The present invention relates to a bioreactor for cell culture. According to an embodiment of the present invention, vibration is provided to a cell culture solution (solution) to facilitate cell separation, and, since the vibration is transmitted to the entire cell culture solution without dead zones, cell separation efficiency is excellent.

Devices for treatment of cells are disclosed. The devices include an elongated housing and at least one hollow fiber semi-permeable membrane positioned within the housing having a plurality of pores dimensioned to prevent passage of the cells to be treated. Systems for treatment of cells including the device are disclosed. Methods of treating cells, including transducing cells and activating cells, are also disclosed. The methods include introducing a biosample with cells to be treated into the device, introducing media to suspend and release treated cells into the device, and discharging the treated cells from the device.

The present invention relates to a novel method of preparing a liquid flavouring ingredient by use of fermentation. In particular, the method involves recycling a part of the microorganisms used in the fermentation of flavour and aroma compounds back to the bioreactor for fermentation, while another part of the microorganisms are maintained in the obtained liquid flavouring ingredient. The obtained liquid flavouring ingredient is suitable for use as a taste enhancer and can be used in food products, such as dairy products, sauces, dressings, seasonings, meat products, bread, and sauerkraut.

A liquid filtration system according to the present invention comprises a bioreactor; a filter configured to filter liquid passing therethrough; a perfusion pump configured to move liquid between the bioreactor and the filter; a liquid line providing fluidic communication between the bioreactor, perfusion pump and filter; and a bleed outlet provided on the liquid line, the bleed outlet configured to provide means to remove liquid selectively from the system under the action of the perfusion pump. With the liquid filtration system according to the present invention, both the filtering and bleed functions may be performed under the action of a single pump, thereby significantly reducing the complexity and cost of the components required.

Embodiments described herein generally provide for the expansion of cells in a cell expansion system using an active promotion of a coating agent(s) to a cell growth surface in some embodiments. A coating agent may be applied to a surface, such as the cell growth surface of a hollow fiber in a bioreactor, by controlling the movement of a fluid in which a coating agent is suspended, by changing flow rates, by changing flow directions, by rotation of the bioreactor, and/or combinations thereof.

A device for treatment of cells with particles is disclosed. The device includes a semi-permeable membrane positioned between two plates, the first plate defining a first flow chamber and comprising a port, a flow channel, a transverse port, and a transverse flow channel, the first flow chamber constructed and arranged to deliver fluid in a transverse direction along the first side of the semi-permeable membrane, the second plate defining a second flow chamber and comprising a port. A method for transducing cells is disclosed. The method includes introducing a fluid with cells and viral particles into a flow chamber adjacent a semi-permeable membrane such that the cells and the viral particles are substantially evenly distributed on the semi-permeable membrane. The method also includes introducing a recovery fluid to suspend the cells and the viral particles, and separating the cells from the viral particles. A method of activating cells is disclosed.

The bioreactor can use a number of different culture growing structures for culturing cells including a lattice structure and a support matrix structure. The culture growing structure whether it be a support matrix using wicking and/or a lattice structure may be coated with a thermal responsive polymer. The material of interest growing on the culture growing structure can be removed by changing the temperature that the thermal responsive polymer on the surface of the culture growing structure is exposed to and thus in some cases release the thermal responsive polymer along with the material of interest from the remainder of the culture growing structure.

A conjugation device includes at least one flow reactor having an inlet and an outlet, the flow reactor(s) being completely filled with a support such as a matrix including 1) chromatography beads, fibers or membranes, and 2) a biologic catalyzer, namely the enzyme ligase, which is immobilized onto this support; a fluid delivery unit in fluid communication with the inlet of the flow reactor(s) and configured to continuously provide the flow reactor(s) with at least one kind of reaction fluid such as antibody and linker-payload according to stages of the conjugation process, the at least one kind of process fluid including a first moiety and a second moiety of a conjugate to be produced; and a fluid collection unit in fluid communication with the outlet of the flow reactor(s) and configured to control collection of fluid flowing out of the outlet of the flow reactor(s) according to the stages of the conjugation process. In a period of enabling the at least one kind of reaction fluid to continuously flow through the flow reactor(s), a conjugation reaction is conducted between the first moiety and the second moiety under catalysis of the ligase to produce the conjugate.

The present disclosure provides a cell separation apparatus for a bioreactor, which comprises: a cell separation component, which is arranged in a tank and immersed below the liquid level of the mixture and includes a filter membrane and a liquid guiding groove; and a tangential flow driving component, which includes one or more blades. The cell separation apparatus implements a low shear force and the filter membrane is not blocked easily. The present disclosure also provides a stirring system including a central shaft and a multi-layer paddle component. The multi-layer paddle component includes an upper paddle component, an intermediate paddle component and a bottom paddle component arranged around the central shaft.

The present invention relates to a low specific gravity microcarrier-based cell culture apparatus and a method of monitoring cell culture using the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to four-dimensional cell culture that enables monitoring of the growth state of cells by reflecting a time factor in three-dimensional cell culture and is capable of stable cell expansion culture by minimizing change in cell characteristics.