Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for harvesting adult cells from an organ. The method includes perfusing the organ with a perfusate and isolating adult cells from the organ, thereby harvesting the adult cells from the organ. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for rehabilitating an organ. The method includes: dividing the organ into a first portion and a second portion, perfusing the first portion with a decellularization medium, isolating adult cells from the second portion, and recellularizing the first portion with a suspension of the adult cells, thereby rehabilitating the organ.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for harvesting adult cells from an organ. The method includes perfusing the organ with a perfusate and isolating adult cells from the organ, thereby harvesting the adult cells from the organ. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for rehabilitating an organ. The method includes: dividing the organ into a first portion and a second portion, perfusing the first portion with a decellularization medium, isolating adult cells from the second portion, and recellularizing the first portion with a suspension of the adult cells, thereby rehabilitating the organ.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods of super-cooling of aqueous samples with or without biological samples. The methods involve, e.g., providing a container comprising the aqueous sample; applying an immiscible liquid phase of sufficient thickness to separate the aqueous sample from air; and cooling the aqueous sample to a temperature that is below 0° C.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for stimulating hair growth of a user. The system includes a stimulating unit in communication with a control unit. The stimulating unit includes at least one electrode to be placed on a region of the user, a pulser configured to send electronic pulses to the electrode, and a power supply which supplies power to the pulser. Operation of the system includes the steps of placing the at least one electrode on a region of the user, relaying a plurality of pulses to the electrode, terminating the pulses when a predetermined number of pulses have been delivered, and removing the electrode from the region of the user.

Abstract: Methods and devices to screen test compounds, e.g., study metabolism of test compounds, e.g., a pro-drug, by one cell, e.g., a hepatocyte, and the effect of metabolism of the test compound by the first cell on a second cell, e.g., a cancer cell, are described.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automated vessel puncture device, methods of mapping three-dimensional views of subcutaneous vessels and methods for providing simultaneous real-time diagnostic assay.

Abstract: Compositions and methods described herein provide a cell culture system in which cells are in high metabolic states from the onset of the culture. Combinations of various cell culture components disclosed and employed herein allow cells to be in high metabolic states useful for drug testing immediately after the start of cell culture.

Abstract: Compositions and methods described herein provide a cell culture system in which cells are in high metabolic states from the onset of the culture. Combinations of various cell culture components disclosed and employed herein allow cells to be in high metabolic states useful for drug testing immediately after the start of cell culture.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automated vessel puncture device, methods of mapping three-dimensional views of subcutaneous vessels and methods for providing simultaneous real-time diagnostic assay.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for harvesting adult cells from an organ. The method includes perfusing the organ with a perfusate and isolating adult cells from the organ, thereby harvesting the adult cells from the organ. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for rehabilitating an organ. The method includes: dividing the organ into a first portion and a second portion, perfusing the first portion with a decellularization medium, isolating adult cells from the second portion, and recellularizing the first portion with a suspension of the adult cells, thereby rehabilitating the organ.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a method for harvesting adult cells from an organ. The method includes perfusing the organ with a perfusate and isolating adult cells from the organ, thereby harvesting the adult cells from the organ. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for rehabilitating an organ. The method includes: dividing the organ into a first portion and a second portion, perfusing the first portion with a decellularization medium, isolating adult cells from the second portion, and recellularizing the first portion with a suspension of the adult cells, thereby rehabilitating the organ.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for designing a biological circuit. The method includes obtaining a target circuit objective for the biological circuit, determining an objective function corresponding to the target circuit objective, obtaining a number of nodes for the biological circuit, obtaining a set of possible circuit subgraphs using the number of nodes, obtaining a specific dissipation energy (SDE) for each one of the set of possible circuit subgraphs by optimizing the objective function, selecting at least one circuit subgraph from the set of possible circuit subgraphs with the lowest SDE, and designing the biological circuit using the at least one selected one circuit subgraph.

Abstract: Compositions and methods described herein provide a cell culture system in which cells are in high metabolic states from the onset of the culture. Combinations of various cell culture components disclosed and employed herein allow cells to be in high metabolic states useful for drug testing immediately after the start of cell culture.

Abstract: In general, the invention relates to a method for designing a biological circuit. The method includes obtaining a target circuit objective for the biological circuit, determining an objective function corresponding to the target circuit objective, obtaining a number of nodes for the biological circuit, obtaining a set of possible circuit subgraphs using the number of nodes, obtaining a specific dissipation energy (SDE) for each one of the set of possible circuit subgraphs by optimizing the objective function, selecting at least one circuit subgraph from the set of possible circuit subgraphs with the lowest SDE, and designing the biological circuit using the at least one selected one circuit subgraph.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an automated vessel puncture device, methods of mapping three-dimensional views of subcutaneous vessels and methods for providing simultaneous real-time diagnostic assay.

Abstract: Alginate polyelectrolyte encapsulation is used for the controlled differentiation of embryonic stem cells. An isolated cell population is provided. The cell population includes a single cell suspension of ES cells encapsulated within an alginate polyelectrolyte microenvironment. The encapsulated ES cells are capable of differentiating within said microenvironment into hepatocyte lineage cells in the absence of embryoid body intermediates or growth factor supplementation.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods for preparing, packaging and using biological materials are disclosed. Biological materials such as cellular or subscellular materials can be introduced in one or more complete assembled devices and preserved within the devices by, for example, being cooled or frozen. Such assembled devices can allow easy transportation and subsequent storing of the biological materials. In some embodiments, the assembled devices can be configured to provide for flow of one or more fluids. Thus, the biological materials can be preserved or reconstituted for use by being in contact with the fluids or by being warmed by the fluid(s), which may be flowing. In one embodiment, subsequent assays using the biological materials in the same assembled device(s) wherein their preparation or packaging previously occurred can involve fluidic interactions among the biological materials or between the biological materials and the fluid or its contents.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method for reducing the intracellular lipid storage material of a cell, tissue, or organ for transplantation and features solutions, methods and kits that induce the metabolic elimination of lipid storage in a cell, tissue, or organ. In one exemplary approach, the process involves contacting a cell, tissue, or organ with a perfusate solution that include catabolic hormones and amino acids, at physiological conditions, to increase lipid export and lipid oxidation. If desired, the cell, tissue, or organ of the invention may also be heat shock preconditioned. The invention can be used to prepare, recondition, or store a cell, tissue, or organ for transplantation by increasing tolerance to ischemia-reperfusion and cold-preservation related injury.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that certain membranes, which include side chains or molecular “brushes” having, for example, tertiary amino functional groups, can be used as highly effective filters to capture viruses/virus particles from liquids without removal of proteins. New methods based on this discovery include removing viruses from liquids such as blood or plasma, removing viruses from pharmaceuticals, concentrating and/or purifying viruses, e.g., for use in gene therapy, and producing recombinant viruses in new bioreactors. The invention also includes new methods of therapy or adjunct therapy for viral infections, in which a patient's blood or plasma is filtered through the membranes to remove viruses to reduce the viral load. The invention also includes new bioreactors and viral filters containing the membranes.

Abstract: The invention provides new methods for purifying and concentrating viruses. The inventors have discovered that high molecular weight proteoglycans present in retroviral stocks are co-concentrated with the retroviruses, and can inhibit retroviral transduction. The new purification and concentration methods feature treatment of virus stock with an anionic polyelectrolyte and a cationic polyelectrolyte, followed by centrifugation. The new methods minimize the amount of proteoglycan co-precipitated with the infectious virus.