Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the formation of renal tubules by embedding individual renal cells into a synthetic hydrogel, which is based on polyethylene glycol as a component, and the culturing of the cells until tubule structures are formed. The culturing can be continued until the obtained tubule structures correspond in terms of size, structure, morphology and functionality to adult human renal tubules or are at least similar thereto.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrogel matrix comprising a mixture of a covalent peptide-polymer conjugate and an oligosaccharide; wherein the oligosaccharide is a highly negatively charged sulfated oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of heparin, dextran sulfate, ?-cyclodextrin sulfate, ?-cyclodextrin sulfate and ?-cyclodextrin sulfate; wherein said polymer comprised in said peptide-polymer conjugate is a linear or multi-arm polyethylene glycol; wherein said peptide comprised in said peptide-polymer conjugate is a peptide, which consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.5, SEQ ID NO. 18 and SEQ ID NO. 19; and wherein said hydrogel matrix is configured in the form of an oligosaccharide/peptide/polymer system, in which said peptide is chemically conjugated to the polymer such that the hydrogel is obtained by mixing the peptide-polymer conjugate and the oligosaccharide.

Abstract: The invention provides a device for secure support, storage and/or transport of a tissue graft or an implant, which allows for precise microscopic investigation and/or evaluation and quality control of the tissue graft or implant during processing as well as prior to introduction into a living body. The main body of the device is a cannula or a cartridge comprising rectangular shape, preferably with rounded edges, having two opposite openings of different sizes and shapes. The first opening has a round shape with a diameter suitable for connection to a tube or a syringe nozzle. The second opening has an elliptical, round, biconvex or rectangle shape, in the latter case preferably with rounded edges that is small enough to be inserted into a small surgical incision.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrogel matrix comprising a mixture of a covalent peptide-polymer conjugate and an oligosaccharide; wherein the oligosaccharide is a highly negatively charged sulfated oligosaccharide selected from the group consisting of heparin, dextran sulfate, ?-cyclodextrin sulfate, ?-cyclodextrin sulfate and ?-cyclodextrin sulfate; wherein said polymer comprised in said peptide-polymer conjugate is a linear or multi-arm polyethylene glycol; wherein said peptide comprised in said peptide-polymer conjugate is a peptide, which consists of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.5, SEQ ID NO. 18 and SEQ ID NO. 19; and wherein said hydrogel matrix is configured in the form of an oligosaccharide/peptide/polymer system, in which said peptide is chemically conjugated to the polymer such that the hydrogel is obtained by mixing the peptide-polymer conjugate and the oligosaccharide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the formation of renal tubules by embedding individual renal cells into a synthetic hydrogel, which is based on polyethylene glycol as a component, and the culturing of the cells until tubule structures are formed. The culturing can be continued until the obtained tubule structures correspond in terms of size, structure, morphology and functionality to adult human renal tubules or are at least similar thereto.

Abstract: A polymer-based material having covalently bonded enzymatically degradable peptide sequences not degradable by the biological and metabolic activity of cells and tissues is disclosed, wherein the peptide sequences are incorporated into the polymer-based material or conjugated to the polymer-based material. The peptide sequence can be part of the three-dimensional or two-dimensional structure of the polymer-based material. A controlled degradation of a covalent bond in the peptide sequence is effected. Use of such polymer-based material for an in vitro production of cell cultures or tissues or organs, for an in vivo stabilization of donated cells, tissues or organs is also disclosed. An adhesive bond between the material and the sample, i.e. cells, tissues, or organs is controlledly degradable without destroying the integrity of the sample.

Abstract: A physical self-organizing hydrogel system for biotechnological applications composed of a non-covalent network on the basis of a protein-ligand interaction includes a tetrameric protein and biotin or a derivative thereof as a ligand, wherein biotin or derivative is covalently conjugated to an end of a polymer chain or a linear or multi-arm synthetic polymer of a single-or double-strand oligonucleotide and wherein the solid content in relation to the entire hydrogel is at least 3% and the conjugates are crosslinked by the tetrameric protein. A mixture ratio is a molar equivalent ratio between the protein and the number of terminal biotinylated ends of the polymer chains in the biotin-polymer conjugate of 1:2 to 1:8. The hydrogel formation occurs with controlled kinetics on the basis of protein-ligand interaction.

Abstract: The invention relates to the non-covalent, self-organizing hydrogel matrix for biotechnological applications containing a covalent polymer peptide conjugate, wherein the covalent polymer peptide conjugate includes conjugates of two or more peptides that are coupled to a polymer chain and the peptide sequence contains a recurring dipeptide motif (BA)n wherein B is an amino acid having positively charged side chain, A is alanine and n is an integer between 4 and 20.