Abstract: The invention enables efficient, rapid, and sensitive enumeration of living cells by detecting microscopic colonies derived from in situ cell division using large area imaging. Microbial enumeration tests based on the invention address an important problem in clinical and industrial microbiology—the long time needed for detection in traditional tests—while retaining key advantages of the traditional methods based on microbial culture. Embodiments of the invention include non-destructive aseptic methods for detecting cellular microcolonies without labeling reagents. These methods allow for the generation of pure cultures which can be used for microbial identification and determination of antimicrobial resistance.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides biomaterials and methods for preventing and minimizing progression of cartilage and/or connective tissue damage. Also provided herein are biomaterials and methods for alleviating and/or reducing the risk for developing arthritis (e.g., osteoarthritis) associated with joint injury and/or joint surgery.

Abstract: A composition including, (a) a mineral particle, (b) endothelial cells and mesenchymal cells, and (3) hyaluronic acid, is provided. Moreover, a kit which includes: a syringe, a mineral particle covered with endothelial cells and mesenchymal cells organized in 2 or more cell layers attached to the mineral particle, and hyaluronic acid, is also provided. Last, a method for filling a gap in a bone of a subject in need thereof, including contacting the gap with a composition of: (a) a mineral particle, (b) endothelial cells and mesenchymal cells, and (3) hyaluronic acid is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to method for cultivating stem cells in vitro, comprising the following steps: providing a sample comprising stem cells and cultivating the stem cells by subjecting the sample to a treatment for a first period of time. The treatment is carried out under hypothermic conditions having a defined temperature and a defined atmosphere, wherein the temperature does not exceed 15° C. and the atmosphere has an oxygen content not exceeding 21% (v/v). Thereby, the first period of time is 4 days to 4 weeks.

Abstract: An in vitro method of producing a population of muscle stem cells comprising co-culturing pluripotent stem cells, embryonic fibroblast cells and endothelial cells in 3D cell culture.

Abstract: Methods and systems of harvesting a cell product from a cell culture by culturing cells in a fluid medium until the cells have produced a cell product at a harvest concentration are disclosed. The cells are cultured in a cell culture system including a bioreactor connected to an ATF device. The methods include draining fluid medium from the bioreactor through the outlet and the ATF device until the bioreactor volume reaches a predetermined volume, and the ATF column yields at an ATF outlet a liquid containing cell product and passes fluid medium with a concentration of cell product that is lower than the harvest concentration back into the bioreactor, extracting the liquid containing cell product from the ATF outlet, refilling the bioreactor with sterile phosphate buffered saline or fluid medium without any cell product, and repeating steps until a desired amount of cell product has been removed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a means for reconstituting tissues and organs having mature functions. A method of preparing a tissue or an organ, comprising coculturing an organ cell with a vascular endothelial cell and a mesenchymal cell, generating an organ bud, transplanting the organ bud into a non-human animal, and then isolating from the non-human animal the transplanted organ bud-derived tissue or organ.

Abstract: Compositions and methods are provided for repairing damaged avascular zones, including intervertebral disc, in a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of cryopreserving a tissue derived from a pluripotent stem cell, including the steps of (1) bringing a tissue derived from a pluripotent stem cell into contact with a cell protection solution that contains sulfoxide and chain polyol, (2) maintaining, in a cryopreservation solution, the pluripotent stem cell-derived tissue that was brought into contact with the cell protection solution in the first step, and (3) cryopreserving, in the presence of a coolant, the pluripotent stem cell-derived tissue that was maintained in the cryopreservation solution.

Abstract: Biologically low invasive vessels are filled with biological factors that have the activity of mobilizing specific functional cells in the body. The vessels are indwelled in the body. After specific functional cells are mobilized into the vessels, the vessels are removed from the body to collect functional cell populations mobilized to the vessels. Alternatively, the cells are directly collected from the vessels indwelled in the body.

Abstract: The present invention provides an implant which includes: (a) an autologous engineered tissue; and (b) a vasculature, wherein the engineered tissue is a porous scaffold embedded with endothelial cell, a fibroblast, a myoblast, a mesenchymal cell, an adipocyte, or any combination thereof, wherein the vasculature feeds the cells. Further, the invention provides a method for treating a subject afflicted with a large soft tissue defect by implanting the implant of the invention.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to the ability of autologous CD133+ bone marrow stem cells (BMDSC) to induce endometrial regeneration and treat endometrial pathologies such as Asherman's syndrome and endometrial atrophy. Methods to induce endometrial regeneration are provided, which comprises administering an effective amount of autologous CD133+ bone marrow derived stem cells (BMDSC) into uterine arteries of a subject in need thereof to induce endometrial regeneration.

Abstract: Methods for selecting lots of bone marrow stromal cells (MSCs) having a high proliferative capacity are provided. Such methods are useful in the manufacture of therapeutic derivatives of MSCs.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to methods and compositions useful for therapeutic vascular tissue engineering. In particular, the present invention provides methods for generating substantially pure populations of vasculogenic cells from human mesenchymal progenitors, and methods and compositions for clinical applications in the field of regenerative medicine.

Abstract: A method for isolation, enrichment and co-culture of foetal polymix involving two or more components of mesenchymal stem cells derived from, but not limited to, placenta, amnion, amniotic fluid, chorion and umbilical cord and/or other products of conception under hypoxic or otherwise and/or normoxic/general conditions for treatment of a plurality of disorders ranging from congenital to degenerative to developmental to malignant disorders and diseases prior to therapeutic administration.

Abstract: Methods for the efficient isolation and use of pluripotent adipose-derived stem cells (PASCs) are provided. In certain embodiments the methods involve providing an adipose tissue sample from which the stromal vascular fraction is co-cultured with the adipocyte fraction. PASCs can be isolated with a high degree of purification without requiring an additional cell enrichment process (e.g. cell sorting). PASCs and their conditioned media can be used for tissue regeneration within hours of harvesting the adipose tissue, and without requiring cell expansion. PASCs can grow as floating individual cells, as clusters of cells, or attached to surface(s) of the culture vessel. PASCs do not produce teratomas in vivo, nor do they induce immunorejection upon transplantation, and they achieve a high efficiency in grafting. The cells and compositions can be used for cell therapy and to screen new drugs.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for inducing human cholangiocyte differentiation of progenitor cells called hepatoblasts. More specifically, the invention relates to a method for differentiating hepatoblasts to cholangiocytes by culturing said hepatoblasts with a particular medium having interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity. The differentiation method can specifically induce cholangiocyte differentiation from hepatoblasts, and the human cholangiocytes differentiated according to the invention may be useful for drug discovery for treatment of cholangiopathies and bioengineered livers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a sheet-like pancreatic islet, comprising culturing an isolated pancreatic islet in a culture vessel, wherein a polypeptide comprising an EC1 domain of E-cadherin and having a binding ability to said E-cadherin is fixed on or applied to a surface of a solid phase, while being adhered to the solid phase surface for a period sufficient for the pancreatic islet to take a sheet-like form.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for culturing epithelial stem cells, isolated tissue fragments comprising said epithelial stem cells, or adenoma cells, and culturing the cells or fragments in the presence of a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist when culturing epithelial stem cells and isolated tissue fragments. The invention further relates to a cell culture medium comprising a BMP inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist, to the use of said culture medium, and to crypt-villus organoids, gastric organoids and pancreatic organoids that are formed in said culture medium.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods of generating germ layers from stem cells comprising culturing the stem cells in a culture medium having an osmolality less than 340 mOsm/kg. The present disclosure also includes a method to generate different cell lineages from the germ layers as well as to detect them by immunological methods. The present disclosure further provides methods for the generation, isolation, cultivation and propagation of committed progenitor cells and for the production of differentiated cells from the three germ layers. The present disclosure also provides culture media for use in inducing the three germ layers.