The present invention provides devices that replicate tumor microenvironments in a microfluidic chip. The devices can be used to model certain disease states related to tumor microenvironments. The devices can be adapted to replicate tumor microenvironments from patient-specific cells such that treatment conditions can be modeled and tailored to individual patients. In some embodiments, the devices are suitable for evaluating cancer therapies on a patient-specific basis.

A method of forming a tissue. The method includes providing a source of a pre-tissue composition comprising endothelial cells. The method also includes perfusing a culture media into the pre-tissue composition using a plurality of primary channels and a plurality of secondary channels to form the tissue, wherein the endothelial cells are configured to form the secondary channels via vasculogenesis.

A millifluidic device for cultures of biological agents comprising: a main body (11) comprising at least a first hole (40) closed at the bottom; a separator (35); a membrane (36) fixed to said separator (35); a plug (15) closing said first hole (40); said separator (35) designed to be placed in said first hole (40); said separator (35) being extractable from said first hole (40); said membrane (36) divides said first hole (40 ) into an upper half-chamber and a lower half-chamber; a pair of tubes (25) to perfuse said lower half-chamber; a pair of tubes (26) to perfuse said upper half-chamber; a first slide (22) placed centrally on said plug (15); a second slide (42) placed centrally on said first hole (40); a cylindrical body (41) rises from said first hole (40) and said second slide (42) is placed on the top of said cylindrical body (41); said cylindrical body (41) has a second hole (43), coaxial to said cylindrical body (41).

The invention relates to a serum-free cell culture perfusion medium comprising the medium components subgrouped into at least three separate aqueous concentrated feeds and a diluent, wherein the resulting serum-free cell culture perfusion medium is pH-adjusting to neutral pH upon mixing. Also provided is a method of preparing said serum-free cell culture perfusion medium. The invention further relates to methods of culturing mammalian cells or producing a protein of interest in perfusion culture using said serum-free cell culture perfusion medium that achieve high productivity at a low cell specific perfusion rate. The invention further relates to the use of the new and improved serum-free cell culture perfusion medium to control osmolality in a perfusion cell culture, wherein increasing osmolality results in an increase in total productivity and/or cell specific productivity by suppressing cell growth during cell culture, e.g., during production phase of perfusion cell culture. Suppression of cell growth particularly reduces or eliminates the need for wasteful cell bleed.

Microfluidic platforms for forming and culturing perfusable hydrogel vascularized tissues typically include one or more culture chambers. Each culture chamber includes at least two openings overlaid over a gel channel. The gel channel typically includes at least two tissue zones and a trapping or insertion portion positioned between the tissue zones. The trapping or insertion portion permits vascular networks to develop between the two tissue zones containing vascularized tissues and/or vascularized tissue masses. The vascularized tissue masses in the tissue zones of the gel channel are connected indirectly, via the vascular network of the trapping portion. Also described are methods of forming and culturing perfusable vascularized tissue masses directly or indirectly interconnected via vascularized networks.

A computer-controlled system designed for multi organ decellularization uses continuous organ perfusion for fast, efficient and reproducible organ scaffold preparation under sterile conditions, allowing organ storage for ready organ regeneration. A single organ version is designed to be used for a single organ recellularization using cell, stem cell and autologous cell of organ receiver solutions for minimal or no immunogenic response, mimicking endogenous organ preparation for patients needing transplantation.

The invention relates to a cell culture device for a three-dimensional cell culture with one or more cell culture units, characterized in that a cell culture unit comprises: i. at least one matrix holder, with a central opening for uptake of a matrix; ii. a support, which is fixedly or reversibly connected to the at least one matrix holder; and iii. a well strip, consisting of a vessel with at least one cavity, which can comprise at least one matrix holder up to the upper end of the central opening or more, wherein the matrix holder is vertically oriented.

A system comprising a respirator, a biochip, and an atomizer for studying respiratory pathogens. The respirator of the system is configured to create breathe-mimicking air movement, the biochip comprises an airway lumen in fluid communication with the respirator, and the atomizer is in fluid communication with the airway lumen of the biochip, according to various embodiments. The atomizer may be configured to generate droplets of a respiratory pathogen (e.g., from liquid inoculum). In various embodiments, the breath-mimicking air movement comprises air volume as a function of time, wherein the respirator is configured to generate breathing cycles.

Systems and methods are provided for evaluating a tissue that utilize a resistance to represent pressure of a fluid or gas passing through the tissue and a capacitance to represent compliance of the tissue.

A bioreactor device includes a solid substrate having a first face and a second face. The solid substrate at least partially defines a perfusion channel, a plurality of chambers, a fluidic inlet, and a fluidic outlet. A first sheet disposed over the first face and a second sheet disposed over the second face. Characteristically, the combination of the solid substrate, the first sheet and the second sheet define the perfusion channel and each chamber of the plurality of chambers. The plurality of chambers are arranged in rows of chambers in which adjacent chambers are positioned at opposite side of the perfusion channel. The perfusion channel extends from the fluidic inlet and the fluidic outlet having a serpentine path along each row of chambers with each chamber being in fluid communication with the perfusion channel.