Disclosed is a device for the culture of cells, which device is able to support and/or maintain the cells within an environment which mimics one or more in vivo environmental condition(s). Using these devices, cells can be cultured or maintained under conditions which ensure that the cells behave and respond substantially as they would in vivo. Further, the cells can be stimulated or exposed to exogenous agents (drugs and the like) and any response determined to be one which is indicative of an in vivo response.

The present disclosure relates to a scaffold for culturing and transplanting a cardiac organoid by using a heart extracellular matrix (HEM).

This invention concerns an integrated microfluidic system that utilizes microfluidic chip technology to receive a patient sample including cells, expand the cells, reprogram the expanded cells and then store the reprogrammed cells in a microfluidic chip. These microfluidic chips with stored reprogrammed cells may then be used in scenarios of genetic differentiation into specific cell types. Overall this system and workflow is suitable as a hospital based device that will allow the generation of iPSCs from every patient for downstream diagnostic or therapeutic use.

The present disclosure relates to a pneumatic microfluidic platform for high-throughput studies of cardiac hypertrophy that enables repetitive (hundreds of thousands of times) and robust (over several weeks) manipulation of cardiac μtissues. The platform is reusable for stable and reproducible mechanical stimulation of cardiac μtissues (each containing only 500 cells). Heterotypic and homotypic μtissues produced in the device were pneumatically loaded in a range of regimes, with real-time on-chip analysis of tissue phenotypes. Concentrated loading of the three-dimensional cardiac tissue faithfully recapitulated the pathology of volume overload seen in native heart tissue. Sustained volume overload of μtissues was sufficient to induce pathological cardiac remodeling associated with upregulation of the fetal gene program, in a dose-dependent manner.

Described herein is a microfluidic chip comprising a first channel in fluid communication with an adjacent second channel through a opening, wherein the height of the first channel and the second channel are chosen to generate sufficient surface tension at the opening such that a liquid injected into the first channel or the second channel is substantially confined within the first channel or the second channel, respectively, or that flow of the liquid therebetween is controlled, the surface tension producing a non-physical microfluidic barrier that limits or selectively controls passage of the liquid. Also described are in vitro microphysiological systems that use such microfluidic chips in modeling the structure and functions of human organs, such as a blood-brain barrier, and studying in vivo-like physiological responses of such organs to various investigative or therapeutic agents.

Microfluidic devices with open ports and gel channels for forming perfusable hydrogel vascular networks with holes or ports for samples, and methods of making and using, are provided which integrate interstitial flows to an ex vivo vascularized tissue model. Samples of cells, spheroids, organoids, and tissues can be used for screening of agents for efficacy, toxicity and dosage. The devices create interstitial flow from the top of the gel hole, through the sample toward the vascular networks, and/or luminal flows generated by a pressure difference between two media channels across the vascular network. This system is useful for studying angiogenesis, immune cell migration and testing new immunotherapy drug candidates.

An apparatus can include a triply periodic minimal surface. The apparatus can include a 3D scaffold formed from the triply periodic minimal surface. The apparatus can include one or more channels formed by the 3D scaffold. A method of forming a gas exchange unit can include printing a 3D scaffold formed from a triply periodic minimal surface. The 3D scaffold can include a vascular network configured to conduct a fluid. The 3D scaffold can include one or more channels configured to hold a gas. The vascular network can be embedded inside walls of the 3D scaffold. The one or more channels can be positioned between the walls of the 3D scaffold.

The present invention relates generally to an organ-on-chip microfluidic device (10) comprising a first element (11), a second element (16), and a hydrogel layer (14) which is interposed between the first element and the second element. The shapes and dimensions of the first element, the second element, and the hydrogel layer are determined to enable the hydrogel layer to expand and retract in a given direction in the conditions of use disclosed herein, in particular to mimic organ functions in vitro. The present invention further relates to method of producing the microfluidic device and to application of said microfluidic device in biomedical field, especially for mimicking the architecture and function of organs.

A method displacing a fluid and simultaneously gas enriching a liquid cell culture medium with a gas. The method includes injecting a controlled volume of a gas or gas mixture into a one chamber by using a gas flow controller, the injection taking place through a gas inlet into a volume of liquid. This injection produces bubbling and agitation of the volume of liquid; a build-up of gas or gas mixture due to buoyancy in a hermetic space formed by the volume of liquid and the chamber, and a pressure increase in the chamber until a sufficient controlled pressure is reached of less than or equal to 10 bar. This increase displaces the volume of liquid by a fluid outlet connecting the volume of liquid to the exterior of the chamber. Also provided are a device implementing the method and a cell culture system in a multi-well culture plate.

Disclosed is a toxicity evaluation system including a chip including a passage, in which a sample flows, and a plurality of recesses provided on the passage, and that traps objects included in the sample, and a pump that injects the sample into the chip. Each of the plurality of recesses has a size, by which one spawn included in the sample is trapped.