Disclosed herein are scalable, modular bioreactor systems for efficient preparation of cell-based tissues. Also disclosed herein are methods, compositions, and apparatuses for preparing scaffolds.

The present invention relates to a novel bioreactor system for cell cultivation. More specifically, the invention relates to a compact bioreactor system which has several integrated functions and enables small scale static culture as well as scale-up rocking culture in the same bioreactor. The bioreactor system comprises tray for positioning of a cell culture bag having adjustable volume, a lid covering the cell culture bag and provided with heating function, an integrated perfusion unit, an integrated cell loading unit, and an integrated unit for automatic cell culture sampling, wherein the bioreactor system is controlled by a single control unit. The invention also relates to a method of cell culture using the bioreactor system for culture of therapeutic cells.

The invention relates to a method, to a device, and to a system for the automated determination of optical densities or of the change in optical densities of reaction mixtures in shaken reactors during shaking operation. Methods and devices currently used therefor are often unreliable, are susceptible to environmental and process factors, or require interruptions to the shaking operation that impair the process control. The problem addressed by the invention is that of specifying a method and a device for the automated determination of optical densities or of the change in optical densities of reaction mixtures in shaken reactors during shaking operation that operate reliably under various environmental and process conditions. This problem is solved by means of a new measurement method, wherein the reaction mixture distribution, which periodically fluctuates because of the shaking action, is used to record measurement points (20/21) of transmission/scattered-light measurements, which measurement points fluctuate periodically as a result of shaking. All measurement points (20/21) of a measurement operation are combined into a measurement series (34), from which the optical density and/or the change in the optical density, and other process parameters, can be determined with high reliability by means of suitable mathematical methods. The invention is suitable in particular for biotechnological, pharmaceutical, chemical, and biochemical screening and optimization and process-monitoring applications.

Cell culture apparatus is disclosed comprising: a cell culture container comprising a flexible tube; a support table; and a pair of opposed holders for holding opposed portions of the tube in a fluid tight manner such that fluid cannot pass through the respective portion inside the tube, the spacing between the said pair being adjustable to provide an adjustable sealed volume in the tube between the holder pair.

Cells may be cultured by a method including the following steps: a first step of preparing a population of cell aggregates having a major axis of not more than 400 μm, and a second step of suspension culturing the population of cell aggregates obtained in the first step.

The present invention relates to a bioreactor including at least one reactor vessel in form of a plastic bag, a tray (4) for holding said at least one bag, a rocking device for limited rocking motions of the tray (4) around a rocking axis (2). According to the invention the bioreactor comprises a device (6,7,8,9) for enabling swinging of the tray (4) around a second axis (7) parallel to and distanced from the rocking axis (2).

The invention discloses a bioreactor with a vessel defining an inner volume, agitation means and at least one addition tube, wherein a delivery orifice in the addition tube is located within the inner volume and a check valve is arranged in proximity of the delivery orifice for allowing flow of a fluid in the direction from the addition tube into the inner volume of the vessel and blocking flow in the reverse direction.

Magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for and methods of actuating magnetically-responsive microposts in a reaction (or assay) chamber is disclosed. For example, a microfluidics system is provided that includes a microfluidics device (or cartridge) that includes the reaction (or assay) chamber in which a field of magnetically-responsive surface-attached microposts is installed. The presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are provided in close proximity to the magnetically-responsive microposts wherein the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms are used for actuating the magnetically-responsive microposts. For example, the magnetic-based actuation mechanisms generate an actuation force that is used to induce, for example, synchronized beat patterns and/or metachronal beat patterns in the magnetically-responsive microposts. Additionally, a method of using the presently disclosed magnetic-based actuation mechanisms for actuating the magnetically-responsive microposts is provided.

The invention discloses a flexible bag assembly for cultivation of cells, comprising one or more bags forming a plurality of cultivation compartments, wherein a drain port in at least a first cultivation compartment is adapted to be fluidically connected with a second cultivation compartment upon opening of a valve means. It also discloses a bioreactor with the bag assembly mounted on a rocking tray and a method of cultivating cells in the assembly.

The present invention relates to a bioreactor assembly comprising a plurality of trays (30) for holding a cell culture bag, a holder (2) on which the trays are mounted side by side to form a first series of trays rocking mechanism (4) for rocking the trays, the rocking mechanism (4) being operatively connected to each of the trays (30). The invention also relates to a bioreactor system (100) comprising at least one bioreactor assembly.