The invention provides a structured cell growth matrix or assembly comprising a one or more spacer layers and one or more cell immobilization layers. The invention further provides a bioreactor comprising said matrix or assembly.

At least one elongated photobioreactor, at a small angle relative to horizontal and mixed substantially or entirely by large bubble flow, is used for contained cell culture, e.g., microalgae cultivation. Elongated, flexible, transparent, polymeric photobioreactor tubes, in near-grade and near-horizontal (e.g. sloped 1 degree to 3 degrees) orientation, and use of low-pressure air mixing, allow very inexpensive construction and operation. Multiple elongated tubes may be used for an independent operation of the multiple photobioreactor tubes for the same or different cells, e.g., microalgae and different applications. Low-pressure air is delivered near the low end of the bioreactor at less than 10 psig and without sparging, to produce large air bubbles that travel from the low end to the high end of the bioreactor, for turbulent mixing and gas exchange. Each inexpensive, flexible bioreactor tube is easily modified to improve internal flow characteristics and suspension of cells, and/or to include sensor and/or sampling collars and ports.

A medical device includes a hollow shaft, a hollow housing, and a syringe. The syringe has a housing defining a fluid receiving chamber and a plunger slidably received therein. The shaft extending distally from the plunger and exiting the syringe via a distal opening therein. A proximal portion of the shaft includes a first opening permitting fluid flow from a central lumen of the shaft to an exterior thereof. The first opening is located on the shaft so that the first opening remains within the syringe through an entire range of motion of the plunger. A distal end of the shaft is surrounded by an absorbent material. The hollow housing extends distally from the syringe and surrounding the shaft. The housing is sized so that, when the plunger is withdrawn to a proximal-most position, the distal end is received within the housing and, when the plunger is advanced distally through the syringe, the distal end is extended distally out of a distal opening in the housing.

The connection support device includes a rod-shaped member insertable into respective hollow portions of two or more cell structures, the rod-shaped member being inserted into the hollow portions, the rod-shaped member including a circular cross section having an outer diameter capable of adhering to inner surfaces of the cell structures when the rod-shaped member contracts after maturing, and a total length longer than a sum of respective lengths of the two or more cell structures, and two presser devices including clamp portions capable of being fixed to the rod-shaped member by clamping and fitting to the rod-shaped member, the rod-shaped member being made of a material with oxygen permeability.

An apparatus for enhancing bacterial sporulation comprising a laminar flow chamber including a plurality of laminar flow tubes that smooth flow of coolant, a coolant input port that is coupled to the laminar flow chamber that supplies the coolant to the laminar flow chamber from a coolant source, a transparent tube section that is coupled to the laminar flow chamber and includes light-emitting diode (LED) light modules, the transparent tube section receives the smoothed flow of coolant from the laminar flow chamber, a culture solution tube that traverses through the laminar flow chamber and the transparent tube section, wherein a portion of the culture solution tube that is within the transparent tube section is surrounded by the coolant and is exposed to light from the LED light modules, and a culture solution input port that is coupled to the culture solution tube and supplies a culture solution to the culture solution tube.

A system for growing algae includes a photobioreactor comprising a tubular structure having inner and outer surfaces, an annular space defined between the inner and outer surfaces, an inlet to allow an algae slurry to enter the annular space, and a mechanism configured to produce radially-directed contractions and expansions in the tubular structure. At least one of the inner and outer surfaces is transparent to at least some wavelengths of light useful for growing algae within the algae slurry.

It is solved by the rod-shaped tubular cell structure maintaining support device for cultivating a tubular cell structure including a hollow portion inside for a predetermined period of time while maintaining the hollow portion, the tubular cell structure maintaining support device including an outer diameter insertable into the hollow portion of the cell structure, and when inserted into the hollow portion, capable of allowing the tubular cell structure maintaining support device to adhere to an inner surface of the cell structure, and a penetration conduit including openings at both ends of the tubular cell structure maintaining support device, and penetrating between the openings, wherein the tubular cell structure maintaining support device has an oxygen permeable structure from the penetration conduit to an outer surface of the tubular cell structure maintaining support device.

High-throughput column arrays of vascularized living parenchyma/tissue having pillars dispersed in specialized configurations and arrangements substantially vertically through the column to provide support, passive or active perfusion, and access to internal portions of tissue for analytical sampling needs, along with 3-D printing methods of manufacture and analytical screening methods employing the column arrays.

The producing method includes causing a cell suspension to flow into a tubular flow path; injecting a gel precursor into the flow path to cover the circumference of the cell suspension with the gel precursor; injecting a gas into the flow path to form, in the flow path, an alternating flow obtained from the gas and the cell suspension covered with the gel precursor; and injecting a gelating agent into the flow path and causing the gelating agent to join the alternating flow to the gel precursor.

Disclosed is a method for preparing an implant including a culture of cells on a membrane, the method including steps that consist of: securing the membrane to a mounting; placing the membrane in a recess of a housing providing two spaces having adjusted heights, above and below the membrane; injecting, into the spaces, a liquid capable of transforming into gel at a transport temperature lower than an injection temperature of the liquid; and bringing the housing to the transport temperature, so as to form an implant including the membrane and two layers of gel having adjusted thicknesses, on two opposite faces of the membrane, respectively.