Abstract: The present embodiments relate to compositions and methods for treating the inflammatory response in a tissue or organ, such as the liver, by contacting the tissue with a tissue-specific gap junction inhibitor; and compositions and methods of reducing the toxicity of an agent by administering a gap junction inhibitor either simultaneously or sequentially with exposure to the agent. For example, inhibition of the liver-specific gap junction connexin 32 by 2-aminoethyoxydiphenyl-borate, effectively treats and/or prevents hepatotoxicity.

Abstract: This application discloses alginate microencapsulation-mediated differentiation of embryonic stem cells and use of the stem cell differentiation method for the development of effective treatment of various diseases and disorders. The microencapsulation of embryonic stem (ES) cells results in decreased cell aggregation and enhanced neural lineage differentiation through incorporating the soluble inducer retinoic acid (RA) into the permeable microcapsule system. This differentiation process can be augmented by differentiation pathway regulators such as PPAR agonists.

Abstract: This application discloses a micro-encapsulation system for immobilizing mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) while sustaining the molecular communication. Thus, the invention provides the use of encapsulated mesenchymal stromal cells in the cellular transplantation therapies. Moreover, the invention provides methods for delivery of encapsulated MSCs into the central nervous system and therapies derived therefrom, such as, the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI) and other inflammatory conditions.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices for use with reagents bound to microspheres for determination of the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample are provided. The devices include two sequential mixing channels that promote rapid binding of microsphere-bound reagents with reagents in solution and a means for detecting labeled microsphere-bound reaction products. Also provided are methods for using the devices with microsphere-bound reagents to determine the concentration of an analyte in a liquid sample and to measure the binding affinity of antibody for an antigen.

Abstract: Devices and methods are provided for detecting an immune reaction to a test agent using an immune modeling system comprising a barrier component configured to culture a biological barrier, an immune component configured to culture immune cells, and one or more inter-component microfluidic connections between the barrier component and the immune component. The system provides for culturing a biological barrier in the barrier component of the system, culturing immune cells in the immune component of the system, applying the test agent to the biological barrier, and monitoring the immune cells to detect an immune reaction to the test agent.

Abstract: Methods and devices for treating and preventing conditions of tubular body structures, such as veins, are disclosed. In one example embodiment, there are provided methods and devices for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis. In another example embodiment, there are provided methods and devices using irreversible electroporation for sterilizing intravenous catheters.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods of treatment of hepatitis C, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and inflammation, with flavonoid-sugar complexes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a tissue of a subject using applied pulsed electric fields. The system for controlling a therapy provided to a tissue of a subject using applied pulsed electric fields. The system includes an electrode assembly configured to engage a skin tissue of a subject to deliver a series of electric field pulses to the skin tissue and a user input configured to receive an operational instruction for the series of electric field pulses. The operational instruction defines at least one of a pulse duration, a pulse frequency, a pulse number, and a pulse amplitude. The system also includes at least one processor configured to access the operational instruction received by the user input and, using the operational instruction, create an electric field profile to be generated by the electrode assembly about the skin tissue of the subject to control a fibroblast characteristic while preserving a vascular perfusion in at least a portion of the skin tissue.

Abstract: The invention relates to blood substitute compositions, and methods of use thereof. Described herein are compositions in which hemoglobin is maintained substantially in the reduced form of hemoglobin as opposed to the oxidized methemoglobin form through inclusion of an oxido-reductase enzyme and reducing agent within a vesicle with the hemoglobin. The vesicles additionally can comprise a dismutase, a catalase, and an electron acceptor, each of which contribute to either the maintenance of hemoglobin in the active oxygen carrying state or provide a benefit not achieved with free hemoglobin.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to a microfluidic device for encapsulation, incubation, and analysis of cell surface markers or secreted molecules from a single cell.

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 method for a picoliter volume microfluidic assay. The method includes the steps of providing a first solution comprising a sensor, preparing a sample comprising at least one analyte, and combining the sample with an indicator, thereby forming a second solution. The method further includes co-encapsulating the first solution and the second solution in a plurality of droplets with a microfluidic device, incubating the plurality of droplets, thereby forming at least one complex comprising the sensor, at least one analyte and indicator, and detecting the at least one complex. A primary signal associated with the at least one complex is distinguishable from a background signal associated with at least one of the sensor, at least one analyte and indicator individually.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for fabricating a low-impedance nanoporous metal multiple electrode array for measuring electrophysiology activity. A patterned photoresist is applied to a substrate, in which the patterned photoresist corresponds to a pattern of the nanoporous metal multiple electrode array. A metal alloy including a sacrificial alloying element is deposited in the pattern of the nanoporous metal electrode array. The patterned photoresist is removed to expose the metal alloy as deposited. At least part of the sacrificial alloying element is removed from the metal alloy to create nanoporous metal electrode tips thereby forming the nanoporous metal multiple electrode array. The resultant nanoporous metal multiple electrode array has improved impedance characteristics in comparison to conventional multiple electrode arrays.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for improving the efficiency of a transient gene delivery system to differentiating embryonic stem (ES) cells by serum starving the targeted cells for one to three days prior to transfection. Such a serum starvation surprisingly resulted in increased expression of a constitutively-controlled plasmid from 50.4% to 83.2% of the population and increased expression of a promoter/enhancer controlled plasmid from ˜1.4% to ˜3.7% of the population.

Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery of a potent growth factor delivery system by creating a fusion polypeptide that includes two portions: (i) keratinocyte growth factor protein, and (ii) an elastin-like peptide. This chimera can be administered directly to a wound site, accelerating recovery.

Abstract: This invention discloses devices and methods for high throughput skin sensitization detection. The devices comprise a microfabricated chamber comprising a region having one or more input channels and an outlet, and a face suitable for mounting a skin tissue and in fluidic communication with the region. The devices can be used in the methods for determining a prognosis of sensitization in an animal subject and identifying compounds that do not cause sensitization and thus are suitable for preparing cosmetic compositions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and methods for identifying a compound for de-fatting and functional recovery of macrosteatotic hepatocytes.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for high-throughput assessment of in vivo skin sensitizing activity of chemical compounds through detection of secretion levels of cytokine markers implicated in skin sensitization in combination with a multivariate analysis, using support vector machine (SVM) for feature selection. The invention includes a computational algorithm that will provide unbiased analysis on the skin cell secretome data and predict the level of skin sensitization. The invention allows accurate assessment of the level sensitizing potency of any chemicals in a high-throughput manner, which can eliminate the needs for animal experiments, potentially saving money and time.

Abstract: The present embodiments relate to compositions and methods for treating the inflammatory response in a tissue or organ, such as the liver, by contacting the tissue with a tissue-specific gap junction inhibitor; and compositions and methods of reducing the toxicity of an agent by administering a gap junction inhibitor either simultaneously or sequentially with exposure to the agent. For example, inhibition of the liver-specific gap junction connexin 32 by 2 aminoethyoxydiphenyl-borate, effectively treats and/or prevents hepatotoxicity.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods and compositions to determine viability of an organ for transplantation and other medical purposes. One aspect of the invention relates to a method for assessing the viability of an organ by measuring the energy parameters to determine the energy level of the organ by determining the stored cellular energy (e.g., ATP levels), and/or energy consumption over a particular time period of viability. The energy parameters can be compared to reference energy parameters as a highly accurate and reliable prediction of viable cell yield, and organ viability. Another aspect of the invention relates methods to preserve or extend the time period of viability of an organ any combination of (i) preservation perfusion of the organ to prevent ischemic damage, (ii) chemical metabolic suppression of the organ e.g., using metabolic suppressants, (iii) metabolic suppression by physical or environmental conditions, e.g., sub-zero non-freezing storage.