Provided is a novel method of manufacturing a cell-nanoscale thin film composite in which the cell-nanoscale thin film composite can be peeled from a substrate at a controlled timing. The method of manufacturing a cell-nanoscale thin film composite comprises culturing a cell in a cell culture base material in which a nanoscale thin film is provided on an electrode substrate with a self-assembled monolayer interposed therebetween, and reductively desorbing the self-assembled monolayer from the electrode substrate by applying an electric potential to the electrode substrate at a desired timing, so that the cell-nanoscale thin film composite is released.

A high-throughput, three-dimensional microelectrode array for in vitro electrophysiological applications includes a 3D printed well plate having a top face and bottom face, and a plurality of culture wells formed on the top face of the well plate. Each culture well includes a plurality of vertical microchannels on the top face and microtroughs formed on the bottom face and communicating with the microchannels. A conductive paste fills the microtroughs and the microchannels and forms self-isolated microelectrodes in each culture well and conductive traces that communicate with the self-isolated microelectrodes.

Methods for identifying compounds that modulate cellular responses stimulated by IgE, which include providing an impedance-based system that monitors cell-substrate impedance of cells on a substrate; introducing cells to the substrate of the system; adding at least one test compound and IgE to the cells, wherein the at least one test compound is suspected of modulating cell responses stimulated by the IgE; adding an antigen to the cells; monitoring the cell-substrate impedance of cells on the substrate; and analyzing the cell-substrate impedance to evaluate whether the at least one test compound alters a cellular response to stimulation with the IgE.

Microfluidic devices having an electrowetting configuration and an optimized droplet actuation surface are provided. The devices include a conductive substrate having a dielectric layer, a hydrophobic layer covalently bonded to the dielectric layer, and a first electrode electrically coupled to the dielectric layer and configured to be connected to a voltage source. The microfluidic devices also include a second electrode, optionally included in a cover, configured to be connected to the voltage source. The hydrophobic layer features self-associating molecules covalently bonded to a surface of the dielectric layer in a manner that produces a densely-packed monolayer that resists intercalation and or penetration by polar molecules or species. Also provided are microfluidic devices having an electrowetting configuration that further include a section or module having a dielectrophoresis configuration; systems that include any of the microfluidic devices in combination with an aqueous droplet and a fluidic medium immiscible with the medium of the aqueous droplet; related kits; and methods of manipulating droplets, optionally containing micro-objects such as biological cells, within the microfluidic devices.

A method of microbial electrosynthesis using co-cultures is disclosed. In particular, the invention relates to a method of microbial electrosynthesis utilizing a microbial strain capable of electron uptake from an electrode to produce hydrogen or formate in co-culture with a microbial production strain, such as a methanogen, acetogen, or other microorganism capable of synthesizing valuable products from carbon dioxide and hydrogen or formate.

A method for the production of a biofilm at the surface of an electrode in a liquid medium containing bacteria and a substrate for growth of the bacteria, in which a system of electrodes constituted of two electrodes, which are connected to a direct electric current source, is used, these two electrodes are placed in the medium and a predetermined and constant potential difference is applied between the electrodes, by virtue of which biofilms form at the surface of the electrodes. Resulting electrodes and biocells.

The present invention includes devices, systems, and methods for assaying cells using cell-substrate impedance monitoring. In one aspect, the invention provides cell-substrate impedance monitoring devices that comprise electrode arrays on a nonconducting substrate, in which each of the arrays has an approximately uniform electrode resistance across the entire array. In another aspect, the invention provides cellular assays that use impedance monitoring to detect changes in cell behavior or state. In some preferred aspects, the assays are designed to investigate the affects of compounds on cells, such as cytotoxicity assays.

A cell and tissue culture device and method to obtain same are disclosed. An embodiment includes a support electrode having a first electrically-non-conductive substrate sheet, a first patterned circuit made of a conductive ink applied on the substrate, a first plurality of patterned graphene dots connected to the first electrically conductive patterned circuit, a dielectric ink coating having patterned openings for exposing the graphene dots; a multi-well plate having a plurality of wells that receive the culture; a lid electrode having a second non-conductive substrate sheet; a second patterned circuit made of a electrically conductive ink applied on the substrate, a plurality of inserts; a second plurality of patterned graphene dots connected to the second electrically conductive patterned circuit. Each graphene dot is arranged on an insert to apply electrical stimulus to the culture and tissue, wherein the multi-well plate is between the support electrode-and the lid electrode.