Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, and related kits, for directing cell attachment and spreading on a substrate and inducing isotropic spreading of cells; provides methods, and related kits, for cell sorting; and further provides methods, and related kits, for guided induction of stem cell differentiation.

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: A method for treating cartilage defects including providing a placental membrane preparation that includes ground or minced placental membranes and optionally, a ground or minced cartilage and/or biocompatible glue, and introducing the preparation to a cartilage defect within a skeletal joint. The cartilage defect may include a hyaline cartilage defect, such as a chondral defect, or meniscal defect. The treatment may be provided in combination with other treatments such as marrow stimulation treatments and surgical repair treatments using sutures or other fixation techniques. The preparation promotes the regeneration of cartilage within the skeletal joint.

Abstract: Provided is a method for producing an economical bovine serum composition containing many factors useful for cell proliferation. The method includes a step of performing an anticoagulation treatment of bovine whole blood with an anticoagulant, a step of obtaining a buffy coat and a fraction with a heavier specific gravity than that of the buffy coat from the anticoagulated whole blood, and a step of promoting and activating an interaction between the obtained leukocytes and platelets at a given temperature for not less than a given time to cause secretion or release of a humoral factor from the leukocytes and/or platelets and performing a recoagulation treatment of blood components including the humoral factor with a re-coagulating agent.

Abstract: The disclosure provides local delivery of a trace element to a site of tissue injury, which triggers the body' inherent tissue repair mechanism. Local delivery of copper to the site of injury induces migration (i.e., homing) of stem cells to the site of injury, triggers differentiation of stem cells at the site of injury, induces tissue regeneration at the site of injury, induces signaling molecules that trigger tissue regeneration, reverses damage at the site of injury, and/or reconstructs the microenvironment of neurofibril cells and neurosecretory cells at the site of injury. In another aspect, delivering a trace element (for example, copper) directly to the site of injury and associated methods are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the method for mass production of mesenchymal stem cell-derived proteins including various growth factors and cytokines, a mesenchymal stem cell conditioned medium containing a large amount of protein and produced by the above production method, cosmetic composition and pharmaceutical composition including the above conditioned medium for skin regeneration, anti-wrinkle, alopecia treatment, prevention of hair loss and promotion of hair growth.

Abstract: A method of culturing cells including: dividing a culture area into a center area and a plurality of peripheral areas, and designating the center area and the plurality of peripheral areas as measurement positions; calculating: a confluent rate at each of the measurement positions designated; and an average confluent rate which is an average of sum of the confluent rates at the measurement positions designated, the confluent rate being defined as a proportion of an area occupied by cells in a designated area; and determining a timing to perform a subculture of the cells, based on the confluent rate, wherein the determining of the timing further includes determining when the average confluent rate is smaller than a first threshold value, the confluent rate of the center area is larger than a second threshold value, and the second threshold value is larger than the first threshold value.

Abstract: The presently disclosed subject matter provides systems and methods for producing a three-dimensional model of a human cervix. A microdevice is provided for culturing human cervical cells. The microdevice can include an upper microchannel including live ectocervical epithelial cells. The microdevice can include a lower microchannel including a first parallel lane and a second parallel lane including stromal media. The first and the second parallel lanes can be lined with live vascular endothelial cells. The lower microchannel can include a third parallel lane including uterine fibroblasts and live smooth muscle cells embedded in hydrogel. The first, second, and third lanes of the lower microchannel can be separated by protrusion structures. The third parallel lane can be positioned in the lower microchannel in between the first and the second parallel lanes. The microdevice can further include a porous membrane positioned in between the upper microchannel and the lower microchannel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a technique for efficiently aggregating a polymer such as ECM together with cells. A method for preparing a polymer-loaded cell or cell aggregate, comprising adding a solution containing a polymer and at least one cell to a medium containing a swellable material to thereby aggregate the polymer together with the cell. A method for controlling the property and/or the function of a cell or a cell aggregate, comprising culturing the polymer-loaded cell or cell aggregate prepared by the above-described method. A method for culturing a cell or a cell aggregate, comprising: preparing a polymer capsule filled with a cell or a cell aggregate by adding a solution containing a polymer and at least one cell to a medium containing a swellable material to thereby aggregate the polymer together with the cell; and culturing the cell or cell aggregate within the capsule. For constructing 3D cell tissues, a method using U-bottom 96-well plates or the hanging-drop method is conventionally used.

Abstract: The present invention concerns new compositions containing hyaluronic acid or the derivatives thereof in association with the proteolytic enzyme collagenase (and relative pharmaceutical formulations) for the preparation of a dressing for topical treatment of various kinds of wounds, burns of varying depth, pressure sores, vascular ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers as well as for the treatment of hypertrophic and keloid scars.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for subjecting adherent cells to at least one electric field, in which the electric field is generated by applying a voltage to at least two active electrodes 63, wherein at least three electrodes 63, 64 are provided, and wherein at least two electrodes 63, 64 are active electrodes 63 when the voltage is applied in order to generate a first electric field, and in which at least one second electric field is generated, wherein at least one of the two previously active electrodes 63 is a potential-free electrode 64 when the voltage is applied. Also disclosed is a device 58 comprising at least three electrodes 63, 64, which are connected to at least one voltage source by means of at least one switching device 59, 60, 61, 62, wherein at least five electrodes 63, 64 are connected to the at least one voltage source by means of four switching devices 59, 60, 61, 62, wherein at least two electrodes 63, 64 are connected to the voltage source by means of a common switching device 59, 60, 61, 62.

Abstract: This invention relates to the efficient generation of cholangiocyte progenitor (CP) cells. Foregut stem cells (FSCs) are cultured in a hepatic induction medium comprising bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and a TGF? signalling inhibitor to produce a population of hepatoblasts. The hepatoblasts are then cultured in a biliary induction medium comprising fibroblast growth factor (FGF), retinoic acid and a TGF? ligand to produce a population of cholangiocyte progenitors (CPs). The cholangiocyte progenitors (CPs) may be matured into cholangiocyte-like cells (CLCs) that display functional properties of Common Bile Duct (CBD) cholangiocytes. Methods, kits, cell populations and uses of these cell populations are provided.

Abstract: Embodiments described herein generally relate to passively replacing media in a closed cell expansion system to reduce or prevent the dilution of chemical signaling used to inhibit signaling pathways that keep a cell population in the lag phase of cell growth. To prevent such dilution, active inlet fluid flow to the system may be halted. To replace fluid lost by the system, a bag containing media may be attached to the waste line in replacement of the waste or outlet bag connected thereto. By turning off one or more pumps, media from the replacement bag is added to the system at the rate of evaporation. Chemical signaling dilution may be prevented while conserving system resources. Enhancement of chemical signaling to reduce the lag phase of cell growth may further be accomplished by adding molecules, such as chemical-signaling proteins, from a direct source to the system.

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: Provided herein are methods of recovering oil from microorganisms. The methods are useful, for example, in obtaining nutritional oils and/or lipid biofuels. The methods of recovering oil described herein include contacting a population of microorganisms with one or more enzymes under conditions that cause disruption of the microorganisms and extracting lipids from the population of microorganisms in the presence of reduced amounts of organic solvent or in the absence of organic solvent.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments provide systems, devices and methods for simultaneously measuring mechanical and electrophysiological tissue responses (e.g., contractile function, or the like).

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 disclosure relates to methods of preparing personalized blood vessels, useful for transplantation with improved host compatibility and reduced susceptibility to thrombosis. Also provided are personalized blood vessels produced by the methods and use thereof in surgery.

Abstract: Methods of enhancing membrane permeabilization in a cell are provided. A 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 method, 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: The present disclosure features methods and compositions for increasing the amount of products of cellular metabolism, e.g., proteins, by lowering the temperature of cells expressing the product at one or more steps while culturing the cells, expressing the product, and/or recovering the product.