A system for controlling a motion of a cell culture includes a tray adapted to hold a cell culture, a camera adapted to capture an image of the cell culture, and a device adapted to control a movement of the tray. The system also includes a processor adapted to determine a first movement of the tray, receive from the camera data representing an image of the cell culture, determine a characteristic of the cell culture based on the image data, determine a second movement of the tray based on the characteristic, the second movement being different from the first movement, and cause the tray to move in accordance with the second movement.

Provided are in-vitro methods and devices for sustaining a synchronized circadian rhythm in cells of a cell culture by exposing the cells to a continuous flow of medium and to at least two stimuli provided in an oscillating manner with a periodicity of 244 hours, wherein a first stimulus and a second stimulus of said at least two stimuli are distinct, wherein said first stimulus is provided in a first time period and reaches a first peak in a first peak time period, and wherein a second stimulus is provided in a second time period and reaches a second peak in a second peak time period, and wherein an interval between end of time period of said first peak and beginning of said time period of said second peak is at least about 2 hours.

A dual chamber bioreactor for producing complex, multilayer tissue, organs, organ parts, and skin replacements has been developed. The bioreactor is modular and incorporates a removable tissue culture cassette. By rotating the dual chamber bioreactor along the horizontal axis, different populations of cells with different growth requirements can be cultured on the different surfaces of the tissue culture cassette that are exposed to different media reservoirs. Culturing different populations of cells on different surfaces of the tissue culture cassette enables the production of multilayer tissue and organs. The tissue culture cassette can contain one or more discrete tissue culture sections.

A device for humidifying culturing cells growing on a substrate comprises a first body member having an inner surface defining a pair of spaced troughs opening to the inner surface for holding a humidifying fluid. A portion of the inner surface between the troughs defines at least one recess having an opening for receiving the substrate. A second body member has an inner surface. The second body member is configured to be mounted to the first member such that the substrate is disposed between the inner surface of the first body member and the inner surface of the second body member.

Discloses is a continuous fermenter for sequential fermentation of hexose and pentose which includes (a) a hexose fermenter equipped with a saccharified solution supply unit containing hexose, pentose and lignin, a plurality of trays closing at least half of the diameter of the fermenter, impellers disposed on each of the trays, an impeller driving unit, a lignin discharge unit disposed at the bottom of the fermenter, a fermented solution discharge unit, and a temperature control jacket; and (b) a pentose fermenter equipped with a fermented solution supply unit for supplying the fermented solution discharged from the hexose fermenter, a plurality of trays closing at least half of the diameter of the fermenter, impellers disposed on each of the trays, an impeller driving unit, a lignin discharge unit disposed at the bottom of the fermenter, a fermented solution discharge unit, and a temperature control jacket.

A method for expanding circulating tumor cell in vitro includes preparing a cell culture tool having a multi-particle colloidal crystal layer, preparing a cell solution including circulating tumor cells, and contacting the cell solution with the multi-particle colloidal crystal layer, to attach the circulating tumor cells in the cell solution to the multi-particle colloidal crystal layer and rapidly expand by 20 times or more. The multi-particle colloidal crystal layer at least includes first particles having a particle size of 1000 to 5000 nm and second particles having a particle size of 20 to 400 nm. The culture medium in the cell solution at least includes a platelet lysate.

Equipment for fermentation of beverages, particularly kombucha, that limits alcohol production during fermentation, increases throughput by reducing fermentation times, and utilizes production plant floorspace efficiently. Unlike traditional fermentation equipment that uses large, often cylindrical, vats, embodiments of the invention use vertical stacks of relatively shallow fermentation trays. The shallow trays increase the ratio of surface area to liquid volume, thereby improving oxygen flow to the fermenting liquid; increased oxygen flow reduces alcohol production for kombucha and reduces fermentation time. Air gaps between trays in the vertical stack, and headspace between the top of the fermenting liquid and the tray top edges, are optimized to promote oxygen flow. Fermentation trays are stacked vertically to maintain high production capacity with limited facility floorspace. An additional benefit of vertically stacked shallow trays is that heat generated by fermentation flows vertically up the stack, warming the trays without an external heat source.

A bioreactor for culturing of cells is described. Screens suitable as a cell growth scaffold may comprise crossed fibers. Screens may be contained loosely in a screen holder, which in turn may be contained inside a manifold assembly. A lower manifold, screen holder and upper manifold may have identical or similar interior open cross-sections. Flow of liquid medium can occur upwardly through the array of screens, then flowing over a weir in the presence of an air pocket, and into a moat and a pump. The screen holder may have slots whose exterior-facing ligaments are rounded, and may have grooves whose interior-facing edges are rounded. These components may be located inside an incubator suitable to maintain desired environmental conditions and cleanliness.

A transfection device suitable for delivery of various macrostructures (e.g., mitochondria, bacteria, liposomes) is described and uses mechanical force to thereby induce active endocytosis in a target cell. Contemplated devices are able to achieve high throughput of transfected cells that remain viable and are capable of producing colonies.

Equipment for fermentation of beverages, particularly kombucha, that limits alcohol production during fermentation, increases throughput by reducing fermentation times, and utilizes production plant floorspace efficiently. Unlike traditional fermentation equipment that uses large, often cylindrical, vats, embodiments of the invention use vertical stacks of relatively shallow fermentation trays. The shallow trays increase the ratio of surface area to liquid volume, thereby improving oxygen flow to the fermenting liquid; increased oxygen flow reduces alcohol production for kombucha and reduces fermentation time. Air gaps between trays in the vertical stack, and headspace between the top of the fermenting liquid and the tray top edges, are optimized to promote oxygen flow. Fermentation trays are stacked vertically to maintain high production capacity with limited facility floorspace. An additional benefit of vertically stacked shallow trays is that heat generated by fermentation flows vertically up the stack, warming the trays without an external heat source.