The present invention relates to thin filters comprising melt electro spinning writing (MEW) fibers for capturing and culturing circulating tumor cells (CTCs). The invention further relates to processes for producing the filters, methods for capturing and culturing CTCs using the filters, kits and devices comprising the filters and uses of the filters.

A cell manipulation panel includes a pixel array defining multiple pixels, an insulating layer forming multiple vias, and a cell gap provided with a fluid medium having cells therein. Each pixel has a TFT and corresponds to a corresponding via. The TFT includes a gate electrode, a first electrode, and a second electrode partially exposed to the fluid medium through the corresponding via. For each pixel, in an operational mode, when the gate electrode is provided with an OFF signal and the first electrode is not grounded, the TFT is turned off, allowing one of the cells in the fluid medium to be captured in the corresponding via by a dielectrophoresis (DEP) force. When the gate electrode is provided with an ON signal and the first electrode is grounded, the TFT is turned on, and the second electrode is grounded to release the captured cell to the fluid medium.

A cell screening device including a bottom plate, a cell placement membrane, a pair of fluid injection parts, and a flow channel, the flow channel being formed between the bottom plate and the cell placement membrane and extending in such a manner that the flow channel end parts respectively reach the fluid injection parts. In the cell placement membrane, a plurality of wells, each having a size capable of housing a single cell, and through holes are formed. In the back side of each lid, i.e., the ceiling face of the flow channel end part, a debubbling surface, which rises in an inclined or step-like manner as getting closer to a fluid injection hole, is formed.

The methods of the invention employ targeted magnetic particles, preferably targeted nanomagnetic particles, and targeted buoyant particles such as buoyant microparticles and microbubbles. Among the benefits of the invention is the ability to combine targeted magnetic particles with differentially targeted buoyant particles to achieve separation of two or more specifically cell targeted populations during the same work flow.

The present invention provides a cell treatment apparatus that can improve the operating rates of an observation unit and a laser irradiation unit in the case of treating a plurality of cell culture vessels. The cell treatment apparatus of the present invention includes: a cell treatment chamber in which cells in a cell culture vessel are treated; an observation unit that can observe the cells in the cell culture vessel; a laser irradiation unit that can irradiate the cells with lasers; a first moving unit that can move the observation unit; and a second moving unit that can move the laser irradiation unit, wherein the cell treatment chamber includes a plurality of regions in which the cells can be treated, each region includes a first cell culture vessel placement unit and a second cell culture vessel placement unit, in the first cell culture vessel placement unit, the cells in the cell culture vessel are observed by the observation unit, in the second cell culture vessel placement unit, the cells in the cell culture vessel are irradiated with lasers by the laser irradiation unit, the observation unit is moved by the first moving unit in a state of being able to observe the cells in the cell culture vessel in the first cell culture vessel placement unit of each region, and the laser irradiation unit is moved by the second moving unit in a state of being able to irradiate the cells in the cell culture vessel in the second cell culture vessel placement unit of each region with lasers.

Medical instrument includes a substrate, in which cells are in contact with or held on a surface of the substrate, and at least the surface of the substrate which holds the cells is formed of a fluorine-containing cyclic olefin polymer which contains a repeating structure unit represented by Formula (1), ##STR00001##
wherein in Formula (1), at least one of R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 is fluorine, an alkyl with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which contains fluorine, an alkoxy with 1 to 10 carbon atoms which contains fluorine, or an alkoxyalkyl with 2 to 10 carbon atoms which contains fluorine, R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 are selected from hydrogen and certain non-fluorinated groups when R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 do not contain fluorine, R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 may be the same as or different from each other, and R.sup.1 to R.sup.4 may be bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure.

A cell capture system including an array, an inlet manifold, and an outlet manifold. The array includes a plurality of parallel pores, each pore including a chamber and a pore channel, an inlet channel fluidly connected to the chambers of the pores; an outlet channel fluidly connected to the pore channels of the pores. The inlet manifold is fluidly connected to the inlet channel, and the outlet channel is fluidly connected to the outlet channel. A cell removal tool is also disclosed, wherein the cell removal tool is configured to remove a captured cell from a pore chamber.

A microfluidic chip for focussing a stream of particulate containing fluid comprises a sample microfluidic channel configured to receive the stream of particulate containing fluid, a guidance microfluidic channel having a polygonal cross-sectional area and configured to receive a stream of guidance fluid, and a common microfluidic channel having a polygonal cross sectional area formed by the merging of the sample microfluidic channel and the guidance 10 microfluidic channel at an oblique angle along only part of one or more sides of the guidance microfluidic channel, and a detection zone disposed in the common microfluidic channel having one or more sensors. The merging of the sample microfluidic channel and the guidance microfluidic channel is configured to provide a composite fluid stream containing a focussed beam of particulates that is disposed asymmetrically in the common microfluidic channel 15 adjacent a corner or side of the common microfluidic channel and wherein the one or more sensors are configured for sensing a characteristic of the focussed beam of particulates in the common channel.

Protein-rich nutrient supplements and animal feed supplements derived from an anaerobic bacterial process are generated through a myriad of cell rupturing and protein fractionation/purification processes. Bacterial fermentation systems and methods of obtaining one or more protein-containing portions from a fermentation process using carbon monoxide-containing gaseous substrates are provided. The invention further provides compositions of protein-rich nutrient supplements with useful applications for intake by a variety of different animals and humans.

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.