Abstract: Disclosed herein are compositions and methods involving stem cells biopreserved on microcarriers, which can be thawed and expanded, all while maintaining their key attributes, such as their proliferative capacity, identity, functionality, and potency. Disclosed is a method for generating microcarriers-seeded-stem cells, as well as a post biopreservation procedure for thawing and inoculating bioreactors to achieve a rapid and scalable stem cells expansion.

Abstract: An apparatus and processes for aseptically dispensing live mammalian cells into sterile, flexible bags in a non-sterile atmosphere. The method includes the steps of: providing the cells suspended in a liquid; providing a plurality of sterile flexible bags fluidly connected to a main line by a plurality of branch lines of sterile flexible tubing; evacuating air from the flexible bags by applying a vacuum to the open end of the main line; preventing fluid flow through all branch lines except that of one bag to be filled; dispensing a desired volume of cell suspension into the open end of the main line; and introducing sufficient sterile purging gas under pressure into open end of the main line to drive into the bag any of the dispensed volume remaining in the main line or branch line of filled bag. Cells can be cryogenically preserved in the filled bags.

Abstract: Surfaces useful for cell culture comprise a support to which is bound a CAR material, and, bound to the CAR material, collagen VI or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof and, optionally, one or more other ECM proteins (or fragments or variants thereof) such as elastin, fibronectin, vitronectin, tenascin, laminin, entactin, aggrecan, decorin, collagen I, collagen III, and collagen IV. Also, optionally present on the surface is one or more polycationic polymers, such as poly-D-lysine or poly-D-ornithine. This surface is used in cell culture to promote cell attachment, survival, and/or proliferation of a number of different cell types such as (a) liver cells (e.g., HepG2 tumor cells, and a newly discovered line of rat liver epithelial stem cells) (b) osteoblasts, such as the murine cell line MC3T3 cell line and (c) primary bone marrow cells. Kits comprising the surfaces and additional reagents are also disclosed.

Abstract: Compositions and methods for promoting mesenchymal stem cell expansion while maintaining a pluripotent phenotype are disclosed. Serum-free cell culture systems and kits and methods of use for mesenchymal stem cell expansion are provided. Methods also comprise the use of the expanded mesenchymal stem cells to treat various disorders or diseases, particularly those of the cardiovascular system, bone, or cartilage.

Abstract: A high throughput method is provided for identifying agents capable of producing a desired biological response in whole cells. The method includes the steps of providing receptacles having a culture surface; placing different mixtures of single agents into selective ones of the receptacles according to a statistical design; and immobilizing the mixtures of single agents to the culture surface. The method further includes contacting the immobilized agents with the whole cells; and acquiring data which is indicative of a desired biological response in the contacted cells. The method also includes using statistical modeling of the acquired data to determine which mixtures of single agents and/or which single agents in these mixtures are effective in producing the desired biological response in the contacted cells.

Abstract: Surfaces useful for cell culture comprise a support to which is bound a CAR material, and, bound to the CAR material, collagen VI or a biologically active fragment or variant thereof and, optionally, one or more other ECM proteins (or fragments or variants thereof) such as elastin, fibronectin, vitronectin, tenascin, laminin, entactin, aggrecan, decorin, collagen I, collagen III, and collagen IV. Also, optionally present on the surface is one or more polycationic polymers, such as poly-D-lysine or poly-D-ornithine. This surface is used in cell culture to promote cell attachment, survival, and/or proliferation of a number of different cell types such as (a) liver cells (e.g., HepG2 tumor cells, and a newly discovered line of rat liver epithelial stem cells) (b) osteoblasts, such as the murine cell line MC3T3 cell line and (c) primary bone marrow cells. Kits comprising the surfaces and additional reagents are also disclosed.