127results about "Bioreactor/fermenter combinations" patented technology

The present invention provides a test strip for measuring a signal of interest in a biological fluid when the test strip is mated to an appropriate test meter, wherein the test strip and the test meter include structures to verify the integrity of the test strip traces, to measure the parasitic resistance of the test strip traces, and to provide compensation in the voltage applied to the test strip to account for parasitic resistive losses in the test strip traces.

Methods and compositions are provided for the identification of expression signatures in ER+ breast cancer cases, where the signatures correlate with responsiveness, or lack thereof, to tamoxifen treatment. The signature profiles are identified based upon sampling of reference breast tissue samples from independent cases of breast cancer and provide a reliable set of molecular criteria for predicting the efficacy of treating a subject with ER+ breast cancer with tamoxifen. Additional methods and compositions are provided for predicting tamoxifen responsiveness in cases of ER+ breast cancer by use of three biomarkers. Two biomarkers display increased expression correlated with tamoxifen response while the third biomarker displays decreased expression correlated with tamoxifen response.

An apparatus and method for real-time and on-line monitoring the cell growth and concentration in a dynamic cell culture environment, with techniques that suppressing noise from ambient light, non-uniform scattering distribution, bubble and interface reflection effects in the dynamic environment.

Methods and apparatus for testing a sample for target molecules or chemicals. The apparatus includes a rotatable optical disc having a reaction chamber and having at least two groups of beads or micro-particles, the different group of beads having at least two different densities, sizes, shapes, and/or color, and each bead in a group having different probes attached thereto. A sample is added to the reaction chamber and the disc is rotated. The reaction chamber has a density gradient medium that causes beads of different densities to remain at different radial locations, depending on the density of the beads. The beads are then inspected by directing a beam of electromagnetic radiation onto the disc. The beam may be reflected from or transmitted through the disc. The amount, or presence, or absence of targets is determined by analyzing the signal returned from the beam. Related methods of performing assays and making the disc apparatus are provided.

A method of quantifying glucose in a solution characterized in that electric potential measurement is conducted by potentiometry using a glucose dehydrogenase that requires a flavin compound as a coenzyme. It is preferable to carry out the quantification using a glucose dehydrogenase derived from a filamentous fungus, in particular derived from Aspergillus oryzae or Aspergillus terreus.

In on aspect, the invention includes a microcarrier bead having a porous three-dimensional core having (a) a polymeric porous three-dimensional body having porosity of about 15 to about 90% such that at least 99% of pores are interconnected and have diameters of at most 200 microns, (b) an outer protective layer and optionally (c) a filler. In another aspect, the invention includes a method of making an artificial scaffold wherein a scaffolding material is extruded into a coolant and thereby creating a porous material having a porosity of between 15-90% such that at least 99% of pores are interconnected and have diameters of at most 200 microns.

The invention provides methods and systems for detecting and measuring microRNAs.

The present invention provides, in part, methods for recombinantly expressing proteins at a high level along with cell culture media for doing the same.

This invention fills several voids in bioreactor technology that allows efficient connection of aspects of physical science (optics, electronics, physical chemistry, sensors) to aspects of microbial and cell culture physiology in a uniquely interactive manner. This is accomplished mathematically through decision making software that utilizes detected changes in the course of fermentation. Decisions are aimed at determining the optima for cellular growth, optimizing for production or degradation of metabolites or substrates, or determining the limits of growth under various combinations of conditions. The invention determines optima or limits in a manner more quickly and at less cost than traditional methods. The basis for the computer generated decisions may be first or second derivative changes observed such as inflection points, limits on allowable rates of change, or the like. The most common measured parameter controlling the decision making process is the optically observed growth of the cells (e.g. microbial, animal, or plant cell cultures) under study. Any other measurable parameter (e.g. pH, temperature, pigment production) may be used to control the process (i.e., the independent variable). This process and variations of this process on a laboratory scale are valuable for research and development, education, pilot plant models, and bio-manufacturing optimization, including scale up to production volumes.

A microfluidic device and method for enzymatic processing of ultra-long macromolecules is accomplished using a microfluidic device a reaction chamber with a first manifold, a second manifold, and a plurality of reaction channels. Each reaction channel extends from the first manifold to the second manifold. First inlet and outlet channels fill the reaction channels via the manifolds with one or more macromolecule containers suspended in a first carrier fluid. The first inlet and outlet channels are configured such that a flow is guided through the reaction channels, and an enzymatic reagent is fed to the reaction chamber essentially without displacing the macromolecule containers trapped in the reaction channels. The second set of inlets and outlets are configured such that a flow established from the second inlet to the second outlet is guided through at least one of the manifolds and bypasses the reaction channels.

A membrane supported bioreactor arrangement and method for anaerobic conversion of gas into liquid products including membrane modules having hollow fibers packed across a cross sectional area of the membrane module, each of the hollow fibers formed from an asymmetric membrane wall having a porous outer layer defining biopores for retaining a porous biolayer about the outer surface of the membrane wall and a less permeable hydration layer around the hollow fiber lumen; a membrane vessel for surrounding the outside of the hollow fibers with a process gas from a gas supply conduit; and a liquid supply conduit operably connected to the hollow fibers for supplying a process liquid to the hollow fiber lumens. The gas supply conduit enables the formation of a biolayer on the outer surface of the hollow fiber wall by interaction of microorganisms with the process gas and the production of a liquid product.

Provided are a microfluidic chip for multiple bioassay and a method of manufacturing the same. The method includes: forming microfluidic channels by coupling a channel structure having grooves for sample channels and probe channels in a bottom surface and a substrate; forming probe immobilization regions at intersections between the probe channels and the sample channels; and forming blocking walls in the probe channels before and after each of the probe immobilization regions to prevent mixing of target sample. Since the probes are immobilized in the microfluidic channels after the formation of the microfluidic channels, difficulty in connecting fluidic channels after the immobilization of probes on a substrate can be removed. In addition, a microfluidic platform for a multiple bioassay into which a plurality of samples can be simultaneously loaded can be formed.

Methods and systems for the production of hydrocarbon products, including providing a substrate comprising CO to a bioreactor containing a culture of one or more micro-organisms; and fermenting the culture in the bioreactor to produce one or more hydrocarbon products. The substrate comprising CO is derived from a CO2 reforming process.

The invention belongs to the field of tools for in-situ colonization and culture systems for deep-sea microorganisms and in particular relates to a culture cabin for deep-sea microorganisms. According to the technical scheme, the uncovered culture cabin for deep-sea microorganisms comprises linear bearings (1), tension springs (2), a pressure compensation cavity (3), a fixed top plate (4), a deep-sea motor component (5), a fixed bottom plate (6), a hose (7) and a culture cabin body (8). The uncovered culture cabin has the beneficial effects that an end cover of the culture cabin body (8) is pushed away through rotation of the deep-sea motor component (5), microorganism enrichment culture is carried out in a completely open state and the end cover of the culture cabin body (8) is closed in laying and recovery processes to achieve sealing of the microorganism culture cabin body; the uncovered culture cabin can achieve microorganism enrichment culture in a deep-sea in-situ state; the safety during sample recovery can be ensured and the weight of the complete set of system can be effectively reduced by adopting the pressure compensation cavity (3).

The present invention discloses a novel device and methods thereof with utility application in the high-throughput detection, screening and disease management of cervical disease. The “multiwell” device of the present invention consists of a solid support featuring multiple well-separated areas, each accommodating a patient sample, leading to simultaneous evaluation of patient samples. The methods of the present invention comprise conventional cytological staining, cervical Pap staining, and immunochemical staining using antibodies or combination of antibodies which are capable of binding to biomarkers that are overexpressed in cancer including in cervical carcinoma and dysplasia, as compared to normal controls. The device and methods of the present invention can be practiced in either manual or automated mode, and applied to any biological fluid or cell suspension from any biological specimen in view of a variety of cell biology assays, and in view of detection and screening of cervical and other diseases.

The invention provides a device applied in gradient temperature control. The device is composed of a first temperature control module, a second temperature control module, a control module, a transmission device or a rotation device, a controlled target and a detection module. The method and device of the invention has the advantage of good expandability, different temperature control modules can be alternately used at different time points, the temperature control module in the off-working state adopts the idle time to realize the next target temperature value, sudden changes do not needed, and the service life can be prolonged; the temperature control module in the working state does not undergo the temperature rising/falling process, so the sample module temperature rising/falling rate can be improved, the overshoot phenomenon can be avoided, and the complex control algorithm does not needed. The temperature control is more flexible, the effective temperature control time of the controlled target can be shortened, the temperature change rate of the controlled target can be improved, and the application in gradient temperature control can be realized. Less temperature control modules are adopted, and different temperature control modules are used to control the temperature of the controlled target in different time periods through the idea of 'time division multiplex access' so as to realize a plurality of target gradient temperatures.

The present invention relates to a microfluidic device used for cell motility screening and chemotaxis testing which comprises microfluidic channels and chambers. Cells which can secret a chemoattractant or chemorepellent are selectively planted in the microfluidic device and a stable chemoattractant or chemorepellent gradient can be established in the channels.

The present invention discloses a method for analyzing a liquid cell sample, comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one liquid cell sample in a sample vial; b) obtaining data linked to the cells in the sample by performing differential digital holographic microscopy on said liquid cell sample in said sample vial. In a second aspect, the invention also provides for a system for analyzing a liquid cell sample, comprising (i) a differential digital holographic microscope comprising illumination means, a differential interferometer and a digital recording device connected to a processing device such as a computer; (ii) at least one exchangeable sample vial comprising a liquid cell (iii) a movable sample vial holder; characterized in that (iv) said sample vial holder is adapted to receive said sample vial; (v) said sample vial holder is adapted to position said sample vial such that the focal plane of the objective lens of said differential digital holographic microscope lies in the vial.

The invention aims to provide a microfluidic chip system for culture and multiplication behavior research of marine microalgae. Inoculation, batch culture, semi-continuous chemostat culture of the marine microalgae and a marine microalgae population multiplication behavior online monitoring process are integrated on a functional chip to be completed by means of fabrication of a scale integration chip and flexible combination of multiple cell technologies on the chip. The microfluidic chip system consists of two elementary units, wherein the first elementary unit refers to the microfluidic chip for culture and multiplication behavior research of the marine microalgae, and the second elementary unit refers to microfluidic chip peripheral equipment for culture and multiplication behavior research of the marine microalgae. The microfluidic chip system has the advantages that the microfluidic chip system is high in throughput, simple and convenient to operate and low in cost and is a novel platform for marine microalgae culture, population multiplication research and correlational research fields of using microalgae as experimental subjects.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for separating a target component in a fluid sample, which method comprises: a) passing a fluid sample that comprises or is suspected of comprising a target component and cell aggregates through a microfabricated filter so that said target component, if present in said fluid sample, is retained by or passes through said microfabricated filter, and b) prior to and/or concurrently with passing said fluid sample through said microfabricated filter, contacting said fluid sample with an emulsifying agent to reduce or remove said cell aggregates, if present in said fluid sample.

Methods and devices for isolating nucleic acids from a mixture containing such nucleic acids and extraneous matter are provided. In one embodiment, the method of the invention comprises passing the mixture through a glass frit under conditions effective to separate the nucleic acids from the extraneous matter. In a more specific embodiment, the glass frit is a sintered glass frit.

The present invention relates to in vitro methods for determining efficacy of topical compositions on various skin color types. These methods involve providing an artificial skin apparatus configured to approximate the color and diffuse reflectance characteristics of a predetermined human skin color type. The artificial skin apparatus includes an artificial skin substrate combined with a color background, with the color background correlating to the human skin color type. A topical composition of interest is applied to the artificial skin substrate of the artificial skin apparatus and then pre-irradiated. The pre-irradiated topical composition is then analyzed using relevant experimental techniques or assays for at least one efficacy parameter, including, for example, anti-ageing, photoprotective, sun protective, UVA/UVB protective, UVAI protective, photo stabilizing, and photosensitizing activities and action mechanisms of the topical composition on various skin color types. Also provided is an artificial skin apparatus and kit for use with the in vitro method.