Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the in vitro selection of at least one therapeutic cell subpopulation from an original cell population of eukaryotic cells, as well as to the therapeutic cell subpopulation selected by the method, which can be used for the treatment of diseases of tissues or organs. The selected cells are highly migrative and the method according to the invention provides for the selection of these highly migrative subpopulations from a sample comprising a mixture of cells.

Abstract: Systems and methods can support generation of a full-thickness, human skin organ from tissue culture expanded cells. Human dermal and epidermal progenitor cells can be isolated from human tissues. Isolated cells may be cultured as epidermal cells while other isolated cells may be separately cultured as dermal cells. The cultured epidermal cells and dermal cells may be combined for co-culturing. The co-cultured cells may be suspended within a slurry. The co-cultured cells may be implanted onto a recipient organism for generation of a full-thickness skin organ comprising fully cycling hair follicles, adipose tissue, and other skin organ structures.

Abstract: Disclosed are tissue graft compositions made of materials having different densities, methods of making, and methods of treatment for restoring tissues in a patient.

Abstract: Cells derived from postpartum placenta and methods for their isolation are provided by the invention. The invention further provides cultures and compositions of the placenta-derived cells. The placenta-derived cells of the invention have a plethora of uses, including but not limited to research, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: Compounds and methods for refolding of proteins in an aqueous solution. In particular, biocompatible multiblock copolymer surfactants such as poloxamers, meroxapols, poloxamines, or polyols are used to catalyze proper refolding without changing the protein composition, and restore the protein to its native conformation and native biological function. The methods can be practiced both in vivo and in vitro. The biocompatible multiblock copolymer surfactants can be used for renaturation of recombinantly expressed proteins, and for renaturation of proteins that are unfolded due to heat, irradiation, mechanical shearing, electrical shock, frostbite, chemical stress, and other abiotic or biotic stresses.

Abstract: A method for preparing placenta membrane tissue grafts for medical use, includes obtaining a placenta from a subject, cleaning the placenta, separating the chorion tissue from the amniotic membrane, mounting a selected layer of either the chorion tissue or the amniotic membrane onto a drying fixture, dehydrating the selected layer on the drying fixture, and cutting the selected layer into a plurality of tissue grafts. Preferably, the drying fixture includes grooves or raised edges that define the outer contours of each desired tissue graft, after they are cut, and further includes raised or indented logos that emboss the middle area of the tissue grafts during dehydration and that enables an end user to distinguish the top from the bottom side of the graft. The grafts are comprised of single layers of amnion or chorion, multiple layers of amnion or chorion, or multiple layers of a combination of amnion and chorion.

Abstract: Described herein are 3-dimensional clusters of reaggregated cells comprising cells reaggregated from at least two different cell sources, such as different cell types, different donors, and combinations thereof. Methods of making, using, and cryopreserving these 3-dimensional clusters of reaggregated cells are also described herein.

Abstract: Implants for promoting bone growth and methods of using same, the implants including a perforated placental membrane sheet wrapped around an osteoconductive material composed of bone chips, bone granules, bone powders or combinations thereof, the osteoconductive material being configured for providing a scaffold upon which bone growth can occur. The placental membrane sheet acts to maintain the osteoconductive material in a cohesive, organized configuration within a site of a patient where bone growth is to be induced. The perforations in the placental membrane sheet create passageways in the exterior of the implant through which the osteoconductive material can communicate with adjacent bone surfaces which are to be fused.

Abstract: The described invention provides methods and regimens for treating adverse consequences of a persistent and progressive myocardial injury-due to a vascular insufficiency that occurs early or late in a subject in need thereof, and progressive myocardial injury-preventing compositions that contain a chemotactic hematopoietic stem cell product, and, optionally, an additional active agent. The method treats ongoing vascular insufficiency affecting coronary circulation by (i) stimulating neoangiogenesis in a peri-infarct border zone, thereby improving myocardial perfusion; and, (ii) through a paracrine effect, preventing apoptosis of cardiomyocytes in the peri-infarct border zone. The neoangiogenesis and paracrine-mediated reduction of apoptosis reduces progressive myocardial cell loss, which leads to improvement in cardiac function and a reduction of risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.

Abstract: A method of repairing diseased or dysfunctional pancreas or liver is provided. The method involves preparation of a suspension of stem cells and/or progenitor cells such as biliary tree stem cells, hepatic stem cells, pancreatic stem cells or their descendants, committed progenitor cells, from healthy tissue of the patient or of the biliary tree of a non-autologous donor and engrafting the cells into the wall of bile ducts near to the organ to be treated. The graft consists of stem cells or progenitors that are admixed with biomaterials and, optionally, with cytokines and/or native epithelial-mesenchymal cells appropriate for the maturational lineage stage of the cells to be engrafted.

Abstract: The described invention provides methods and regimens for treating adverse consequences of a persistent and progressive myocardial injury-due to a vascular insufficiency that occurs early or late in a subject in need thereof, and progressive myocardial injury-preventing compositions that contain a chemotactic hematopoietic stem cell product, and, optionally, an additional active agent.

Abstract: Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta. The grafts are composed of at least one layer of amnion tissue where the epithelium layer has been substantially removed in order to expose the basement layer to host cells. By removing the epithelium layer, cells from the host can more readily interact with the cell-adhesion bio-active factors located onto top and within of the basement membrane. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts. The laminin structure of amnion tissue is nearly identical to that of native human tissue such as, for example, oral mucosa tissue. This includes high level of laminin-5, a cell adhesion bio-active factor show to bind gingival epithelia-cells, found throughout upper portions of the basement membrane.

Abstract: Devices and methods for culture of cells are provided. The devices can comprise a three-dimensional body having multiple two-dimensional surfaces extending inwardly from a periphery of the three-dimensional body towards an interior of the three-dimensional body, wherein the multiple two-dimensional surfaces are configured to support monolayer growth of eukaryotic cells over at least a majority of or all of the surface area of the multiple two-dimensional surfaces.

Abstract: Cells derived from postpartum tissue and products thereof having the potential to support cells of and/or differentiate to cells of a soft tissue lineage, and methods of preparation and use of those postpartum tissue-derived cells, are provided by the invention. The invention also provides methods for the use of such postpartum-derived cells and products related thereto in therapies for conditions of soft tissue.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method which allows separation of nucleated fetal cells, particularly fetal erythroblasts, from maternal peripheral blood. More specifically the invention relates to a non-invasive method which can isolate and provide intact nucleated fetal cells, and is useful for subsequent chromosome, gene expression and protein investigations, and is feasible at ail gestational ages.

Abstract: Cells derived from human umbilical cords are disclosed along with methods for their therapeutic use. Isolation techniques, culture methods and detailed characterization of the cells with respect to their cell surface markers, gene expression, and their secretion of trophic factors are described.

Abstract: A tissue engineered nerve graft for repairing peripheral nerve injury consists of a nerve conduit and a extracellular matrix (ECM) that is secreted by autologous or allogeneic support cells and obtained by decellularization. A preparation method of the ECM-modified tissue engineered nerve grafts containing support cells, nerve conduit and constructing a ECM-modified tissue engineered nerve graft.

Abstract: Described are tissue graft constructs that include an extracellular matrix material in combination with added endothelial cells and at least one additional added exogenous cellular population. The additional exogenous cellular population desirably includes muscle cells, such as smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, or a combination thereof. Tubular constructs seeded with such cell combinations can be beneficially used as vascular grafts. Also described are methods for preparing and using such grafts.

Abstract: Implants for promoting bone growth and methods of using same, the implants including a perforated placental membrane sheet wrapped around an osteoconductive material composed of bone chips, bone granules, bone powders or combinations thereof, the osteoconductive material being configured for providing a scaffold upon which bone growth can occur. The placental membrane sheet acts to maintain the osteoconductive material in a cohesive, organized configuration within a site of a patient where bone growth is to be induced. The perforations in the placental membrane sheet create passageways in the exterior of the implant through which the osteoconductive material can communicate with adjacent bone surfaces which are to be fused.

Abstract: An automated system and method of cryopreservation of oocytes, embryos, or blastocysts. The method entails delivering two or more solutions into a container holding oocytes, embryos, or blastocysts, and controlling the flow of the solutions to gradually change the concentration of cryoprotectants and dehydrating agents in the container to minimize shock to the oocytes, embryos or blastocysts.