Abstract: Saccharide-substituted silk fibroin compositions as well as methods for making and using the same are provided. The compositions can include at least one saccharide coupled to silk fibroin. The coupling can be via various residues on the silk fibroin.

Abstract: The inventions provided herein relate to compositions, methods, delivery devices and kits for repairing or augmenting a tissue in a subject. The compositions described herein can he injectable such that they can be placed in a tissue to be treated with a minimally-invasive procedure (e.g., by injection). In some embodiments, the composition described herein comprises a compressed silk fibroin matrix, which can expand upon injection into the tissue and retain its original expanded volume within the tissue for a period of time. The compositions can be used as a filler to replace a tissue void, e.g., for tissue repair and/or augmentation, or as a scaffold to support tissue regeneration and/or reconstruction. In some embodiments, the compositions described herein can be used for soft tissue repair or augmentation.

Abstract: The present invention provides an in vitro model of Alzheimer's disease (AD) comprising human induced neuronal stem cells (hiNSCs) infected with herpes simplex 1 that develop an Alzheimer's disease phenotype. The invention further provides AD model comprising genetically modified HSV infected hiNSCs. The use of these in vitro AD models for high throughput screening and phenotypic analysis are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cultured tissue, methods for production of self-sufficient modified cells for producing cultured tissue. Further, the disclosure provides methods of generating cultured meat products without exogenous addition of growth hormones.

Abstract: Tyramine-substituted silk fibroin compositions as well as methods for making and using the same are provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides certain silk-fibroin compositions with particular characteristics and/or properties. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides low molecular weight compositions. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides silk fibroin compositions that comprise an active (e.g., a biological) agent or component. In some embodiments, the disclosure provides low molecular weight silk fibroin compositions that comprise an active (e.g., a biological) agent or component. In some embodiments, an active agent is stabilized in a silk composition, e.g., for a period of time and/or against certain conditions or events. In some embodiments, a component present in a silk fibroin composition may be subject to analysis and/or characterization. In some embodiments, a component present in a silk fibroin composition may be recovered from the composition.

Abstract: A serum-free and animal-component-free culture media for expansion of muscle satellite cells is disclosed. The disclosed media can be for use in cultured food applications. The disclosed media can include a baseline serum-free and animal component-free culture media and a recombinant version of albumin. The baseline media, in use, provides a baseline growth capability for expansion of the muscle satellite cells for use in cultured food applications. The disclosed media, in use, provides an improved growth capability for expansion of the muscle satellite cells. The improved growth capability is at least 50% greater than the baseline growth capability. Methods of making and using the disclosed media are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cultured adipose tissue. In one embodiment, the cultured adipose tissue is produced by culturing adipose cells in a culture media in vitro, harvesting the adipose cells after a desired amount of adipose cells are produced, and aggregating the harvested adipose cells to provide the cultured adipose tissue. In some embodiments, aggregating the harvested adipose cells comprises mixing the harvested adipose cells with a hydrogel or binder in a three-dimensional (3D) mold. In other embodiments, aggregating the harvested adipose cells comprises cross-linking the harvested adipose cells in a 3D mold. The cultured adipose tissue have a defined 3D shape and a size on the macroscale. In some embodiments, the cultured adipose tissue may be a food product.

Abstract: In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides compositions including silk fibroin and a phenol-containing polymer, wherein at least one tyrosine group of the silk fibroin is covalently crosslinked to at least one phenol group of the phenol-containing polymer. In some embodiments, the present invention also provides methods including the steps of providing silk fibroin, providing a phenol-containing polymer, associating the silk fibroin with the phenol-containing polymer to form a mixed solution, and crosslinking at least one tyrosine group in the silk fibroin and at least one phenol group of the phenol-containing polymer via at least one enzymatic reaction, wherein the crosslinking comprises covalent bonding between at least one tyrosine group of the silk fibroin and at least one phenol group of the phenol-containing polymer to form a crosslinked composition.

Abstract: Coated silk fibroin articles and methods of making and using the same are disclosed. The articles have a reduced water uptake and improved mechanical properties when compared with uncoated comparable articles. The article includes a silk fibroin article core and a biodegradable hydrophobic polymer layer substantially encompassing the silk fibroin article core. The article has either: (i) at least one mechanical property that is at least 50% greater than a reference mechanical property of the silk fibroin article core in the absence of the biodegradable hydrophobic polymer layer, wherein the at least one mechanical property includes a three-point bending flexural strain; or (ii) a water uptake that is at least 50% lower than a reference water uptake of the silk fibroin article core in the absence of the biodegradable hydrophobic polymer layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides transparent, elastic silk hydrogels for applications, including corneal reshaping to restore visual acuity and photolithography. The present disclosure also provides methods of photocrosslinking silk fibroin protein using riboflavin as a photoinitiator and exposing such riboflavin doped silk fibroin to light resulting in the formation of a transparent, elastic hydrogel.

Abstract: The present invention provides, among other things, methods for producing platelets including the steps of providing a silk membrane about 2 ?m and 100 ?m thick, inclusive, contacting the silk membrane with a porogen to form a porous silk membrane comprising at least one silk wall defining a lumen, associating the porous silk membrane with stromal derived factor-1? and at least one functionalizing agent, forming a three dimensional silk matrix comprising interconnected pores wherein the pores have a diameter of between about 5 and 500 ?m, inclusive, wherein the silk matrix is formed around at least a portion of the porous silk membrane, introducing a plurality of megakaryocytes to the silk matrix such that the megakaryocytes are located at least partially within the porous silk matrix, and stimulating the plurality of megakaryocytes to produce platelets. Also provided are various new compositions and methods of making those compositions.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cultured tissue, methods for production of the cultured tissue, and a bioreactor system for production of the cultured tissue. In some embodiments, the production of the cultured tissue may involve, at a first bioreactor, feeding a fiber scaffold into a chamber containing culture media, seeding the chamber with precursor cells, and allowing the precursor cells to proliferate and differentiate on a surface of the fiber scaffold. At downstream bioreactors, the production of the cultured tissue may further involve twisting a plurality of the cell-laden fibers to provide a cell-laden yarn, and weaving or knitting the cell-laden yarn into a three-dimensional (3D) structure. In some embodiments, the cultured tissue may be whole muscle cultured meat composed of muscle cell-laden fibers and fat cell-laden fibers. The whole muscle cultured meat may have a structural organization and hierarchy that mimics natural skeletal muscle tissue.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to cultured tissue, methods for production of the cultured tissue, and a bioreactor system for production of the cultured tissue. In some embodiments, the production of the cultured tissue may involve, at a first bioreactor, feeding a fiber scaffold into a chamber containing culture media, seeding the chamber with precursor cells, and allowing the precursor cells to proliferate and differentiate on a surface of the fiber scaffold. At downstream bioreactors, the production of the cultured tissue may further involve twisting a plurality of the cell-laden fibers to provide a cell-laden yarn, and weaving or knitting the cell-laden yarn into a three-dimensional (3D) structure. In some embodiments, the cultured tissue may be whole muscle cultured meat composed of muscle cell-laden fibers and fat cell-laden fibers. The whole muscle cultured meat may have a structural organization and hierarchy that mimics natural skeletal muscle tissue.

Abstract: The inventions provided herein relate to compositions, methods, delivery devices and kits for repairing or augmenting a tissue in a subject. The compositions described herein can be injectable such that they can be placed in a tissue to be treated with a minimally-invasive procedure (e.g., by injection). In some embodiments, the composition described herein comprises a compressed silk fibroin matrix, which can expand upon injection into the tissue and retain its original expanded volume within the tissue for a period of time. The compositions can be used as a filler to replace a tissue void, e.g., for tissue repair and/or augmentation, or as a scaffold to support tissue regeneration and/or reconstruction. In some embodiments, the compositions described herein can be used for soft tissue repair or augmentation.

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 disclosure relates to compositions, methods of making, and methods of using a modified silk-based composition having a selectively tunable hydrophobicity. The provided compositions include silk fibroin having a haloalkyl substituent. The haloalkyl substituent is coupled to an amino acid of the silk fibroin though a linking agent.

Abstract: A method of forming a tissue. The method includes providing a source of a pre-tissue composition comprising endothelial cells. The method also includes perfusing a culture media into the pre-tissue composition using a plurality of primary channels and a plurality of secondary channels to form the tissue, wherein the endothelial cells are configured to form the secondary channels via vasculogenesis.

Abstract: Provided herein relates to methods and compositions for preparing a silk microsphere and the resulting silk microsphere. In some embodiments, the methods and compositions described herein are all aqueous, which can be used for encapsulating an active agent in a silk microsphere, while maintaining activity of the active agent during processing. In some embodiments, the resulting silk microsphere can be used for sustained delivery of an active agent encapsulated therein.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus, compositions, and methods for promoting regeneration of tissue on a subject such as a wounded, damaged, or injured appendage, or within a subject such as a wounded, damaged, or injured organ. The disclosed apparatus, composition, and methods include or utilize wearable sleeves and regenerative compositions.