Abstract: Systems and methods of enhancing membrane permeabilization in a cell are provided. An example method includes disposing the cell between a first electrode and a second electrode and applying a plurality of electrical pulses between the first electrode and the second electrode. In the systems and methods, the plurality of electrical pulses include at least two trains of pulses separated by an interval greater than about 10 s. Further, the amplitude of the electrical pulses is selected to be greater than about 0.2 kV/cm.

Abstract: A process of simply, cheaply, and reproducibly creating complex tissue models using screen printing and the tissue model prepared using the screen printing process. These models are amenable to high throughput screening. They will allow the study of components of disease progression and can be used for screening therapies.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method of modulating a potency level phenotype of a source population of cells include culturing the source cell population in a liquid medium within a cell culture incubator, the incubator is configured to independently regulate one or more variable parameters of gaseous conditions within the incubator, the more than one variable atmospheric parameters within the incubator being regulated independently of each other and independently of ambient external gaseous conditions. The method further includes regulating the one or more variable parameters of the gaseous condition within the incubator such that at least one of the one or more variable parameter differs from an ambient level of the respective variable parameter, and as a consequence of such difference from ambient conditions, the subset population is driven from a first potency level phenotype to a second potency level phenotype.

Abstract: A microfluidic device is directed to sustaining a complex microbial community in direct and indirect contact with living human intestinal cells in vitro. The device includes a first microchannel having cultured cells of a human intestinal epithelium and microbiota, the first microchannel further having a first level of oxygen. The device further includes a second microchannel having cultured cells of a vascular endothelium, the second microchannel further having a second level of oxygen. The device also includes a membrane located at an interface region between the first microchannel and the second microchannel, the membrane being composed of an oxygen-permeable material or further having pores via which oxygen flows between the first microchannel and the second microchannel to form a physiologically-relevant oxygen gradient.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cartilage regenerating composition including a fetal cartilage tissue-derived cell and an extracellular matrix derived from a fetal cartilage tissue, and a preparing method thereof. According to the present invention, the cartilage-regenerating composition may produce a three-dimensional tissue of a size suitable for use as a cartilage without a scaffold, may be easily transplantable regardless of the size and shape of the cartilage defect at the site of administration since it can be administered in the form of a gel, but has high application and adhesion, may exhibit a high binding ability to the host tissue, and may have a phenotype of mature cartilage tissue, thereby exhibiting an excellent cartilage regeneration effect.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for preparing an expanded biological specimen suitable for microscopic analysis. Expanding the biological sample can be achieved by anchoring biomolecules to a polymer network and swelling, or expanding, the polymer network, thereby moving the biomolecules apart as further described below. As the biomolecules are anchored to the polymer network isotropic expansion of the polymer network retains the spatial orientation of the biomolecules resulting in an expanded, or enlarged, biological specimen.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for isolating placental trophoblast cells from cervical exfoliated cells of a pregnant woman. Based on a specific antigen or combination expressed on the surface or inside of specific trophoblast cells, the designed microfluidic sorting chip or flow cytometer is used in the method to perform cell sorting of a cell suspension of a placental trophoblast sample, thus obtaining isolated and purified placental trophoblast cells. Compared with conventional methods, the method of the present invention has the advantages of non-invasively obtaining specimens and good specificity. Moreover, the method causes low risk of infection and abortion, allows earlier sampling time and can achieve the synchronous labeling of a plurality of antigens as well as identification and sorting of characteristic fluorescence signals; and the method has greatly improved accuracy and higher reliability and broader coverage area of detection results.

Abstract: A method of in vitro cellular assay includes measuring an electrical activity of at least two cell populations in a plurality of cell populations that are disposed to be spaced apart from each other and connected to each other via a neurite, in which at least one of the at least two cell populations for which the electrical activity is measured is a cell population including at least one kind of neural cell, and the at least two cell populations each exhibit different electrical activity properties at a point when the electrical activity is measured.

Abstract: Methods of selecting umbilical cord blood units for ex-vivo expansion, separation of CD133+/CD34+ positive and uncultured CD133+/CD34+ negative fractions, methods for expanding the selected CD133+/CD34+ fraction, selection of expanded populations of CD133+/CD34+ cord blood cells for transplantation to subjects in need thereof and the therapeutic use of suitable selected, ex-vivo expanded CD 133+/CD34+ and unselected CD133/CD34 negative cord blood fractions for transplantation in the clinical setting, for treatment of hematological malignancies are provided. The present invention also envisions kits comprising the expanded and unselected cord blood fractions.

Abstract: Methods to remediate a contaminated material are provided. In one embodiment, a biocatalyst that digests hydrocarbon contaminants is activated with a nutrient and the activated biocatalyst is combined with the contaminated material and water to form a mixture. The mixture is incubated for a period of time, and the level of contaminant in the mixture is determined to ascertain whether to incubate further, add additional biocatalyst mix, or provide the remediated material for further processing. In one embodiment, the remediated material is provided for reuse or recycling with a second material, such as a construction aggregate. The method is particularly suited for remediation of drill cuttings, mine tailings, hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, and the like.

Abstract: Methods are provided for extracting bone marrow cells from bone obtained from deceased donors, for preparing the bone marrow for cryopreservation and for obtaining desired cells from cryopreserved and fresh bone marrow.

Abstract: Methods are provided for extracting bone marrow cells from bone obtained from deceased donors, for preparing the bone marrow for cryopreservation and for obtaining desired cells from cryopreserved and fresh bone marrow.

Abstract: Based on the discovery that MBLAC1 is a specific, high-affinity target for Ceftriaxone (Cef), MBLAC1 may be used for identifying treatments for addiction to substances of abuse. Methods for identifying therapeutic agents for treatment of addiction to a substance of abuse include using an assay to determine if a test agent is capable of binding to MBLAC1 or disrupting binding between MBLAC1 protein and Cef, and identifying such a test agent as a candidate therapeutic agent for treatment of addiction to a substance of abuse. MBLAC knock-out (KO) animals, methods of use thereof, and kits are used for identifying a therapeutic agent that reduces the actions of at least one substance of abuse. Methods also include using cellular extracts from tissue or cultured cells taken from wild-type (WT) MBLAC1 and MBLAC1 KO animals for screening for novel, Cef-like molecules in vitro, and using cells from a MBLAC1 KO animal to test for Cef-like actions of a test molecule.

Abstract: Probiotic compositions containing non-pathogenic microbial entities, e.g., bacterial entities, are described herein. The probiotic compositions may optionally contain or be used in conjunction with one or more prebiotics. Uses of the probiotic compositions to treat or prevent disorders of the local or systemic microbiome in a subject are also provided.

Abstract: The present description relates to in vitro methods for culturing hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) under mild hyperthermia conditions (e.g., between 38° C. and 40° C.) in the presence of a pyrimidoindole derivative agonist of hematopoietic stem cell expansion. The combined use of mild hyperthermia and the pyrimidoindole derivative act synergistically to promote expansion of CD34+ HSCs and/or differentiation into progenitor cells (e.g., megakaryocytic progenitors). The present description also relates to in vitro expanded cell populations of HSCs and/or progenitors, as well as uses thereof in therapy (e.g., transplantation).

Abstract: Provided is a method of culturing mesenchymal stem cells as a cell construct while maintaining undifferentiation thereof, the method including subjecting mesenchymal stem cells to shaking culture.

Abstract: The present invention, in some aspects, provides compositions including a solution comprising a plurality of exfoliated silk microfibrils and/or exfoliated silk nanofibrils, wherein the micro- or nano-fibrils are characterized as having a substantially nematic structure, as well as methods for making and using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and systems which accommodate 3-dimensional adipocyte expansion to produce, e.g., mature adipocytes and synthetic adipose tissue with cellular properties of mature adult organisms, including cell size and cytoarchitecture, and the use of such methods and systems for, e.g., in vitro drug screening and/or toxicity assays, disease modeling, and therapeutic applications.

Abstract: A method of purifying adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from a sample of adipose tissue, including: flowing the sample onto a polymer surface having at least one vertical helical-shaped portion, vertical threaded shaped portion, or vertical grooved shaped portion at a first flow rate of 10 to 150 ml/min allowing separation into a first remaining sample including mesenchymal stem cells on the polymer surface and into a second resulting solution being evacuated from the polymer surface; flowing a saline solution onto the polymer surface at a second flow rate of 100 to 500 ml/min, the first flow rate being slower than the second flow rate; and collecting the saline solution including purified mesenchymal stem cells in a collector. Also, an apparatus and a system for purifying adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells, the use of the apparatus, and a method of isolating and purifying adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from an adipose tissue sample.

Abstract: A method for purifying and enriching mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) simply and efficiently. Separation of cells expressing CD73 protein on the surface from fresh tissue isolated from a living body allows purification and enrichment of MSCs easily and efficiently. MSCs may be selectively isolated with a single antibody before culturing to establish a culture system of mesenchymal stem cells that enhances the engraftment efficiency in the transplanted site.