Abstract: A lattice structure for culturing cells in a bioreactor is effective for culturing high density cells and maintaining cell type homogeneity. The lattice structure includes a plurality of channels forming a set of channels, each of the plurality of channels extending between a first channel pore surface and a second channel pore surface and each of the plurality of channels having a first channel pore and a second channel pore altogether forming a plurality of channel pores on each of the first channel pore surface and the second channel pore surface, wherein each of the channel pores has an area of between about 0.01 mm2 to about 1 mm2, and wherein the lattice structure is made of a biocompatible rigid material having a Young's modulus value of at least 0.5 GPa.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method to isolate and expand pure progenitor/stem cells from a primary tissue explant, which produces a population enriched in multipotent functional progenitor/stem cells free of contaminating fibroblasts and other cell types. Cardiac progenitor/stem cells isolated by this method maintain their self-renewal and clonogenic character in vitro and differentiate into normal cells in myocardium, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, after transplantation into ischemic hearts. The present invention also includes substantially pure populations of multipotent progenitor/stem cells, e.g., cardiac progenitor/stem cells, and their use to treat and prevent diseases and injuries, including those resulting from myocardial infarction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method to isolate and expand pure progenitor/stem cells from a primary tissue explant, which produces a population enriched in multipotent functional progenitor/stem cells free of contaminating fibroblasts and other cell types. Cardiac progenitor/stem cells isolated by this method maintain their self-renewal and clonogenic character in vitro and differentiate into normal cells in myocardium, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, after transplantation into ischemic hearts. The present invention also includes substantially pure populations of multipotent progenitor/stem cells, e.g., cardiac progenitor/stem cells, and their use to treat and prevent diseases and injuries, including those resulting from myocardial infarction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method to isolate and expand pure progenitor/stem cells from a primary tissue explant, which produces a population enriched in multipotent functional progenitor/stem cells free of contaminating fibroblasts and other cell types. Cardiac progenitor/stem cells isolated by this method maintain their self-renewal and clonogenic character in vitro and differentiate into normal cells in myocardium, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, after transplantation into ischemic hearts. The present invention also includes substantially pure populations of multipotent progenitor/stem cells, e.g., cardiac progenitor/stem cells, and their use to treat and prevent diseases and injuries, including those resulting from myocardial infarction.

Abstract: A system for expressing a heterologous gene in a cell type-specific and inducible manner features at least one vector that includes a nucleic acid encoding a switch/biosensor, a nucleic acid encoding a tissue-specific promoter, a nucleic acid encoding the heterologous gene, and a nucleic acid encoding a gene amplification component. The switch/biosensor allows the system to regulate expression of the heterologous gene in response to a stimulus. The tissue-specific promoter allows the system to selectively express the heterologous gene in a particular cell or tissue type. And the gene amplification component induces expression of the heterologous gene at a level sufficient to exert a physiological effect on a tissue administered the system.