Described are embodiments for expanding cells in a bioreactor. In embodiments, methods and systems are provided that distribute cells throughout the bioreactor and attach cells to specific portions of a bioreactor to improve the expansion of the cells in the bioreactor. Embodiments may be implemented on a cell expansion system configured to load, distribute, attach and expand cells.

An apparatus for growing neuron cells comprises a micro-patterned microfluidic device enables fluidic isolation among microfluidic regions within the device. The device comprises first and second microfluidic regions each having an entry reservoir for accepting or extracting a first and second volume of fluid, respectively. The second volume of fluid is less than the first volume of fluid to create hydrostatic pressure. A barrier region couples the first microfluidic region with the second microfluidic region in a way that enables a biological specimen to simultaneously extend across the regions. The barrier region comprises a plurality of microgrooves having a width and height that enables the volumes of fluid to be fluidically isolated from the other via the hydrostatic pressure maintained via the at least one embedded microgroove.

The present disclosure provides devices and in vitro methods of developing three-dimensional neural tube-like tissues. In some aspects, the disclosure provides devices and methods of developing three-dimensional neural tube-like tissues comprising forebrain-like, midbrain-like, hindbrain-like, and spinal cord-like tissues. In particular, provided herein microfluidic devices and methods of using the same for generating neural tube-like tissues, such as neural-tube like tissues comprising forebrain-like, midbrain-like, hind-brain-like, and spinal cord-like tissues. In some embodiments, uses of such neural tube-like tissues for research, compound screening and analysis, disease modeling, and therapeutics are provided.

Embodiments are described that relate to methods and systems for growing cells in a hollow fiber bioreactor. In embodiments, the cells may be exposed to a number of growth factors including a combination of recombinant growth factors. In other embodiments, the cells may be grown in co-culture with other cells, e.g., hMSC's. In embodiments, the cells may include CD34+ cells.

Proposed are a three-dimensional structuring method of cells and a three-dimensional structuring system of cells capable of efficiently bonding multiple cell clusters in a three-dimensional direction, pursuant to their growth, while ensuring safety. A plurality of fibers, in which one end of each of the fibers is held by a flat plate, are inserted together with the flat plate into a flow path through which a culture solution is supplied, a plurality of cell clusters are placed in the flow path upon causing the cell clusters to run with a liquid flow of the culture solution, and each of the cell clusters is cultured by being stacked on an outer surface of each of the fibers with the flat plate as a growth origin.

Embodiments described herein generally provide for the expansion of cells in a cell expansion system using an active promotion of a coating agent(s) to a cell growth surface. A coating agent may be applied to a surface, such as the cell growth surface of a hollow fiber, by controlling the movement of a fluid in which a coating agent is suspended. Using ultrafiltration, the fluid may be pushed through the pores of a hollow fiber from a first side, e.g., an intracapillary (IC) side, of the hollow fiber to a second side, e.g., an extracapillary (EC) side, while the coating agent is actively promoted to the surface of the hollow fiber. In so doing, the coating agent may be hydrostatically deposited onto a wall, e.g., inner wall, of the hollow fiber.

Embodiments are described that relate to methods and systems for growing cells in a hollow fiber bioreactor. In embodiments, the cells may be exposed to a number of growth factors including a combination of recombinant growth factors. In other embodiments, the cells may be grown in co-culture with other cells, e.g., hMSC's. In embodiments, the cells may include CD34+cells.

A cell culturing system includes a cell culturing device and a support device. The cell culturing device cultures cells by allowing a culture medium inside circulation flow paths connected to the bioreactor to flow inside the bioreactor. The cell culturing device is connected to the circulation flow paths and includes a waste liquid flow path in order to discard the liquid flowing through the circulation flow paths, and a waste liquid accommodation unit in which the liquid guided from the waste liquid flow path is accommodated. A sampling unit, in which the culture medium that is guided from the circulation flow paths to the waste liquid flow path is collected, is connected to the waste liquid flow path.

A cell culturing system is equipped with a cell culturing device and a support device. The cell culturing device comprises a culturing unit and a sampling unit. The support device includes a housing and a sampling support unit. The housing includes an accommodation chamber in which the culturing unit is accommodated. A sampling circuit unit is capable of being attached to and detached from the sampling support unit. The sampling support unit is installed on the outer surface of the housing.

The present invention relates to a hollow microfiber comprising (1) one or more cell-adhesive layers having a cell-adhesive hydrogel, (2) an outer shell layer having a high-strength hydrogel that covers the outer periphery of the cell-adhesive layer that is positioned farthest from the center axis among the one or more cell-adhesive layers, and (3) a cell layer that covers the inner periphery of the cell-adhesive layer that is positioned closest to the center axis among the one or more cell-adhesive layers. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the hollow microfiber and a kit for carrying out the manufacturing method.