Bioreactor Tile Including Fluidic Channels and an Optical Waveguide

A system comprising:

• a plurality of substrates arranged into a vertical stack, wherein each of the substrates comprises a first channel, a second channel, a third channel, a fourth channel, and a fifth channel defined therein, wherein the first channel of each substrate is separated from the second channel of each substrate by a first partial wall structure, wherein the second channel of each substrate is separated from the third channel of each substrate by a second partial wall structure, wherein the first channel of each substrate is separated from the fourth channel of each substrate by a third partial wall structure, and wherein the fourth channel of each substrate is separated from the fifth channel of each substrate by a fourth partial wall structure;
• a first optical waveguide configured to:
• receive first illumination light at a first end of the first optical waveguide;
• propagate the first illumination light toward a second end of the first optical waveguide;
• allow at least a portion of the first illumination light to escape the first optical waveguide from a first surface of the first optical waveguide as the first illumination light propagates toward the second end of the first optical waveguide;
• and
• provide the portion of the first illumination light that escapes the first optical waveguide from the first surface to the second channels or the third channels defined within each of the plurality of substrates;
• and
• a second optical waveguide configured to:
• receive second illumination light at a first end of the second optical waveguide;
• propagate the second illumination light toward a second end of the second optical waveguide;
• allow at least a portion of the second illumination light to escape the second optical waveguide from a first surface of the second optical waveguide as the second illumination light propagates toward the second end of the second optical waveguide;
• and
• provide the portion of the second illumination light that escapes the second optical waveguide from the first surface of the second optical waveguide to the fourth channels or the fifth channels defined within each of the plurality of substrates.

A method comprising:

• infusing a cellular precursor into a second channel defined within a substrate;
• administering liquid nutrient media into a first channel defined within the substrate, wherein the first channel is separated from the second channel by a first partial wall structure;
• providing a first set of environmental conditions, wherein the first set of environmental conditions results in a growth of cells within the cellular precursor;
• providing a second set of environmental conditions, wherein the second set of environmental conditions results in a production of trichomes by the cells within the cellular precursor, and wherein providing the first set of environmental conditions or providing the second set of environmental conditions comprises:
• receiving, at a first end of an optical waveguide, illumination light;
• propagating the illumination light toward a second end of the optical waveguide;
• allowing at least a portion of the illumination light to escape the optical waveguide from a first surface of the optical waveguide as the illumination light propagates toward the second end of the optical waveguide;
• and
• providing the portion of the illumination light that escapes the optical waveguide from the first surface to the second channel or a third channel defined within the substrate, wherein the second channel is separated from the third channel by a second partial wall structure;
• and
• harvesting one or more of the produced trichomes or one or more chemical products contained within the produced trichomes.