Abstract: A modified reconstituted extracellular matrix composition is provided herein. The composition includes an extracellular matrix and at least one exogenous component selected from heparin, fibronectin and laminin. The composition may have a basic pH. Additionally, provided herein is a cell culturing system including a substrate and a coating thereon of the composition to assess potential stimulators and/or inhibitors for their effects on various cell cultures while increasing the signal dynamic range.

Abstract: A modified reconstituted extracellular matrix composition is provided herein. The composition includes an extracellular matrix and at least one exogenous component selected from heparin, fibronectin and laminin. The composition may have a basic pH. Additionally, provided herein is a cell culturing system including a substrate and a coating thereon of the composition to assess potential stimulators and/or inhibitors for their effects on various cell cultures while increasing the signal dynamic range.

Abstract: A modified reconstituted extracellular matrix composition is provided herein. The composition includes an extracellular matrix and at least one exogenous component selected from heparin, fibronectin and laminin. The composition may have a basic pH. Additionally, provided herein is a cell culturing system including a substrate and a coating thereon of the composition to assess potential stimulators and/or inhibitors for their effects on various cell cultures while increasing the signal dynamic range.

Abstract: Method of providing a substrate with a ready-to-use uniformly distributed extracellular matrix is disclosed. This method includes applying extracellular matrix components to a substrate area; incubating the extracellular matrix components to allow polymerization thereof; freezing the polymerized extracellular matrix on the substrate area; lyophilizing the frozen extracellular matrix on the substrate area; and allowing the lyophilized extracellular matrix to warm to room temperature. Also contemplated is a cell culture apparatus having a dried uniformly distributed extracellular matrix formed by the above-mentioned method.

Abstract: A porous membrane is coated with a composition which includes a reconstituted and aggregated extracellular matrix derived from the Englebreth-Holm-Swarm mouse tumor, a polyol and a pH 7.8-8.2 buffer. The coated membrane is dried, affixed to an insert portion of an assembly and received in a well of a multiwell tissue culture plate. The invention includes a method to make the coated membrane.

Abstract: Method of providing a substrate with a ready-to-use uniformly distributed extracellular matrix is disclosed. This method includes applying extracellular matrix components to a substrate area; incubating the extracellular matrix components to allow polymerization thereof; freezing the polymerized extracellular matrix on the substrate area; lyophilizing the frozen extracellular matrix on the substrate area; and allowing the lyophilized extracellular matrix to warm to room temperature. Also contemplated is a cell culture apparatus having a dried uniformly distributed extracellular matrix formed by the above-mentioned method.

Abstract: A porous membrane is coated with a composition which includes a reconstituted and aggregated extracellular matrix derived from the Englebreth-Holm-Swarm mouse tumor, a polyol and a pH 7.8-8.2 buffer. The coated membrane is dried, affixed to an insert portion of an assembly and received in a well of a multiwell tissue culture plate. The invention includes a method to make the coated membrane.

Abstract: A cell culture substrate is coated with a composition containing a cell adhesion promoter in a salt solution. A substrate such as plastic, glass or microporous fibers is coated with a composition containing about 5 .mu.g/ml to about 1000 .mu.g/ml of poly-D-lysine in an 0.005 M to about 0.5 M citrate or sulfate salt solution to provide about 50 .mu.l to about 500 .mu.l of the composition per cm.sup.2 of substrate, and the coated substrate is rinsed to remove extraneous materials and dried to obtain a coated substrate having increased shelf-life and/or stability. The coated substrate may be sterilized by rinsing with a sterilizing medium such as ethanol.

Abstract: Cell culture substrates comprising dried films of native fibrillar collagen produced by a method in which collagen fibers are hydrolyzed in acid, solubilized, and reformed as gels on porous surfaces under non-physiologic salt conditions to produce large fibers with the striations characteristic of collagen fibers found in vivo. The gels are collapsed onto the porous surfaces by drawing the interfibril fluid out of the gel through the underside of the porous surface and then dried to form films. Dried collagen films made in this manner retain native fibrillar collagen structure and excellent diffusion characteristics. Native fibrillar collagen films produced according to the methods of the invention are useful as cell culture substrates. They have particularly advantageous properties for growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. This effect is synergistically enhanced by addition of butyric acid as a differentiation inducing agent.

Abstract: Cell culture substrates made of dried films of native fibrillar collagen produced by a method in which collagen fibers are hydrolyzed in acid, solubilized, and reformed as gels on porous surfaces under non-physiologic salt conditions to produce large fibers with the striations characteristic of collagen fibers found in vivo. The gels are collapsed onto the porous surfaces by drawing the interfibril fluid out of the gel through the underside of the porous surface and then dried to form films. Dried collagen films made in this manner retain native fibrillar collagen structure and excellent diffusion characteristics. Native fibrillar collagen films produced according to the methods of the invention are useful as cell culture substrates. They have particularly advantageous properties for growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. This effect is synergistically enhanced by addition of butyric acid as a differentiation inducing agent.

Abstract: Cell culture substrates comprising dried films of native fibrillar collagen produced by a method in which collagen fibers are hydrolyzed in acid, solubilized, and reformed as gels on porous surfaces under non-physiologic salt conditions to produce large fibers with the striations characteristic of collagen fibers found in vivo. The gels are collapsed onto the porous surfaces by drawing the interfibril fluid out of the gel through the underside of the porous surface and then dried to form films. Dried collagen films made in this manner retain native fibrillar collagen structure and excellent diffusion characteristics. Native fibrillar collagen films produced according to the methods of the invention are useful as cell culture substrates. They have particularly advantageous properties for growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. This effect is synergistically enhanced by addition of butyric acid as a differentiation inducing agent.

Abstract: Cell culture substrates comprising dried films of native fibrillar collagen produced by a method in which collagen fibers are hydrolyzed in acid, solubilized, and reformed as gels on porous surfaces under non-physiologic salt conditions to produce large fibers with the striations characteristic of collagen fibers found in vivo. The gels are collapsed onto the porous surfaces by drawing the interfibril fluid out of the gel through the underside of the porous surface and then dried to form films. Dried collagen films made in this manner retain native fibrillar collagen structure and excellent diffusion characteristics. Native fibrillar collagen films produced according to the methods of the invention are useful as cell culture substrates. They have particularly advantageous properties for growth and differentiation of epithelial cells. This effect is synergistically enhanced by addition of butyric acid as a differentiation inducing agent.

Abstract: A process is provided for isolating and purifying a cholesterol-rich fraction from mammalian blood plasma or serum. The resulting cholesterol-rich fraction is useful as a growth medium ingredient.

Abstract: A method for isolating superoxide dismutase. The method involves contacting red blood cells containing proteinaceous impurities with a water-miscible organic solvent at a pH in the range of 5 to 8 and a temperature of from 15.degree. to 50.degree. C., removing the impurities and obtaining purified superoxide dismutase.

Abstract: A method for detecting weakly expressed cell membrane antigens or antibodies thereto which involves contacting cells to be tested with a lipoprotein substance substantially free of heteroagglutins and isoagglutins, containing cholesterol and phospholipid. The lipoprotein substance is obtained from animal plasma.

Abstract: A method for removing pyrogenic material from bovine thrombin is disclosed. The method involves forming a complex of a blue dye and a polysaccharide and equilibrating the complex with a low ionic strength salt solution. Bovine thrombin is added to the complex. The pyrogenic material is removed from the bovine thrombin by washing the bovine thrombin with a low ionic strength salt solution, and the pyrogen-free bovine thrombin is recovered.

Abstract: A method for the purification of lipoprotein cholesterol. The method involves the steps of adsorbing lipoprotein material on a silica adsorbant, eluting the adsorbed lipoprotein with water at a pH of about 10 to 11.5, adjusting the salt concentration to about less than 0.05M, heating the lipoprotein to about 50.degree. to 100.degree. C. for a period of about 5 minutes to 24 hours, adding an alkaline carbonate and alkaline earth salt to form a precipitate and removing the precipitate, adjusting the pH from about 6.5 to 9.0 and recovering purified lipoprotein cholesterol. Also a method for using the cholesterol as a cholesterol reference material.