Abstract: The invention relates to a method of treating or preventing a disease or condition associated with or characterised by fibrosis, comprising administering an effective amount of a chymase inhibitor simultaneously or sequentially with an effective amount of a tryptase inhibitor, to a subject in need thereof. Also provided are chymase and tryptase inhibitors for use in these methods.

Abstract: The current invention concerns isolated liver progenitor cells, cell lines thereof, cell populations comprising such and compositions comprising such wherein the liver progenitor cells are HLA-E positive. In addition, the invention concerns methods of preparing these liver progenitor cells.

Abstract: A method of preparing a cantilever sensor for measuring biochemical interactions and their associated stress wherein a cantilever having two sides is coated on one side with at least a gold layer and both sides of the cantilever are functionalized with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of a probe molecule by incubating the cantilever in a solution having a concentration of the probe molecule of between 1 to 1000 ?M. The unpassivated cantilever sensor comprising a layer coated on one side with a coating comprising gold and being unpassivated on the opposite side, wherein both surfaces comprises a self-assembled monolayer of a probe molecule in which the surface area occupied per probe molecule varies in the range 0.4-1.5 nm2, enabling the stress at the gold top surface that is not cancelled out by a counter stress from the bottom surface so that accurate quantitation of a target molecule is achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a decellularised tissue scaffold which comprising treating a sample of tissue with an osmotic reagent and a detergent whilst subjecting the tissue sample to oscillation with a displacement of 1 mm or more and a frequency of 3 Hz or more during these treatment steps. This method may be useful in producing acellular scaffolds that maintain the 3-D architecture and extracellular matrix composition and morphology of the native tissue.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for decellularising human liver tissue to produce human hepatic extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds, for example for use in therapy or disease modelling. The methods involve mechanically damaging cells in the tissue, for example by freeze thaw, and then subjecting the liver tissue to multiple cycles of osmotic stress, detergent treatment and protease and/or DNAase treatment to produce a decellularised human ECM scaffold.

Abstract: A method of preparing a cantilever sensor for measuring biochemical interactions and their associated stress wherein a cantilever having two sides is coated on one side with at least a gold layer and both sides of the cantilever are functionalized with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of a probe molecule by incubating the cantilever in a solution having a concentration of the probe molecule of between 1 to 1000 ?M. The unpassivated cantilever sensor comprising a layer coated on one side with a coating comprising gold and being unpassivated on the opposite side, wherein both surfaces comprises a self-assembled monolayer of a probe molecule in which the surface area occupied per probe molecule varies in the range 0.4-1.5 nm2, enabling the stress at the gold top surface that is not cancelled out by a counter stress from the bottom surface so that accurate quantitation of a target molecule is achieved.

Abstract: A method of preparing a cantilever sensor for measuring biochemical interactions and their associated stress wherein a cantilever having two sides is coated on one side with at least a gold layer and both sides of the cantilever are functionalized with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of a probe molecule by incubating the cantilever in a solution having a concentration of the probe molecule of between 1 to 1000 ?M. The unpassivated cantilever sensor comprising a layer coated on one side with a coating comprising gold and being unpassivated on the opposite side, wherein both surfaces comprises a self-assembled monolayer of a probe molecule in which the surface area occupied per probe molecule varies in the range 0.4-1.5 nm2, enabling the stress at the gold top surface that is not cancelled out by a counter stress from the bottom surface so that accurate quantitation of a target molecule is achieved.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of producing a decellularised tissue scaffold which comprising treating a sample of tissue with an osmotic reagent and a detergent whilst subjecting the tissue sample to oscillation with a displacement of 1 mm or more and a frequency of 3 Hz or more during these treatment steps. This method may be useful in producing acellular scaffolds that maintain the 3-D architecture and extracellular matrix composition and morphology of the native tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparation of an unpassivated cantilever comprising the steps of: 1) providing a silicon cantilever sensor having two sides; 2) coating one side of the cantilever with at least a gold layer; and 3) functionalizing both sides of the cantilever with a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of a probe molecule by incubating the cantilever in a solution having a concentration of the probe molecule of between 1 to 1000 ?M. The invention also relates to an unpassivated cantilever sensor comprising a silicon layer coated on one side with a coating comprising Au and being uncoated or unpassivated on the opposite side, wherein the Au coated surface comprises a self-assembled monolayer of a probe molecule and wherein the surface area occupied per probe molecule is in the range 0.4-1.5 nm2.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods for decellularising human liver tissue to produce human hepatic extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds, for example for use in therapy or disease modelling. The methods involve mechanically damaging cells in the tissue, for example by freeze thaw, and then subjecting the liver tissue to multiple cycles of osmotic stress, detergent treatment and protease and/or DNAase treatment to produce a decellularised human ECM scaffold.

Abstract: An apparatus for extraction and recovery of components from biomass feedstocks with pressurized low polarity water. The apparatus is configured with two or more reaction columns, each separately communicating with sources of pressurized water, pressurized heated water, and pressurized cooling water. Components are extracted from the biomass by separately flooding the column with pressurized water, heating the column and its contents to the point where the water becomes pressurized low polarity (PLP) water, recovering the PLP water comprising the extracted components, cooling the column with PLP water, and removing the spent biomass material from the column.

Abstract: An apparatus for extraction and recovery of components from biomass feedstocks with pressurized low polarity water. The apparatus is configured with two or more reaction columns, each separately communicating with sources of pressurized water, pressurized heated water, and pressurized cooling water. Components are extracted from the biomass by separately flooding the column with pressurized water, heating the column and its contents to the point where the water becomes pressurized low polarity (PLP) water, recovering the PLP water comprising the extracted components, cooling the column with PLP water, and removing the spent biomass material from the column.

Abstract: A processing system and methods for extracting phytochemicals from plant materials with subcritical water. The processing system includes a water supply interconnected with a high-pressure pump, diverter valve, a temperature-controllable extraction vessel, a cooler, a pressure-relief valve and a collection apparatus for collecting eluant fractions from the extraction vessel. The processing system controllably varies the temperature of subcritical water within the extraction vessel, and may optionally be configured to controllably vary the pH of subcritical water flowing into the extraction vessel. A plant material is placed into the extraction vessel after which a flow of subcritical water is provided through the extraction vessel for extraction of phytochemicals.

Abstract: A processing system and methods for extracting phytochemicals from plant materials with subcritical water. The processing system includes a water supply interconnected with a high-pressure pump, diverter valve, a temperature-controllable extraction vessel, a cooler, a pressure-relief valve and a collection apparatus for collecting eluant fractions from the extraction vessel. The processing system controllably varies the temperature of subcritical water within the extraction vessel, and may optionally be configured to controllably vary the pH of subcritical water flowing into the extraction vessel. A plant material is placed into the extraction vessel after which a flow of subcritical water is provided through the extraction vessel for extraction of phytochemicals.

Abstract: Novel water-soluble free-flowing protein-fibre products are provided from cereal grains, such as wheat, free from starch, bran and low molecular weight degradation products thereof. Starch contaminants in soluble fractions of the cereal grains are removed by enzymatic degradation and separation. The protein to fibre ratio of the product may be modified by enzymatic treatment. Such materials are useful in a wide variety of food application.

Abstract: Water blanched, cooked potato strips which normally discolor upon exposure to air, are treated with a combination of a calcium ion component and an oxidation inhibitor, to simultaneously complex the chlorogenic acid present on the surface of the potato strips with the calcium ions and to also complex the ferrous iron which is present on the surface of the potato strips to prevent oxidation and subsequent discoloration. Such pretreated potato strips are then partially fried to produce an improved potato product for french frying. Calcium acetate preferably is employed.