An apparatus (8) for isolating corneal endothelial cells (34) (CECs) includes a base portion (10) having an interior recessed opening (14) with a bottom surface (16). A convex projection (18) is centrally located on the bottom surface (16) and is configured to receive an inverted cornea (32). A top portion (12) is configured to mate with the base portion (10). The top portion (12) includes a fluid chamber (24) with a lower surface (20). The lower surface (20) has an opening (22) therein in which the convex projection (18) projects when the top portion (12) is mated with the base portion (10).

The subject invention provides systems and apparatuses for producing microbe-based compositions that can be used in the oil and gas industry, environmental cleanup, as well as for other applications. More specifically, the present invention includes biological reactors, equipment, and materials for fermenting microbe-based compositions.

Systems and methods for complete medium exchange using two bioreactors and at least one external separation and retention device designed for therapeutic cells grown as aggregates, on the surface of microcarriers, or as single cells, for scalable expansion and/or directed differentiation.

A photobioreactor system includes vessel for containing a biomass and a plurality of illuminators which may have solid state devices embedded therein or coupled thereto. The light energy is distributed in the vessel volume by the illuminators so as to reach substantially all of the biomass being circulated in the vessel. Biomass may exit the top of the vessel and be refreshed with nutrients and liquid before being reintroduced at the bottom of the vessel. Carbon dioxide is introduced at the bottom of the vessel. The biomass may be agitated either ultrasonically or by motion of the illuminators. A source of energy for the light sources may be solar panels with battery storage and the carbon dioxide may be a byproduct of thermal power generation.

A formulation for a culture medium that is specifically designed to supplement a culture of differentiating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with the factors necessary for high density manufacture of red blood cells (RBCs) while only requiring partial medium exchanges on a periodic basis. Further, the present disclosure identifies a factor, iron (III) citrate, also referred to as ferric citrate, that can supplant more commonly utilized sources of biological iron in culture medium for a more stable, more cost-effective medium formulation for superior vertical scalability.

This disclosure describes hardware for microfluidic chips and an associated platform for facilitating operation of one or more microfluidic chips. The microfluidic chips described herein are designed for supporting multiple different tissue types, including kidney tissue, liver tissue, adipose cells, and so forth. Chip geometry facilities fluid flow through one or more channels of the chip with a particular flow rate. For example, shear forces are reduced where needed to ensure proper flow rate of fluid in the channels. The chamber geometry and the geometry of the channels ensures that a desired amount of oxygen is delivered to sample cells or tissues in a controlled manner.

In accordance with various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, a system, device and platform for culturing and maintaining tissue representative cellular models combined with active fluidics mimicking body circulation. In combination, multiple chamber devices enable modeling of multi-organ communication, representative of in vivo conditions.

According to present disclosure, there is disclosed an algae growth and cultivation system that provides a cost-efficient means of producing algae biomass as feedstock for algae-based products, such as, biofuel manufacture, and desirably impacts alternative/renewable energy production, nutrient recovery from waste streams, and valued byproducts production. The system as discussed herein is an integrated systems approach to wastewater treatment, algal strains selection for byproducts production, and recycle of algal-oil extraction waste or additional algae harvested as feedstock for fertilizer production. Embodiments of a system as discussed herein present an economically viable algae production system and process that allows algae-derived products such as biofuels, fertilizer, etc. to compete with petroleum products in the marketplace.

A fluid sampling system for biotechnological applications, comprises a bioreactor chamber (2) for a fluid culture medium (4) containing cells (6) and further comprising transfer means (8) for transferring controlled amounts of culture medium from said bioreactor chamber to a target container (10). The transfer means comprise: a perfusion probe (12) with a fluid-tight probe housing surrounding an internal probe volume (14) and having an inlet probe aperture (16) and an outlet probe aperture (18); a fluid filtering element (20) sealingly connected to the probe housing and forming a cover of the inlet probe aperture. A fluid connection line comprises a fluid receptacle (30) disposed between the outlet probe aperture (18) of the perfusion probe and the target container (10) and disposed on a weight measuring station (32) configured for acquisition of a weight signal corresponding to the fluid receptacle's momentary weight.

An inverted conical bioreactor is provided for growing cells or microorganisms. The bioreactor has an internal space and a perforated barrier within the vessel, through which a liquid may flow, where cells or microorganisms cannot pass through the perforated barrier. The perforated barrier divides the internal space of the bioreactor into a first chamber and a second chamber. Cells are grown within the second chamber and can be perfused by re-circulating the liquid, for example a growth medium, through the bioreactor. Various inlet ports and outlet ports allow controlling the parameters of flow of the growth medium.