Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Foerderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.

Julia Neubauer

Heiko Zimmermann

Guenter R Fuhr

Günter R Fuhr

Axel Beier

Benjamin Fischer

Michael Gepp

The invention relates to a method for producing three-dimensional, preferably porous, hydrogel structures by means of layer build-up technique, wherein the method comprises the following steps. Providing (S) of a liquid hydrogel solution, preferably a liquid alginate solution, and a, preferably transportable, sample carrier. Layerwise applying (S) the liquid hydrogel solution onto the sample carrier in a temperature environment, the temperature of which is below the freezing point of the hydrogel solution, to produce a frozen 3D layered hydrogel structure. In order to increase advantageously the porosity of the 3D layered hydrogel structure, i.e. the proportion of small voids, cavities and/or depressions in the 3D layered hydrogel structure, the method according to the invention further comprises the step of drying (S) of the frozen 3D layered hydrogel structure, e.g. by means of freeze-drying, to produce a porous 3D hydrogel structure. The invention relates further also to a device for the layerwise building-up of three-dimensional hydrogel structures.

Method for producing three-dimensional hydrogel structures and device for the layerwise building-up of such hydrogel structures

A culture vessel (), which is designed for culturing biological cells () in hanging drops (), comprises a vessel wall (), which has a cover portion () and a floor portion (), wherein the cover portion () is designed to provide a culturing surface (), and the floor portion () is designed to receive a liquid (), the vessel wall () encloses an interior () of the culture vessel on all sides, the culturing surface () has holding elements (), which are designed to position the drops (), wherein the culturing surface () can receive the drops () hanging freely in the interior (), and the vessel wall () is movable such that the holding elements () can be wetted with the liquid () from the floor portion (). A method for culturing biological cells () in hanging drops () in the culture vessel () is also described.

Culture vessel and method for culturing biological cells in hanging drops

The invention relates to an encapsulating device (), which is designed to encapsulate a sample () in a polymer capsule, comprising a drop generator (), which is designed to provide a drop () of a suspension, which drop contains the sample (), and a cross-linking device (), which is designed to polymerize the drop (), wherein the drop generator () has a retaining device (), which is designed to accommodate the drop () in a hanging state, and the cross-linking device () is designed to feed a polymerization substance to the hanging drop () on the retaining device () and to form the polymer capsule. The invention further relates to a method for encapsulating a sample () in a polymer capsule.

Encapsulating device and encapsulating method for encapsulating a sample in a polymer capsule

A substrate unit for cryopreservation of a biological sample includes: a substrate platform having on a front side thereof a cultivation surface for receiving the biological sample; a first chamber including the cultivation surface of the substrate platform, wherein the first chamber is configured for receiving a cultivation liquid; a second chamber configured for receiving a temperature control medium; and a chamber bracket for receiving the substrate unit in a cryopreservation device in a pivotable manner, wherein the first and second chambers are connected to each other in an adjacent manner, and the substrate platform forms a separating wall between the first chamber and the second chamber, and wherein the back side of the substrate platform faces the second chamber. The invention further relates to a cryopreservation device, wherein the substrate unit is arranged in a rotatable manner, and a method for the cryopreservation of a biological sample.

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St. Ingbert, Germany

Julia Neubauer