Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions and kits for the identification and enrichment of progenitor cell lines obtained from pluripotent stem cells.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, compositions and kits relating to hyaluronan based matrices using oxidized glutathione as a crosslinking agent.

Abstract: The vast differentiation potential of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, including their potential to cascade through all of the somatic cell lineages and to display the complete transcriptional regulatory network of human biology, has generated interest in deriving scalable, purified, and identified cell types and methods of discovering the precise structure of the human regulatory network. However, the innate capacity of pluripotent cells to display all these lineages is not necessarily reflected during their culture in vitro. The clonal isolation and propagation of progenitors greatly facilitates the generation of highly purified and indentified formulations for research and therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: There is provided an improved efficient method for differentiating stem cells into pancreatic endoderm cells and pancreatic hormone expressing and secreting cells which express Pdx-1 and C-peptide. The invention further provides screening methods for detecting factors of interest that will affect the differentiation of the stem cells into pancreatic endoderm cells.

Abstract: The vast differentiation potential of human embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, including their potential to cascade through all of the somatic cell lineages and to display the complete transcriptional regulatory network of human biology, has generated interest in deriving scalable, purified, and identified cell types and methods of discovering the precise structure of the human regulatory network. However, the innate capacity of pluripotent cells to display all these lineages is not necessarily reflected during their culture in vitro. The clonal isolation and propagation of progenitors greatly facilitates the generation of highly purified and identified formulations for research and therapeutic purposes.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions related to the production, identification and use of embryonic progenitor cell lines that are capable of undergoing chondrogenesis. A number of exemplary chondrogenic cell lines derived from primordial stem cells are disclosed. The chondrogenic cell lines described herein are robust, can expand for >40 passages, and have site-specific purity, thus providing for compositions and methods of producing diverse cartilage types with unique molecular compositions for use in research and therapy.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions related to the production, identification and use of embryonic progenitor cell lines that are capable of undergoing chondrogenesis. A number of exemplary chondrogenic cell lines derived from primordial stem cells are disclosed. The chondrogenic cell lines described herein are robust, can expand for >40 passages, and have site-specific purity, thus providing for compositions and methods of producing diverse cartilage types with unique molecular compositions for use in research and therapy.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include methods and compositions related to the production and use of numerous clonal lineages of embryonic progenitor cell lines derived from differentiating cultures of primordial stem cells with diverse molecular markers and having been cultured for >21 doublings of clonal expansion. The robustness of these clonally-purified lines, their ability to expand for >40 passages while maintaining their pattern of gene expression, lack of tumorigenicity, and their embryonic pattern of gene expression offers novel compositions and methods for modeling numerous differentiation pathways for the first time in vitro, and for the manufacture of purified product not existing in such a purified state in nature or using other manufacturing modalities. Representative progenitor cell lines described herein are capable of development into cutaneous adipocytes, blood-brain barrier cells, neuronal cells, or smooth muscle cells each with therapeutic potential.

Abstract: The generation of clinical-grade cell-based therapies from human embryonic stem cells or cells reprogrammed to pluripotency from somatic cells, requires stringent quality controls to insure that the cells have long enough telomeres and resulting cellular lifespan to be clinically useful, and normal gene expression and genomic integrity so as to insure cells with a desired and reproducible phenotype and to reduce the risk of the malignant transformation of cells.

Abstract: Artificial plasma-like solutions and methods for their use are provided. The subject solutions include: electrolytes and an oncotic agent. The subject solutions find use in a variety of applications, particularly in those applications where at least a portion of a host's blood volume is replaced with a blood substitute.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for use in perfusion applications are provided. In the subject methods, a subject or derivative thereof, e.g. isolated organ or tissue, is infused, perfused and/or transfused with at least two fluid compositions. The first fluid composition is a non-naturally occurring biological buffer free plasma-like solution and the second fluid composition is a fluid blood composition. In a preferred embodiment, an additional volume of the first solution, or a derivative thereof, is administered to the patient following introduction of the fluid blood composition. Also provided are kits and systems for performing the subject methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in variety of perfusion applications, including the treatment of hypothermic surgical applications, cryogenic procedures, and the like.

Abstract: Artificial plasma-like solutions and methods for their use are provided. The subject solutions include: electrolytes and an oncotic agent. The subject solutions find use in a variety of applications, particularly in those applications where at least a portion of a host's blood volume is replaced with a blood substitute.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for use in perfusion applications are provided. In the subject methods, a subject or derivative thereof, e.g. isolated organ or tissue, is infused, perfused and/or transfused with at least two fluid compositions. The first fluid composition is a non-naturally occurring biological buffer free plasma-like solution and the second fluid composition is a fluid blood composition. In a preferred embodiment, an additional volume of the first solution, or a derivative thereof, is administered to the patient following introduction of the fluid blood composition. Also provided are kits and systems for performing the subject methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in variety of perfusion applications, including the treatment of hypothermic surgical applications, cryogenic procedures, and the like.

Abstract: Physiologically acceptable aqueous solutions and methods for their use are provided. The subject solutions comprise: electrolytes; a dynamic buffering system and an oncotic agent; and do not comprise a conventional biological buffer. The subject solutions find use in a variety of applications, particularly in those applications where at least a portion of a host's blood volume is replaced with a blood substitute.

Abstract: An artificial plasma-like substance having at least one water soluble polysaccharide oncotic agent selected from the group consisting of high molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch, low molecular weight hydroxyethyl starch, dextran 40 and dextran 70, which is buffered by lactate and has a pre-administration pH of between 4 and 6.5 is disclosed. In one embodiment, the artificial plasma-like solution may have at least two water soluble polysaccharide oncotic agents one of which is eliminated from the circulation slowly and the other of which is eliminated from the circulation quickly. Supplementation of the plasma-like solution with certain ions is described. A system for administration of the plasma-like solution to a subject wherein the system comprises a first and second solution each having particular buffers is described. Methods for the administration of the plasma-like solution are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for use in perfusion applications are provided. In the subject methods, a subject or derivative thereof, e.g. isolated organ or tissue, is infused, perfused and/or transfused with at least two fluid compositions. The first fluid composition is a non-naturally occurring biological buffer free plasma-like solution and the second fluid composition is a fluid blood composition. In a preferred embodiment, an additional volume of the first solution, or a derivative thereof, is administered to the patient following introduction of the fluid blood composition. Also provided are kits and systems for performing the subject methods. The subject methods and compositions find use in variety of perfusion applications, including the treatment of hypothermic surgical applications, cryogenic procedures, and the like.

Abstract: Solutions are described which are useful as plasma expanders and blood substitutes in mammals, including primates, and methods for using the solutions.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions comprising a polysaccharide oncotic agent, a physiologically compatible buffer, a simple hexose sugar, dissolved chloride salts of calcium, sodium and magnesium, and a dissolved organic salt of sodium are disclosed. The solutions are effective substitutes for blood and may be used to preserve the biological integrity of the organs of a mammalian donor organism as shown by superior anatomical integrity of cryopreserved organs and tissues of subjects perfused with the solution. The solutions may be used for maintaining a partially or substantially completely exsanguinated subject at normal temperatures and at temperatures substantially below those normally maintained by a mammal and may be used in conjunction with hypobaric environments to maintain such partially or completed exsanguinated subjects alive without infusing blood back into the subject.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions comprising a polysaccharide oncotic agent, a physiologically compatible buffer, a simple hexose sugar, dissolved chloride salts of calcium, sodium and magnesium, and a dissolved organic salt of sodium are disclosed. The solutions are effective substitutes for blood and may be used to preserve the biological integrity of the organs of a mammalian donor organism as shown by superior anatomical integrity of cryopreserved organs and tissues of subjects perfused with the solution. The solutions may be used for maintaining a partially or substantially completely exsanguinated subject at normal temperatures and at temperatures substantially below those normally maintained by a mammal and may be used in conjunction with hypobaric environments to maintain such partially or completed exsanguinated subjects alive without infusing blood back into the subject.

Abstract: Aqueous solutions comprising a polysaccharide oncotic agent, a physiologically compatible buffer, a simple hexose sugar, dissolved chloride salts of calcium, sodium and magnesium, and a dissolved organic salt of sodium are disclosed. The solutions are effective substitutes for blood and may be used to preserve the biological integrity of the organs of a mammalian donor organism as shown by superior anatomical integrity of cryopreserved organs and tissues of subjects perfused with the solution. The solutions may be used for maintaining a partially or substantially completely exsanguinated subject at normal temperatures and at temperatures substantially below those normally maintained by a mammal and may be used in conjunction with hypobaric environments to maintain such partially or completed exsanguinated subjects alive without infusing blood back into the subject.