waveform and a composite flow waveform as the media is delivered there through. The pump system includes a steady flow and peristaltic pumps. Further, the composite pressure and flow waveforms each include a mean component, a fundamental frequency component, and a second harmonic frequency component. The bioreactor also includes a computer interface for monitoring and adjusting the composite waveforms to maintain a predetermined stress level.

The present invention provides a production module for large-scale production of cells and/or cell-derived products such as antibodies or virus; a production suite comprising a plurality of functionally connected production modules of the invention; and a method for large-scale production of cells and/or cell-derived products using the production modules and/or production suites of the invention.

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.

Described are embodiments for expanding cells in a bioreactor. In one embodiment, methods are provided that distribute cells throughout the bioreactor and attach cells to specific portions of a bioreactor to improve the expansion of the cells in the bioreactor. Embodiments may be implemented on a cell expansion system configured to load, distribute, attach and expand cells.

A waste treatment, pyrolysis and gasification and concerns an apparatus for syngas bio-methanation include a unit for pyrolysis/gasification receiving organic material, the unit for pyrolysis/gasification generating syngas, comprising at least one membrane reactor inside a liquid bath comprising at least one bacteria population, the membrane reactor comprising at least one hollow fiber in contact with the liquid bath, around which a biofilm is formed and into which the syngas from the unit for pyrolysis/gasification flows, so as to convert the syngas into methane. A method for bio-methanation of syngas comprising a step of providing syngas from a unit for pyrolysis/gasification to a membrane reactor inside a liquid bath comprising at least one suitable bacteria population, the membrane reactor comprising at least one hollow fiber in contact with the liquid bath, around which a biofilm is formed and into which the output syngas of the unit for pyrolysis flows, so as to convert the syngas into methane.

A pulsatile perfusion bioreactor for culturing one or more engineered blood vessels having a lumen and a wall is provided. The bioreactor includes a chamber for holding the engineered blood vessel and cell culture media; a mechanical property monitoring system for measuring axial tensile stress and strain, circumferential tensile stress and strain, and/or shear stress imparted on the vessel wall; and a pump system for delivering cell culture media through the vessel lumen, wherein the vessel is exposed to a composite pressure waveform and a composite flow waveform as the media is delivered there through. The pump system includes a steady flow and peristaltic pumps. Further, the composite pressure and flow waveforms each include a mean component, a fundamental frequency component, and a second harmonic frequency component. The bioreactor also includes a computer interface for monitoring and adjusting the composite waveforms to maintain a predetermined stress levels.

This invention is directed to methods of directly reseeding harvested adherent cells grown in a hollow fiber bioreactor. Also disclosed is a novel harvest media for use in directly reseeding adherent cells into a hollow fiber bioreactor.

Embodiments are described that relate to methods and systems for growing cells in a hollow fiber bioreactor. In embodiments, the cells may be exposed to an activator for activating expansion of the cells. The cells may in embodiments include T cells, and the activator may be in different forms, including, for example, antigen presenting cells or beads functionalized with antibodies.

The present disclosure is directed toward membrane biofilm reactors primarily comprising microorganisms that produce chemical fuel products or precursors thereof. Reactors of the present disclosure can primarily comprise acetogens, a methanotrophs, and/or Methanosarcina acetivorans.

Described are embodiments for expanding cells in a bioreactor. In embodiments, methods and systems are provided that distribute cells throughout the bioreactor and attach cells to specific portions of a bioreactor to improve the expansion of the cells in the bioreactor. Embodiments may be implemented on a cell expansion system configured to load, distribute, attach and expand cells.