Devices, methods and systems are described for providing controlled amounts of gas, gas pressure and vacuum to microfluidic devices the culturing of cells under flow conditions.

A bioreactor system and packaging is provided. The bioreactor system includes a vessel for housing biomaterials for processing and a support structure. The vessel includes a flexible material defining a chamber and a mixing system positioned within the chamber. The mixing system includes an agitator for imparting motion and mixing to the contents of the vessel and includes a base affixed to the flexible material at a base section of the chamber, a shaft moveably mounted in the base and extending from the base into the chamber and at least one mixing element mounted to the shaft, the shaft configured to be driven by a motor magnetically coupled to the shaft and external to the lower portion of the chamber. The support structure is connected to the mixing system such that the shaft is moveable therein and configured to cooperate with an external structure to provide support for the shaft.

A reciprocating stirrer device with which favorable gas absorption into the stirred substance can be obtained. The reciprocating stirrer device is obtained from: a stirring vessel in which the substance to be stirred is placed; a reciprocating drive shaft provided inside the stirring vessel; a stirring blade connected and affixed so as to intersect the drive shaft; and a microbubble-generating unit. The microbubble-generating unit is obtained from a sparger that is made of a porous body and a gas supply means for supplying a gas to the sparger. Bubbles are generated in the substance being stirred by passing gas supplied to the sparger by the gas supply means through pores of the porous body.

An air-stirred tank reactor (ASTR) and methods of use thereof are described herein. The ASTR is equipped with an impeller or set of impellers that mechanically mixes a liquid culture, as well as sparges gas into the liquid medium. The impeller can further have lighting sources that can illuminate the liquid culture. Unlike conventional bioreactors, the ASTR provides superior liquid mixing, efficient gas mass transfer, and a low-shear culture environment through appropriate impeller rotational speed and sparging rate.

Miniature stirred tank bioreactor and system; the bioreactor configured for single use culturing providing unobstructed culturing volume with sensors, probes and ports using minimally invasive placement in-wall or across the wall methods; the bioreactor further capable of containing scaffolds and features for culturing cells and tissue, including structures providing surfaces for cell growth, and screens for retaining microparticles during media exchange.

A disposable material processing apparatus, useable as a bioreactor or fermenter, includes a hollow tank (101) and a mixing paddle (110) disposed within the interior of the tank and adapted to mix contents therein. The paddle may be isolated within a flexible sleeve (140). Various functional elements, such as a sparger, sensor, material extraction conduit, material addition conduit, and/or heat exchange element may be provided, and optionally arranged to travel with the paddle within the tank interior. Baffles may protrude into a mixing tank to enhance mixing. A tank and/or sleeve may comprise polymeric film materials.

A fluid transfer assembly for single use bioreactors includes a fluid transfer housing that can be mounted to the impeller shaft using a bearing that places the fluid transfer assembly directly below the lowest impeller but allows the impeller shaft to spin inside independently of the fluid transfer assembly. A fluid conduit connects the fluid transfer housing to a port in the single use bag wall which allows fluids to be introduced into the sparger and which also helps prevent the fluid transfer assembly from rotating with the impeller shaft.

Provided are: a biological reaction device that reduces stress and damage visited on microorganisms, etc., in a biological reaction, and enables a biological reaction in which microorganisms, etc., are used to be efficiently and economically performed; and a biological reaction method in which the biological reaction device is used. In order to reduce the stress and damage visited on microorganisms, etc., the amount per minute of a biological culture solution that is extracted from a culture tank and then returned to the culture tank after being admixed with micro-nano-bubbles is set as at least 1% to less than 48% of the biological culture solution accommodated in the culture tank, and the reduction in the dissolved oxygen concentration associated therewith is compensated for by setting the oxygen partial pressure of a gas phase in the upper part of the biological culture solution in the culture tank as at least 0.23 atm to less than 0.6 atm and/or setting the pressure of the gas phase in the upper part of the biological culture solution in the culture tank to at least 1.1 atm to less than 3.0 atm.

Miniature stirred tank bioreactor and system; the bioreactor configured for single use culturing, providing unobstructed culturing volume with sensors, probes and ports using minimally invasive placement in-wall or across the wall methods; the bioreactor further capable of containing scaffolds and features for culturing cells and tissue, including structures providing surfaces for cell growth, and screens for retaining microparticles during media exchange

Reactors, systems and processes for the production of biomass by culturing microorganisms in aqueous liquid culture medium circulating in a loop reactor which utilize substantially vertical flow zones are described. Recovery and processing of the culture microorganisms to obtain products, such as proteins or hydrocarbons is described.