Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting residual, undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in a culture of cells differentiated from PSCs, the method comprising: culturing the cells on a substrate coated with laminin-521 and E-cadherin in a medium comprising a ROCK inhibitor; quantitating in the cultured cells expression of a marker of residual, undifferentiated PSCs; and comparing the marker expression in the cultured cells with the marker expression in a reference culture of cells comprising a known proportion of PSCs, wherein lower marker expression in the culture of cells than marker expression in the reference culture of cells indicates absence of residual, undifferentiated PSCs in the cultured cells or presence of residual, undifferentiated PSCs in the cultured cells at a proportion lower than the known proportion of PSCs in the reference culture of cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), the method comprising culturing a primitive mesoderm cell in a mesenchymal colony forming medium (M-CFM) comprising LiCl and FGF2, but excluding PDGF, under normoxic conditions for sufficient time for a mesenchymal colony to form, and culturing the mesenchymal colony adherently to produce the MSC, wherein the MSC has superior T-cell immunosuppressive properties relative to an MSC not produced in said M-CFM. The invention also relates to an MSC produced by the method, a population of MSCs produced by the method, a therapeutic composition comprising the MSC produced by the method, an M-CFM and an M-CFM in concentrated form, and method and uses of the MSC or population in treating a disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), the method comprising culturing a primitive mesoderm cell in a mesenchymal colony forming medium (M-CFM) comprising LiCl and FGF2, but excluding PDGF, under normoxic conditions for sufficient time for a mesenchymal colony to form, and culturing the mesenchymal colony adherently to produce the MSC, wherein the MSC has superior T-cell immunosuppressive properties relative to an MSC not produced in said M-CFM. The invention also relates to an MSC produced by the method, a population of MSCs produced by the method, a therapeutic composition comprising the MSC produced by the method, an M-CFM and an M-CFM in concentrated form, and method and uses of the MSC or population in treating a disease.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for detecting residual, undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in a culture of cells differentiated from PSCs, the method comprising: culturing the cells on a substrate coated with laminin-521 and E-cadherin in a medium comprising a ROCK inhibitor; quantitating in the cultured cells expression of a marker of residual, undifferentiated PSCs; and comparing the marker expression in the cultured cells with the marker expression in a reference culture of cells comprising a known proportion of PSCs, wherein lower marker expression in the culture of cells than marker expression in the reference culture of cells indicates absence of residual, undifferentiated PSCs in the cultured cells or presence of residual, undifferentiated PSCs in the cultured cells at a proportion lower than the known proportion of PSCs in the reference culture of cells.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing a mesenchymal stem cell (MSC), the method comprising culturing a primitive mesoderm cell in a mesenchymal colony forming medium (M-CFM) comprising LiCl and FGF2, but excluding PDGF, under normoxic conditions for sufficient time for a mesenchymal colony to form, and culturing the mesenchymal colony adherently to produce the MSC, wherein the MSC has superior T-cell immunosuppressive properties relative to an MSC not produced in said M-CFM. The invention also relates to an MSC produced by the method, a population of MSCs produced by the method, a therapeutic composition comprising the MSC produced by the method, an M-CFM and an M-CFM in concentrated form, and method and uses of the MSC or population in treating a disease.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for reducing the concentration of low molecular weight compounds in a biological composition containing cells while substantially maintaining a desired biological activity of the biological composition. The device comprises highly porous adsorbent particles, and the adsorbent particles are immobilized by an inert matrix. The matrix containing the particles is contained in a housing, and the particles range in diameter from about 100 ?m to about 1500 ?m. The device can be used to adsorb and remove a pathogen-inactivating compounds from a biological composition such as a blood product.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for reducing the concentration of low molecular weight compounds in a biological composition, while substantially maintaining a desired biological activity of the biological composition. The device comprises highly porous adsorbent particles, and the adsorbent particles are immobilized by an inert matrix. The matrix containing the particles is contained in a housing, and the particles range in diameter from about 1 ?m to about 200 ?m. The matrix can be fibrous, and the particles can have a surface area greater than 750 m2/g and a pore diameter between about 25 and 800 ?. The device can be used to adsorb and remove a pathogen-inactivating compound that is a nucleic acid-binding compound such as psoralen, an acridine derivative or a dye from a biological composition such as a blood product.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for reducing the concentration of low molecular weight compounds in a biological composition, while substantially maintaining a desired biological activity of the biological composition. The device comprises highly porous adsorbent particles, and the adsorbent particles are immobilized by an inert matrix.