Abstract: A rotating wall vessel is used as a culture vessel and bioreactor for the cultivation of hepatocytes in the form of spheroids to generate a culture with many properties of the intact liver. These properties include enzyme activity comparable to fresh cells and long-term maintenance of viability and cellular function for periods on the order of months. The cultures may be used to produce hepatocyte products, evaluate metabolism of an agent, propagate Hepatitis C virus and test agents as inhibitors of this virus. Thus, the culture system disclosed herein makes long term functional cultivation of human hepatocytes feasible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel cell (e.g., hepatocyte, etc.) compositions and methods for their preparation and use. In particular, the invention concerns methods of processing preparations of such cells so as to permit their repeated cryopreservation and thawing while retaining substantial viability. The invention also concerns preparations of cells (e.g., hepatocytes) that have been repeatedly cryopreserved and thawed.

Abstract: A rotating wall vessel is used as a culture vessel and bioreactor for the cultivation of hepatocytes in the form of spheroids to generate a culture with many properties of the intact liver. These properties include enzyme activity comparable to fresh cells and long-term maintenance of viability and cellular function for periods on the order of months. The cultures may be used to produce hepatocyte products, evaluate metabolism of an agent, propagate Hepatitis C virus and test agents as inhibitors of this virus. Thus, the culture system disclosed herein makes long term functional cultivation of human hepatocytes feasible.

Abstract: A rotating wall vessel is used as a culture vessel and bioreactor for the cultivation of hepatocytes in the form of spheroids to generate a culture with many properties of the intact liver. These properties include enzyme activity comparable to fresh cells and long-term maintenance of viability and cellular function for periods on the order of months. The cultures may be used to produce hepatocyte products, evaluate-metabolism of an agent, propagate Hepatitis C virus and test agents as inhibitors of this virus. Thus, the culture system disclosed herein makes long term functional cultivation of human hepatocytes feasible.

Abstract: A rotating wall vessel is used as a culture vessel and bioreactor for the cultivation of hepatocytes in the form of spheroids to generate a culture with many properties of the intact liver. These properties include enzyme activity comparable to fresh cells and long-term maintenance of viability and cellular function for periods on the order of months. The cultures may be used to produce hepatocyte products, evaluate metabolism of an agent, propagate Hepatitis C virus and test agents as inhibitors of this virus. Thus, the culture system disclosed herein makes long term functional cultivation of human hepatocytes feasible.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel cell (e.g., hepatocyte, etc.) compositions and methods for their preparation and use. In particular, the invention concerns methods of processing preparations of such cells so as to permit their repeated cryopreservation and thawing while retaining substantial viability. The invention also concerns preparations of cells (e.g., hepatocytes) that have been repeatedly cryopreserved and thawed.

Abstract: A method of packaging temperature sensitive materials for transportation are provided in which an insulating container is assembled from a corrugated fiberboard carton, a plastic liner bag and slab-like rigid foam insulating wall liners. The slab-like rigid foam insulating wall liners are of a size to snugly fit the inner walls of the carton and are positioned against the inner walls of the carton inside the plastic liner bag to create an insulated chamber. The insulated chamber is capable of holding two frozen bottle style refrigerant packs against its inner lined sidewall and two refrigerated brick style refrigerant packs against its top and bottom lined walls to create a cooling chamber within which temperature sensitive materials housed in a flexible foam insulation lined container are cooled by a heat transfer cooling mechanism which is capable of maintaining the temperature sensitive materials at a temperature in the range of 2.degree. C. to 10.degree. C. (36.degree. F. to 50.degree. F.

Abstract: An apparatus for packaging temperature sensitive materials for transportation are provided in which an insulating container is assembled from a corrugated fiberboard carton, a plastic liner bag and slab-like rigid foam insulating wall liners. The slab-like rigid foam insulating wall liners are of a size to snugly fit the inner walls of the carton and are positioned against the inner walls of the carton inside the plastic liner bag to create an insulated chamber. The insulated chamber is capable of holding two frozen bottle style refrigerant packs against its inner lined sidewall and two refrigerated brick style refrigerant packs against its top and bottom lined walls to create a cooling chamber within which temperature sensitive materials housed in a flexible foam insulation lined container are cooled by a heat transfer cooling mechanism which is capable of maintaining the temperature sensitive materials at a temperature in the range of 2.degree. C. to 10.degree. C. (36.degree. F. to 50.degree. F.