The invention provides a bioreactor and methods for tissue cultivation. A bioreactor module comprises a container, a holder adapted to hold a scaffold containing an inherent vascular network, an inlet connectable to a vessel of the inherent vascular network, an inflatable device disposed within the container, and a pair of electrodes attached to opposing walls of the container, wherein the holder is removably receivable in the container and the inflatable device has a conduit extending through a wall of the container. An alternative embodiment provides an in-vitro method for tissue cultivation, comprising seeding an interior and an exterior of a vessel of an inherent vascular network of a scaffold with a first and a second cell type, respectively, and perfusing through the inherent vascular network with culture medium to facilitate compartmentalized co-cultivation of the first and the second cell type in different niches of the tissue. A further embodiment provides an in-vitro method for tissue cultivation, comprising seeding a surface of a scaffold with a predetermined cell type, and perfusing the scaffold with culture medium from an opposite surface of the scaffold through the scaffold and towards the seeded surface to create a nutrient/oxygen gradient and cause migratory diffusion induced penetration of cells towards the opposite surface.

A Neural Circuit Probe (NCP) combines a multi-electrode array (MEA) with an automated local probe, wherein the probe is positioned to interact with one or more cells, such as neurons of a neural circuit, grown on or about one or more electrodes of the multi-electrode array. The probe may interact with the cells by electrically recording signals from the multi-electrode array that are assigned to a specific one of the cells. The probe may interact with the cells by locally delivering chemicals to the cells, which transiently and reversibly modulate the electrical behavior of the cells. The probe may interact with the cells by harvesting the cells using a pipette, so that the harvested cells can be sequenced.

The invention relates to a device for applying an electric field to a suspension of cells, comprising at least one chamber which comprises at least one internal space (40) for holding the suspension, the internal space (40) comprising at least two segments (41, 42), wherein each segment (41, 42) comprises at least one electrode (43, 44) and wherein neighboring electrodes (43, 44) are separated from each other by at least one gap (47) which is at least partially filled with an insulating material (46), and wherein the edges of the electrodes (43, 44) facing each other within the internal space (40) are rounded. Rounding the electrodes' edges facing a neighboring electrode results in a significant reduction of field gradients and thus even of the risk of arcing. The invention further concerns a method, wherein voltage is applied to at least one active electrode (43, 44) while the electrodes (43, 44, 45) or electrode segments next and/or opposite to the active electrode (43, 44) are set to ground potential. Setting neighboring electrodes that surround the active electrode to ground potential results in decreased scattering of the electric field within the internal space so that the electrically active area is locally limited and the field lines are focused near the active electrode and thus control of the process is enhanced.

Provided herein are cell assay devices, methods of assaying the activity of immune cells on target cells, and methods of selecting a treatment for a subject having cancer. Described herein are cell assay devices comprising a biocompatible substrate having an upper surface supporting a plurality of arrays of spots comprising an adhesion-promoting material; a biocompatible membrane having top and bottom surfaces and positioned adjacent to the upper surface of the substrate and defining a plurality of chambers within the membrane between the top surface and the bottom surface of the membrane, wherein the membrane comprises at least two openings in the top surface of the membrane into each chamber to provide access to the chambers.

An integrated package comprising a lab-on-chip (LOC) is disclosed. The LOC includes at least one integrated device having a membrane portion having a membrane opening; the membrane portion having a first side and a second side, the first side opposite the second side, a MEMS portion disposed on the first side of the membrane portion, the MEMS portion having a sharp member disposed on an actuator stage within a MEMS cavity, and a fluidic portion disposed on the second side of the membrane portion, the fluidic portion having a fluidic cavity for flowing a fluid medium within the fluidic portion; and a fluidic cap forming a surface of the fluidic portion of the LOC, the fluidic cap having a fluidic inlet and a fluidic outlet. The method of operating the LOC includes power to the at least one integrated device to capture one or more particles for interrogation.

The present invention provides a system and method for measuring the impedance of one more target cells before and after an electroporation protocol has been applied to the cells. The result of the impedance measurement provides a feedback control that can be implemented during and/or after the electroporation protocol to customize the electrical treatment for a particular target cell or cellular tissue.

The present disclosure provides cassettes for use in automated cell engineering systems that include cell separation filters for capturing a target cell population for automated processing. The disclosure also provides methods of separating a target cell population, as well as automated cell engineering systems using the cassettes and for carrying out the methods.

Several needle assemblies and intracellular delivery devices that are used for the delivery of prophylactic and/or therapeutic material (i.e., delivered agents) into a tissue of a subject are disclosed. Preferably, the needle assemblies and/or the intracellular delivery devices comprise needles and/or needle electrodes, which are disposed in an array (e.g., a Y-type array having three outer needles and a center needle), wherein each needle in the array has a closed end and a plurality of apertures along each needle barrel, and the apertures on the needle barrels of the outer needles of the array are positioned to deliver the delivered agent toward the apertures of the center needle and/or an adjacent needle, but not outside of the active zone defined by the area within the needle array and the apertures on the needle barrel of the center needle are positioned to deliver the delivered agent toward the outer needles.

An electroporation device with a volume of varying cross sectional area that as a fast assay device for determining the optimal conditions for plasma membrane electroporation.

Systems and methods are provided for transfecting cells, such as mammalian cells and nonmammalian cells, using an electroporation apparatus having an electroporation chamber including a first electrode, a second electrode and a path defined in the electroporation chamber. The electroporation apparatus includes a first input allowing passage of cells and cargo into the electroporation chamber and a first output allowing passage of electroporated cells from the electroporation chamber.