A thin, soft sensor array system that can be deployed over the surfaces of bag bioreactors. The sensor array is fabricated using microfabrication processes along with functionalization methods necessary for measuring pH, glucose, and temperature. Miniature integrated circuit (IC) components are incorporated with the thin-film circuits, allowing for the real-time, on-board data analysis and wireless data communication.

Provided is a bioreactor assembly that includes a plurality of cultivation bags at least one flexible temperature control bag having a thermostating fluid, and a tray adapted to rock back and forth around at least one axis. The flexible temperature control bag is mounted on the tray and the cultivation bags are located on the flexible temperature control bag.

The present invention pertains to a method for the mass cultivation of cells, and a cell cultivation device and kit. The present invention further pertains to a continuous cell cultivation method and a continuous cell cultivation device in which a carrier is used.

The present disclosure generally pertains to a biomimetic array device and methods of using the device to expose biological samples to an array of fluids. The device includes a cassette and an inlet region, where the cassette comprises at least one microchamber array and at least one microchannel. Each microchamber within a microchamber array has a top interface that is open to the external environment, so that a biological sample placed at the top interface is positioned to draw fluid from the microchambers. The inlet region comprises at least one well and at least one inlet channel, each well in fluid communication with one inlet channel. Fluid deposited into wells flows through each inlet channel and microchannel in fluid communication with each well containing fluid, so that each microchamber within one microchamber array provides an approximately equal volume of fluid to the biological sample.

A microfluidic device (100) is disclosed for in-process monitoring of cell culture conditions including for example one or more of: cell density; cell viability; secreted proteins; protein analysis; epitope markers; concentrations of metabolites or nutrients and antigenic determinations; the device comprising: a cell inlet path (120); plural fluid reservoirs (130) in fluid communication with the cell input path, a cell analysis area (160) in fluid communication with the path and reservoirs, and a waste storage volume (166) also in fluid communication with the cell analysis area, the device being operable to cause a primary fluid flow along the inlet path to the analysis area, and to selectively cause secondary fluid flow(s) into the path from none, one or more of the selected reservoirs to combine, if one or more of the reservoirs are selected, with the primary fluid flow from the cell inlet path, in each case for analysis at the cell analysis area, the device being further operable to cause a fluid flow of the primary and any combined secondary flows from the cell analysis area into the waste storage volume.

The invention provides an automated apparatus of cell culture having tanks of culture medium, of growth factors and of cells to be cultured, an incubator having a thermostated enclosure which houses a cell culture vessel, and control computer system. A supporting and agitation device of the culture vessel is provided in the enclosure, and the culture vessel is formed by a bag having at least one inlet port connected to the tanks and one outlet port connected devices for harvesting and storage of the cells after culture, these harvesting and storage devices and tanks being located outside the enclosure and being connected to the cell expansion bag ports by conduits which together with the cell expansion bag form a preassembled module passing through a wall of the enclosure.

The described invention provides an ex vivo dynamic multiple myeloma cancer niche contained in a pumpless perfusion culture device. The dynamic multiple myeloma cancer niche includes (a) a three-dimensional tissue construct containing a dynamic ex vivo bone marrow niche, which contains a mineralized bone-like tissue containing viable osteoblasts self-organized into cohesive multiple cell layers and an extracellular matrix secreted by the viable adherent osteoblasts; and a microenvironment dynamically perfused by nutrients and dissolved gas molecules; and (b) human myeloma cells seeded from a biospecimen composition comprising mononuclear cells and the multiple myeloma cells. The human myeloma cells are in contact with osteoblasts of the bone marrow niche, and the viability of the human myeloma cells is maintained by the multiple myeloma cancer niche.

A culture system comprises: a preparatory culture vessel and a main culture vessel that accommodate cells and a solution; a main stage that holds the preparatory culture vessel and the main culture vessel; a connecting tube that connects the culture vessels; a valve that opens and closes the connecting tube; and a rotating mechanism that rotates the main stage and imparts a height difference between the culture vessels to transfer the cells and solution by dropping between the culture vessels.

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for culture of cell aggregates. The subject invention utilizes three-dimensional (3-D) inserts comprising micro-channels having selected dimensions. The inserts are provided in or on tissue culture plates that can be supported on a programmable rocking platform/station, thereby providing for a hydrodynamic environment that promotes 3-D aggregation of cells cultured on the plates. The supporting rocker is programmed to provide motion that generates hydrodynamic conditions that support 3-D cell aggregation and long-term culture. The subject invention also concerns an apparatus comprising a tissue culture vessel that comprises a 3-D insert of the present invention, and a programmable rocking platform/station that can provide motion to the vessel provided thereon, thereby generating hydrodynamic conditions and wave motion that support 3-D cell aggregation and cell culture. The subject invention also concerns methods for growing 3-D aggregates of cells.

A bioreactor vessel includes a body having upper and lowerends and a hollow interior cavity formed in the body, the interior cavity located between the upper and lower ends, the interior cavity being configured to receive biomaterials for processing. The interior cavity includes a lower boundary that is angled toward the lower end of the body such that the vessel may be tilted to allow biomaterials within the interior cavity to be extracted and. concentrated and/or washed without the need for a separate bioprocessing device.