Abstract: An in vitro methods of characterizing biliary excretion of a chemical entity using a single hepatocyte culture. Comprising providing cell culture comprising hepatocytes forming at least one bile canaliculus; contacting the cell culture with a first chemical entity for a time sufficient to allow uptake of the chemical entity by hepatocytes in the culture; disrupting the at least one bile canaliculus without lysing the hepatocytes and detecting the amount (if any) of the first chemical entity and/or a metabolite thereof released by the at least one bile canaliculus; and lysing the hepatocytes and detecting the amount of the first chemical entity and/or a metabolite thereof released by the hepatocytes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multifunctional 2-D and 3-D matrix for propagation of stem cells. In particular, a chitosan-based biomaterial scaffold is engineered to promote CNS regeneration from primitive neural precursors by stabilizing a recombinant protein, fibroblast growth factor to preserve the cardinal properties of stem cells. The matrix, is further modified by the addition of either the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin or the small peptide RGD or IKVAV. A method to manufacture an injectable multifunctional microsphere scaffold is also disclosed that is suitable as a vehicle for cell transplantation to repair traumatic brain injuries.

Abstract: An in vitro methods of characterizing biliary excretion of a chemical entity using a single hepatocyte culture. Comprising providing cell culture comprising hepatocytes forming at least one bile canaliculus; contacting the cell culture with a first chemical entity for a time sufficient to allow uptake of the chemical entity by hepatocytes in the culture; disrupting the at least one bile canaliculus without lysing the hepatocytes and detecting the amount (if any) of the first chemical entity and/or a metabolite thereof released by the at least one bile canaliculus; and lysing the hepatocytes and detecting the amount of the first chemical entity and/or a metabolite thereof released by the hepatocytes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multifunctional 2-D and 3-D matrix for propagation of stem cells. In particular, a chitosan-based biomaterial scaffold is engineered to promote CNS regeneration from primitive neural precursors by stabilizing a recombinant protein, fibroblast growth factor to preserve the cardinal properties of stem cells. The matrix, is further modified by the addition of either the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin or the small peptide RGD or IKVAV. A method to manufacture an injectable multifunctional microsphere scaffold is also disclosed that is suitable as a vehicle for cell transplantation to repair traumatic brain injuries.