Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hydrogel fibre comprising an ionic hydrogel and a second component in a plurality of compartments, wherein the second component is selected from a second hydrogel, a hydrophilic solution, or a mixture thereof. It is also disclosed the method to obtain the aforesaid hydrogel fibres. This disclosure also relates to a composition comprising the hydrogel fibres and a suitable carrier, and an article/kit, a bundle, a mesh or a membrane comprising the hydrogel fibre. A composition comprising an ionic hydrogel and a second component for use in medicine administered in a hydrogel fibre comprising a plurality of compartments is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a composition for the use in the fields of cancer, immunotherapy and biotechnology. Particularly it relates to the field of gellan gum hydrogel-like particles for artificial antigen presentation in immunotherapy.

Abstract: The present application discloses a method to produce fibers with different segments along the major axis. The different segments can be constituted of the same materials that entrap different objects (molecules, particles) or can be made of different materials. The different segments are made thanks to a junction and by alternating the dispensing of such materials using different inlet channels. This method allows the production of fibers that can be used as processed or after being further manipulated by other processes, as single devices or as building blocks to construct devices that are more complex. Fibers with different segments along the axis can be exploited for a wide range of applications as medical devices and/or as drug delivery system and/or as matrices to be used for acellular tissue regeneration and cellular tissue engineering/regenerative medicine strategies and/or as supports for imaging in high throughput screening.

Abstract: A rotational dual chamber bioreactor for cell culture in bi- and multi-layered scaffolds, in the context of tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine strategies is disclosed, which comprises at least two dual culture chambers, a multiposition magnetic stirrer plate, and at least two flow pumps coupled to a monitor device to register biochemical parameters such as pH, pO2, glucose and urea sensors and physical parameters like pressure. A central barrier, with a hole to insert the bilayer scaffold, is used to culture cells with different conditions in each compartment of the chamber, avoiding medium exchange. Each chamber can rotate 180° (horizontal), which is promoted by magnetic stirrers, the multiposition stirrer plate is adapted dimensionally to the culture plate dimensions and also allows 180° vertical rotation. Each dual chamber has detachable caps for the top and the bottom chambers, the top cap to compress the scaffold thereby providing compressive stimulus with torsion simultaneously.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a multi-chamber bioreactor, preferably in a polymeric material with a 3D structure, adapted for cell-mono and co-culture, with at least two entries and outputs of culture medium adaptable to be used as a static culture system and to incorporate a dynamic platform creating a bioreactor. The disclosure also relates to a technique based on a bioreactor device that allows the creation of two or more different tissues integrated with the natural phenotype, using an integrated and continuous 3D support structure.

Abstract: The present application discloses cell-adhesive gellan gum spongy-like hydrogels that are able to entrap/encapsulate adherent cells, which spread within the material, maintaining their phenotype and remaining viable and proliferative. The methodology used to obtain these materials involves hydrogel preparation, freezing, freeze-drying and re-hydration with a saline solution with cells and with/without bioactive molecules. No pre and/or post functionalization of the spongy-like hydrogels with cell adhesive features, as used for other hydrogels, is used. The cell adhesive character of these materials, not observed in hydrogels, is in part explained by their physical properties, between sponges and hydrogels, dissimilar from the precursor hydrogels. The physical properties that are mainly different are the morphology, microstructure, water content, and mechanical performance.

Abstract: The present application discloses cell-adhesive gellan gum spongy-like hydrogels that are able to entrap/encapsulate adherent cells, which spread within the material, maintaining their phenotype and remaining viable and proliferative. The methodology used to obtain these materials involves hydrogel preparation, freezing, freeze-drying and re-hydration with a saline solution with cells and with/without bioactive molecules. No pre and/or post functionalization of the spongy-like hydrogels with cell adhesive features, as used for other hydrogels, is used. The cell adhesive character of these materials, not observed in hydrogels, is in part explained by their physical properties, between sponges and hydrogels, dissimilar from the precursor hydrogels. The physical properties that are mainly different are the morphology, microstructure, water content, and mechanical performance.

Abstract: A rotational dual chamber bioreactor for cell culture in bi- and multilayered scaffolds, in the context of tissue engineering (TE) and regenerative medicine strategies is disclosed which comprises at least two dual culture chambers, a multiposition magnetic stirrer plate, and at least two flow pumps which can be coupled to a monitor device to register biochemical parameters such as pH, pO2, glucose and urea sensors and physical parameters like pressure. The dual culture chambers have a central barrier with a hole to insert the bilayer scaffold, such chamber is used to culture cells with different conditions in each compartment of the chamber, avoiding medium exchange. Each chamber can rotate 180° (horizontal), being the rotations per minute controlled independently. The rotation is promoted by magnetic stirrers, having magnets performing the attraction between the bottom part of the dual chamber and the stirring position of the plate.