The present invention relates to a cell determination method for determining a cell type based on a content of glycogen in a cell, including: an acquisition step of acquiring optical path length data by measuring an optical path length of the cell; a calculation step of calculating an optical path length indicator correlated with the optical path length of the cell from the obtained optical path length data; a comparison step of comparing the calculated optical path length indicator with a threshold; and a determination step of determining whether the cell is a cell type having a high glycogen content in the cell or a cell type having a low glycogen content in the cell, based on the comparison result.

A system and method for continuously monitoring as well as identifying and quantifying intracellular components in a cell culture such as microalgal culture of a bioreactor is described. This is done to determine an optimum concentration of intracellular components of interest, such as lipids. The method may be integrated directly with the cultivation chamber to conduct real-time measurements to quickly obtain accurate and continuous information that may be used as feedback to control the cultivation growth conditions. Such characterization may provide highly relevant data to determine if the culture is ready for biofuel processing. If the culture is not ready for biofuel processing, the data allows for the modification of the growth condition in the microalgae culture in order to achieve the desired concentration of the microalgal intracellular component of interest for biofuel processing.

A method and a device for determining a concentration of lipids in a microorganism such as a micro-alga by illuminating a sample containing microorganisms and acquiring a total diffraction pattern of the sample is acquired, the total diffraction pattern including a plurality of unit diffraction pattern each associated with a microorganism.

Functionalized substrates with properties that can control cell-substrate interactions, induce cellular processes and decisions by means of passive and active control to enhance cell proliferation, cell migration and wound healing are provided. By including a sensing electrode on the substrate, it is possible to measure the metabolites of cells or follow the migration of additives like drug molecules in real-time. The present technology provides a new cell culture and imaging platform composed of a transparent and chemically and topographically customized latex film with electrodes that enable real-time measurement of e.g. pH and ion concentration in the cell medium as well as the metabolic states of the cells.

Enclosed reactor systems, each of at least three chambers, fluid flow between the chambers controlled by selectively permeable barriers, flow controlled by an alternating flow diaphragm pump. Also dual diaphragm pump, a diaphragm pump-driven sampling manifold, and a modifier module, all usable with the enclosed reactor systems as well as other systems.

Provided herein are methods for quantifying the concentration of multiple metabolites in a sample. Also provided are methods for relative quantification of multiple metabolites in a sample, methods for monitoring the course of a cell culture, and methods for optimising a cell culture.

This document provides methods and materials for assessing hydrogen peroxide accumulation within cells (e.g., cancer cells) exposed to one or more test agents. For example, methods and materials for determining whether or not cancer cells (e.g., MM cells) from a mammal (e.g., a human) accumulate hydrogen peroxide following contact with a test agent (e.g., an IMID) and exogenous H.sub.2O.sub.2 are provided.

Methods and devices useful for reprogramming microbial cells to grow under different culture conditions are provided. The methods and devices can be used to prepare cultures of new, previously uncharacterized microbial species and for identifying laboratory conditions to culture, propagate, and study microbes that do not grow under standard laboratory conditions. The invention is also useful for characterizing microbiota, such as the communities of microorganisms inhabiting the human body and natural environments such as soil.

The invention relates to a method for determining a concentration of lipids in a microorganism, in particular a micro-alga, wherein: a sample containing microorganisms is illuminated (101); and a total diffraction pattern (12) of the sample is acquired (102), the total diffraction pattern comprising a plurality of unit diffraction patterns (131; 14A; 14B) each associated with a microorganism.

According to the invention, a value of a numerical indicator (In) representative of a dispersion of the light intensity in a zone of interest (13) of the total diffraction pattern is determined (104), and a concentration of lipids (C.sub.x) in the microorganisms is deduced therefrom.

The invention also relates to a device for implementing such a method.

An extra-capillary fluid cycling unit for maintaining and cycling fluid volumes in a cell culture chamber includes a housing and a first flexible reservoir extra-capillary fluid reservoir disposed in the housing. The extra-capillary fluid reservoir is in fluid communication with a cell culture chamber. A second flexible reservoir is also located in the housing, the second flexible reservoir being in fluid communication with a pressure source. A sensor plate is movably disposed in the housing between the extra-capillary reservoir and the second reservoir, wherein the second reservoir is pressurized to move the sensor plate in relation to the extra-capillary reservoir to cause fluid cycling and maintain fluid volumes in the cell growth chamber.