Abstract: Compositions and methods for conditionally regulating activities of CRISPR-Cas systems. In some embodiments, the methods comprise providing an inactive guide RNA comprising a regulatory domain bound by a lock nucleic acid different from the guide RNA; and displacing the lock nuclei acid from the regulatory domain by a trigger nucleic acid, thereby activating the guide RNA, wherein the activated guide RNA forms a complex with a Cas enzyme.

Abstract: Provided herein is a new method to isolate and expand cardiac progenitor/stem cells from a placenta, which produces a cell population enriched in multipotent functional progenitor/stem cells. Cardiac progenitor/stem cells isolated by this method maintain their self-renewal character in vitro and differentiate into normal cells in myocardium, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, after transplantation into ischemic hearts. Also provided in this application are substantially pure populations of multipotent cardiac progenitor/stem cells, and their use to treat and prevent diseases and injuries, including those resulting from myocardial infarction. A model for assessing the potential of cardiac stem cells for treatment of myocardial infarction is also provided.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to the preparation of representative samples from clinical samples, e.g., tumors (whole or in part), lymph nodes, metastases, cysts, polyps, or a combination or portion thereof, using mechanical and/or biochemical dissociation methods to homogenize intact samples or large portions thereof. The resulting homogenate provides the ability to obtain a correct representative sample despite spatial heterogeneity within the sample, increasing detection likelihood of low prevalence subclones, and is suitable for use in various diagnostic assays as well as the production of therapeutics, especially “personalized” anti-tumor vaccines or immune cell based therapies.

Abstract: The present invention relates to mitochondrial compositions and therapeutic methods of using same. The invention discloses compositions of partially purified functional mitochondria and methods of using the compositions to treat conditions which benefit from increased mitochondrial function by administering the compositions to a subject in need thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the generation of a layered cellular 3 D microtissue aggregate, comprising the steps of contacting myeloid cells with a protein kinase C agonist, yielding primed myeloid cells; incubating the primed myeloid cells in the presence of LDL in a confined volume, particularly in a hanging drop culture; yielding a 3 D culture of myeloid cells; and incubating the 3 D culture together with fibroblasts in a hanging drop in the presence of LDL, yielding the layered cellular aggregate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method to maintain pH within a range conducive for cell growth in a bicarbonate-containing cell culture system without the addition of base. The method relies on the gas transfer characteristics of the bioreactor system to modulate the CO2 transfer to and from the cell culture such that the pH of the cell culture can be maintained within a desired range.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies includes: a common substrate formed from a flexible resilient polymeric material and having a plurality of wells formed therein; and a plurality of rigid cell carriers releasably connected to said common substrate, with said carriers arranged in the form of an array, and with each of the carriers resiliently received in one of the wells. A method of collecting or culturing cells or cell colonies with such an apparatus is carried out by depositing a liquid media carrying cells on the apparatus so that said cells settle on or adhere to said the carriers; and then (c) releasing at least one selected carrier having said cells thereon by gradual application of release energy to each carrier from the cavity in which it is received (e.g., by pushing with a probe).

Abstract: This document describes systems and methods for integrated mechanical loading of tissue. The system includes a three-dimensional tissue comprising organic material. The system includes a strip of bendable material. The strip includes a first region proximate to a first end of the strip coupled to the tissue. The strip includes a second region near a second end of the strip for coupled to the tissue, the second end being opposite the first end, wherein the tissue exerts a force on the strip to bend the strip, the force caused by contraction of the tissue, and wherein the strip exerts a stress on the tissue.

Abstract: Nutritional products having improved cohesiveness of food boluses and methods of making and using same are provided. The nutritional products may include nutritional compositions and high molecular weight, water-soluble polymers such that the nutritional products have extensional viscosities that provide improved cohesiveness to the nutritional products and Trouton ratios of at least 6. Methods of administering such nutritional products to patients having impaired swallowing ability and/or dysphagia are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for culturing a 3-dimensional lung cancer organoid and a method for preparing a patient-derived xenograft animal model using the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method for culturing a 3-dimensional lung cancer organoid, a lung cancer organoid prepared by the method, a medium composition for culturing the lung cancer organoid, a method for preparing a xenograft animal model using the lung cancer organoid, a patient-derived lung cancer organoid xenograft animal model prepared by the method, and a method for analyzing therapeutic efficacy of an anticancer agent and a method for screening an anticancer agent, using the animal model.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for producing an exosome containing therapeutic agent, including: separating mononuclear cells from a bone marrow sample of a healthy donor; treating the separated mononuclear cells in a culture media at 37° C. and at 5% CO2 for 48-72 h; separating an exosome composition from the culture media; and dissolving the separated exosome composition in a phosphate buffer to obtain the exosome containing therapeutic agent. The culture media includes a 1:1 mixture of DMEM/F12 and HEPES, 2 mmol/mL or 3.65 mg/10 mL of L-glutamine, 100 units/mL of penicillin, 100 ?g/mL of streptomycin, and 10 wt % of fetal bovine serum.

Abstract: The preset invention relates to a novel super-enhancer-bound Ash2l/OSN complex that can drive enhance activation, govern pluripotency network and sternness circuitry, and a reprogramming system or method through the regulation of this super-enhancer, Ash2l, to modulate pluripotency and cell fates. Ash2l directly binds to super-enhancers of several stemness genes to regulate pluripotency and self-renewal in pluripotent stem cells. Ash2l recruits Oct4/Sox2/Nanog (OSN) to form Ash2l/OSN complex at the super-enhancers of Jarid2, Nanog, Sox2, and Oct4, and further drives enhancer activation, upregulation of stemness genes, and maintains the pluripotent circuitry. Ash2l knockdown abrogates the OSN recruitment to all super-enhancers and further hinders the enhancer activation.

Abstract: Methods of developing and using cell lines, such as stem cell lines, for therapeutic or cosmetic use. In one embodiment, the cell lines are used to treat a wide range of degenerative and metabolic disorders including, but not limited to, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiac deficiency. Also described are methods of using such cell lines to screen for compounds that play a role in regulating a variety of processes.

Abstract: Described are devices and associated methods of producing extracellular matrix (ECM) sheet devices with strengthened mechanical properties due to the selective retention of muscle tissue layers during processing.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to cardiogenic mesoderm formation regulators and methods of use thereof, e.g., generating a multipotent cardiovascular progenitor cell by overexpressing Id1, Id2, Id3, Id4, Evx1, and/or Grrp1 in a stem cell.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inducing human oocyte maturation in vitro, the apparatus including: a computing device, wherein the computing device includes at least a processor; and a memory communicatively connected to the at least processor, the memory containing instructions configuring the at least processor to receive first biological sample data from a first biological sample relating to a user; assign the user to a stimulation protocol as a function of the first biological sample; receive second biological sample data from a second biological sample relating to the user wherein the second biological sample comprises at least an immature oocyte; receive culture data relating the second biological sample; and assign the second biological sample a scoring metric as a function of the culture data of the second biological sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of in vitro 3D modeling of neural tissues, particularly of the brain. There is the need of developing cell culture models of neural tissue that reflect physiological aspects of neural tissue. The present invention provides methods of producing bioengineered neuronal organoids (BENOs) which form functional neuronal networks. The present invention also relates to uses and applications of the produced BENOs, e.g., in the fields of drug screening and personalized medicine.

Abstract: Provided is a method for culturing immature oocytes. The method can promote in vitro maturation of the immature oocytes, and specifically comprises using follicular cells and a culture medium for culturing same. The culture medium for culturing the follicular cells contains CNP or variants thereof or analogues thereof and an HDAC (histone deacetylase) inhibitor. Also provided are the in vitro maturation culture medium containing CNP or variants thereof or analogues thereof and the HDAC inhibitor, and related compositions thereof, and the use of the above medium, culture medium and compositions in the promotion of in vitro maturation of the immature oocytes.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for constructing functional exosomes capable of efficiently loading specific miRNA. In order to enable the exosome to carry miRNA with specific regulation function more efficiently so as to play a role in targeted regulation more accurately and efficiently, MS2 phage capsid protein is utilized to edit and construct a capture element of a specific miRNA molecule, and placenta mesenchymal stem cells are reprogrammed to enable the secreted exosome to efficiently load a target miRNA molecule, so that the target miRNA molecule is delivered to tissue cells to play a role in effective regulation, and therefore a new strategy is provided for realizing specific precise treatment in the future.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for treating, ameliorating or preventing a retinal disease or condition; improving a photopic (day light) vision; for improving correcting visual acuity, improving macular function, improving a visual field, or improving scotopic (night) vision by administration of retinal progenitor cells.