A method for designing a microfluidic device includes steps of: a) receiving an input design of a bare microfluidic channel to which one or more cilia layers are to be added, the bare microfluidic channel having a predetermined cross section, the bare microfluidic channel defining an inner surface and an outer surface, a first direction being a fluid flow direction along a length of the bare microfluidic channel and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; b) receiving operation parameters for a ciliated microfluidic channel formed from the bare microfluidic channel, the operation parameters including fluid viscosity and an opposing pressure gradient in an adverse direction to the fluid flow direction; and c) determining cilia design parameters for the one or more cilia layers to be attached to and distributed over the inner surface, the cilia design parameters being determined from the incompressible Brinkman equation.

Culturing of organized 3D networks of neuronal cells is provided. Individual neuronal cells are encapsulated in gel beads. The gel beads are self-assembled into ordered structures in a bioreactor. Subsequent culturing of the cells in the bioreactor leads to the formation of an organized 3D network of the neuronal cells. Such structures have many applications, especially for as says of neuronal network function and/or structure.

A device and a driving method for driving a microfluidic chip are disclosed. The device for driving a microfluidic chip includes a carrying member configured to carry the microfluidic chip; a releasing member configured to electrically connected to the microfluidic chip, and control the release of the reagent of the microfluidic chip a valve control member configured to control the opening and closing of the flow channel in the valve control area of the microfluidic chip when the valve control area is within the valve control range of the valve control member a fluid driving member configured to drive the flow of fluid in the microfluidic chip, and a controller configured to control the driving process of the microfluidic chip.

One or more embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a culture device, which comprises: an accommodation base, an accommodation chamber disposed on the accommodation base. The accommodation chamber includes a culture chamber for accommodating one or more cultures. The culture chamber includes a chamber bottom wall and a chamber side wall surrounding the chamber bottom wall. A culture solution channel is formed between an outer side of the chamber side wall and an inner wall of the accommodation chamber. At least part of the chamber side wall includes a membrane material, and a plane where the membrane material is located intersect with the chamber bottom wall.

The present disclosure provides a method of producing uniformly sized organoids/multicellular spheroids using a microfluidic device having an array of microwells. The method involves several successive steps. First, a microfluidic device containing parallel rows of microwells that are connected with a supplying channel is filled with a wetting agent. The wetting agent is a liquid that is immiscible in water. For example, the wetting agent may be an organic liquid such as oil. In the next step, the agent in the supplying channel and the microwells is replaced with a suspension of cells in an aqueous solution that contains a precursor for a hydrogel. Next, the aqueous phase in the supplying channel is replaced with the agent, which leads to the formation of an array of droplets of cell suspension in the hydrogel precursor solution, which were compartmentalized in the wells. The droplets are then transformed into cell-laden hydrogels. Subsequently, the agent in the supplying channel is replaced with the cell culture medium continuously flowing through the microfluidic device and the cells within the hydrogels are transformed into multicellular spheroids.

A method and device for transfecting a cell to introduce an exogenous material into the cell. The method includes exposing the cell to a region of unsteady flow in the presence of an electric field to encourage introduction of the exogenous material into a cell without lysing the cell.

Embodiments of the invention relate to devices for assaying a biomolecule from a plant sample including: a microfluidic cartridge for assaying a biomolecule from a plant sample, including: a top layer; and a bottom layer spaced apart from the top layer in a generally parallel orientation with respect to the top layer, the bottom layer defining a plurality of wells therein that protrude from a surface of the bottom layer; and a filter module for filtering the plant sample, including a filter body defining: an upper portion including an inlet structure forming an inlet channel; and a bottom portion configured to accept and secure a filter membrane. The filter body is configured to accept a microvolume aliquot of the plant sample, the bottom structure includes an outlet structure forming an outlet channel on an outlet side of the filter membrane, and at least one of the plurality of wells includes an assay reagent solution.

A microfluidic device for analyzing permeability of substances through a membrane. Flow channels pass respective fluid flows with the substances through the housing between respective connectors. An access cavity extends from outside into the housing through the first flow channel and into the second flow channel for accessing an inside of the housing. The membrane can be placed over a cavity opening forming a fluid interconnection between overlapping areas of the flow channels A clamping ring in the first flow channel holds the sample membrane in place over the cavity opening while the membrane is exposed to the respective fluid flows through the flow channels on either sides of the membrane.

Devices, systems, and methods can be used for the automated production of dendritic cells (DC) from dendritic cell progenitors, such as monocytes obtained from peripheral blood. The invention makes it possible to obtain sufficient quantities of a subject's own DC for use in preparing and characterizing vaccines, for activating and characterizing the activation state of the subject's immune response, and to aid in preventing and/or treating cancer or infectious disease.

Described herein are devices, systems, and methods to aid in the manipulation of cells. The devices, methods, and systems disclosed herein can be applied towards, for example, automation of the in vitro fertilization process.