Abstract: Interlocking porous hydrogel blocks (IPHB), which are suitable for variety of cell and/or tissue growth, are provided. The IPHBs have a three-dimensional (3D) macrostructure defined by a continuous polymeric matrix material and a network of microporous channels and/or chambers extending throughout the continuous polymeric matrix material. The 3D macrostructure comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thickness defined by at least one side edge extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. The 3D macrostructure structure includes at least one interlocking-male component and at least one interlocking-female component.

Abstract: Methods of growing of tissue cells ex vivo are provided, in which the methods include (i) interlocking together a plurality of interlocking porous hydrogel blocks (IPHB) including a first IPHB and a second IPHB, wherein each of the plurality of IPHBs include a respective network of microporous channels and/or chambers extending throughout a respective continuous polymeric matrix material; (ii) seeding the first IPHB with a first cell type of interest; (iii) seeding the second IPHB with a second cell type of interest; (iv) feeding the first cell type of interest with a first culture media, and allowing the first cell type of interest to propagate throughout a first network of microporous channels and/or chambers towards the second IPHB; (v) feeding the second cell type of interest with a second culture media, and allowing the second cell type of interest to propagate throughout a second network of microporous channels and/or chambers towards the first IPHB; and (vi) forming a first interface between the first

Abstract: Method of cultivating cells utilizing one or more interlocking porous hydrogel block (IPHB) as a scaffolding for cell growth and propagation are provided. The IPHB(s) include a continuous polymeric matrix material and a network of microporous channels and/or chambers extending throughout the continuous polymeric matrix material. The methods include seeding a first IPHB with one or more cells of interest, feeding the one or more cells of interest with a first culture media, and allowing the one or more cells of interest to propagate throughout the network of microporous channels and/or chambers, expanding the initial scaffolding by interlocking a second IPHB to the first IPHB, and allowing the one or more cells of interest to propagate from the first IPHB into the second IPHB, and feeding the one or more cells of interest located inside the second IPHB with the first culture media or a second culture media.

Abstract: The use of artificial sequences that may be transfected into cells for the purpose of identification of the cells themselves, as well as any extracellular matrix (ECM) material tagged by a unique artificial peptide produced by the artificial sequences are provided.

Abstract: Acellular substrates that provide continuous 3D growth of a variety of cells and/or tissues and methods of making the same are provided. The acellular substrates have a three-dimensional (3D) macrostructure defined by a continuous matrix of extracellular matrix (ECM) material associated with a first cell type of interest and a network of microporous channels and/or chambers extending throughout the continuous matrix of ECM material associated with the first cell type of interest. Methods of forming a personalized graft using a patient's own cells is also provided.

Abstract: A system for treating open wounds includes a foam material configured for pouring, spraying, injecting or spreading on a wound bed. The foam material can comprise a base component and a curing component, which can be pre-mixed before application, or mixed in situ as the components are being applied to the wound site. A third component can comprise a sacrificial porogen. Foam can be placed in the wound bed as a wound liner on the wound surfaces. An additional foam insulation can provide a foam filler partially contained by the wound liner and generally flush with a patient's epidermis. A method of treating open wounds includes the steps of applying the wound liner and filler components. An optional step comprises covering the wound liner with a semi-permeable (breathable) membrane and mounting inlet and outlet ports thereon for introducing healing compositions as input, and extracting wound exudates as output.

Abstract: A biopsy punch device and method for making punch cuts at consistent predetermined depths. In an exemplary embodiment of the biopsy punch device includes two interconnecting pieces: an inner housing piece and an outer blocking cover piece. The inner housing piece releasably mounts cutting blades arranged in a desired geometric shape for biopsy punch cuts. The blocking cover piece overlays the inner housing piece in an assembled configuration and includes two openings: a larger distal end opening and a narrower proximal end cutting blade opening. The blocking cover distal end opening fits around and adjacent to the housing piece distal end. The blocking cover proximal end opening fits around and adjacent to the cutting blades. With the biopsy punch device in assembled position, the proximal side of the blocking cover piece provides a mechanical stop in the cutting process at the desired depth of penetration of the cutting blades.

Abstract: A method of transforming human cells into mechanosensory hair cells (MHCs), such as inner hear hair cells in the cochlea and vestibular organs, can include: causing human Wharton's jelly cells (hWJCs) to increase expression of or biological function of HATH1 so as to transform the hWJCs into MHCs. The method can include; administering a nucleic acid that encodes HATH1 to the hWJCs; causing inhibited expression of or biological function of HES1 and/or HES5 in the hWJCs; administering a nucleic acid that inhibits HES1 and/or a nucleic acid that inhibits HES5 to the hWJCs; causing inhibited expression of or biological function of HES1 and/or HES5 in the WJCs by administering a nucleic acid that inhibits HES1 and/or a nucleic acid that inhibits HES5; nucleic acids are administered includes a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and/or SEQ ID NO: 4.

Abstract: A biopsy punch device and method for making punch cuts at consistent predetermined depths. In an exemplary embodiment of the biopsy punch device includes two interconnecting pieces: an inner housing piece and an outer blocking cover piece. The inner housing piece releasably mounts cutting blades arranged in a desired geometric shape for biopsy punch cuts. The blocking cover piece overlays the inner housing piece in an assembled configuration and includes two openings: a larger distal end opening and a narrower proximal end cutting blade opening. The blocking cover distal end opening fits around and adjacent to the housing piece distal end. The blocking cover proximal end opening fits around and adjacent to the cutting blades. With the biopsy punch device in assembled position, the proximal side of the blocking cover piece provides a mechanical stop in the cutting process at the desired depth of penetration of the cutting blades.

Abstract: A method of transforming human cells into mechanosensory hair cells (MHCs), such as inner hear hair cells in the cochlea and vestibular organs, can include: causing human Wharton's jelly cells (hWJCs) to increase expression of or biological function of HATH1 so as to transform the hWJCs into MHCs. The method can include; administering a nucleic acid that encodes HATH1 to the hWJCs; causing inhibited expression of or biological function of HES1 and/or HES5 in the hWJCs; administering a nucleic acid that inhibits HES1 and/or a nucleic acid that inhibits HES5 to the hWJCs; causing inhibited expression of or biological function of HES1 and/or HES5 in the WJCs by administering a nucleic acid that inhibits HES1 and/or a nucleic acid that inhibits HES5; nucleic acids are administered includes a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and/or SEQ ID NO: 4.

Abstract: A method of transforming human cells into mechanosensory hair cells (MHCs), such as inner hear hair cells in the cochlea and vestibular organs, can include: causing human Wharton's jelly cells (hWJCs) to increase expression of or biological function of HATH1 so as to transform the hWJCs into MHCs. The method can include; administering a nucleic acid that encodes HATH1 to the hWJCs; causing inhibited expression of or biological function of HES1 and/or HES5 in the hWJCs; administering a nucleic acid that inhibits HES1 and/or a nucleic acid that inhibits HES5 to the hWJCs; causing inhibited expression of or biological function of HES1 and/or HES5 in the WJCs by administering a nucleic acid that inhibits HES1 and/or a nucleic acid that inhibits HES5; nucleic acids are administered includes a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and/or SEQ ID NO: 4.

Abstract: A method of transforming human cells into mechanosensory hair cells (MHCs), such as inner hear hair cells in the cochlea and vestibular organs, can include: causing human Wharton's jelly cells (hWJCs) to increase expression of or biological function of HATH1 so as to transform the hWJCs into MHCs. The method can include; administering a nucleic acid that encodes HATH1 to the hWJCs; causing inhibited expression of or biological function of HES1 and/or HES5 in the hWJCs; administering a nucleic acid that inhibits HES1 and/or a nucleic acid that inhibits HES5 to the hWJCs; causing inhibited expression of or biological function of HES1 and/or HES5 in the WJCs by administering a nucleic acid that inhibits HES1 and/or a nucleic acid that inhibits HES5; nucleic acids are administered includes a sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3, and/or SEQ ID NO: 4.