A system for processing biological particles including bioprocessing microfluidic devices, reservoirs, buffer tanks and two fluidic connection systems. A first fluidic connection system includes valves and connecting elements between valves, so that each reservoir or port configured to connect a reservoir may be in fluidic connection with each buffer tank, and a second fluidic connection system includes valves and connecting elements between valves, so that each bioprocessing microfluidic device may be in fluidic connection with each buffer tank.

A cell culture microdevice for maintaining and culturing a cell therein comprising a cell culture unit having at least a first cell carrier unit defining a cell culture chamber formed therein, the first cell carrier unit formed from at least, a chamber base shaped to support the cell thereon, and one or more chamber walls having one or more chamber wall surfaces enclosing the cell culture chamber about a chamber boundary, the first cell carrier unit further providing a guiding surface to guide instruments or fluids into the cell culture chamber located at an aperture through a chamber wall, wherein the cell culture microdevice is configured at a scale to substantially enclose a single cell or cell mass therein. Embodiments of the cell culture microdevice may be suitable for in vitro fertilisation procedures and drug efficacy testing.

The present invention relates to a biocompatible device which comprises on its surface an adsorbed layer of a polymer P which is a copolymer of at least one macromonomer selected from an ester E of (meth)acrylic acid and polyethylene oxide or a polyethylene glycol (meth)acrylamide, at least one monomer M selected from alkyl (meth)acrylate, aryloxyalkyl (meth)acrylate, alkyl (meth)acrylamide or aryl (meth)acrylamide, and at least one cationic monomer C selected from cationic ethylenically unsaturated N-containing monomers. It further relates to a process for making a biocompatible device which comprises on its surface an adsorbed layer of the polymer P comprising the following steps: providing a biocompatible device, and applying to the surface of the biocompatible device a solution S of the polymer Pin a solvent L. It further relates to a solution S comprising the polymer P in the solvent L, where the solvent L comprises an alcohol; and to a process for cultivating cells, comprising the following steps: providing the biocompatible device and cultivating the cells in the supernatant medium above the surface of the biocompatible device.

Disclosed are a microfluidic system and method for isolating target cells or vesicles in a fluid. The system of the present invention comprises a fluid passageway having an inlet and an outlet; one or more ultra-high frequency acoustic resonator capable of generating bulk acoustic waves in the fluid passageway at a frequency of about 0.5-50 GHz; a power regulator which adjusts the power of the bulk acoustic waves generated by the ultra-high frequency resonator; and a flow rate regulating device that regulates the velocity of the solution flowing through the bulk acoustic wave region. Adjusting the power of the generated bulk acoustic waves by means of the power regulator and/or adjusting the velocity of the solution flowing through the bulk acoustic wave region by means of the flow rate regulating device allow cells or vesicles to stay in a bulk acoustic wave-affected region. The system and method of the present invention can capture and release cells or vesicles in a solution, and further process and analyze the obtained cells or vesicles.

A culture device is applicable to measurement of an electrical resistance of cells. The culture device includes a measurement chamber, a permeable layer, an upper working electrode, and a lower working electrode. The measurement chamber is longer in a first direction than in a second direction intersecting the first direction. The permeable layer partitions the measurement chamber into a first chamber on an upper side and a second chamber on a lower side. The permeable layer is permeable to liquid. The upper working electrode is disposed on the upper side with respect to the measurement chamber, and has working electrode portions longer in the first direction than in the second direction. The lower working electrode is disposed on the lower side with respect to the measurement chamber, and has working electrode portions longer in the first direction than in the second direction.

The present invention provides compositions, systems, kits, and methods for combining a. single myeloma cell and a single B-cell (e.g., from an animal exposed to a desired antigen) via discrete entity (e.g., droplet) microfluidics. In certain embodiments, a microfluidic device is used to merge a discrete entity containing a B-cell, and a discrete entity containing a myeloma cell, and a discrete entity containing gellable material, at a merger region via a trapping element in order to generate a combined discrete entity. In further embodiments, the combined discrete entity is treated such that a gelled discrete entity is formed.

A pumpless microfluidic system is disclosed that can be used to mimic the interaction of organ systems with the immune system. Also disclosed is a method for mimicking an immune system, comprising culturing a plurality of organ cells and at least one population of immune cells in the disclosed pumpless microfluidic system under physiological conditions. The method can further comprise activating an immune reaction in the pumpless microfluidic system, continuing the culture for a defined period, collecting a sample of culture medium from the system, and assaying the sample for one or more indicators of an immune response.

There is provided a microfluidic device comprising a first region configured to hold target cells, e.g., tumor cells, a second region configured to hold effector cells, e.g., immune cells, and an array of microstructures disposed between the first and second regions, wherein the first region is in fluid communication with the second region, and wherein the array of microstructures is configured to selectively allow movement of immune cells, from the second region to an interaction zone that is at least partially disposed within the first region, for interaction with tumor cells in the interaction zone. The array of microstructures can be an array of micropillars. Also provided is a chip comprising a plurality of the device and a method of studying interactions of a first cell type with a second cell type.

The invention generally relates to a microfluidic platforms or “chips” for testing and conducting experiments on the International Space Station (ISS). More specifically, microfluidic Brain-On-Chip, comprising neuronal and vascular endothelial cells, will be analyzed in both healthy and inflamed states to assess how the circumstances of space travel affect the human brain.

An integrated microfluidic chip and a single-cell culture, screening, and export method applying the same are disclosed; the chip includes a base, an inlet flow channel, an outlet flow channel, a plurality of common flow channels and a plurality of functional units, wherein two ends of the common flow channel are connected to the inlet flow channel and the outlet flow channel, respectively, wherein each of the functional units includes a single-cell introduction port, a cell culturing-screening chamber, a cell export chamber, a cell export port, and a drive element, wherein the drive element is used to provide power to liquid to introduce single cells entering the common flow channels into the cell culturing-screening chamber, and after culturing and screening, to export target cell population in the cell culturing-screening chamber through the cell export port.