Abstract: Provided are devices and methods of preparing a population of cardiomyocytes by aligning undifferentiated pluripotent cells on a nanosacale textured surface.

Abstract: A coated substrate including a 1 to 3 mils thick coating layer has a Bayer abrasion resistance value of less than 1% Haze after 600 cycles. The coating layer includes a reaction product of a coating composition including a polyester diol, a di-isocyanate, and a fluorocarbon-based additive. A method of forming the coating layer on the substrate includes mixing reactants including a polyester diol, a di-isocyanate and a flurocarbon-based additive to form a polyurethane coating composition; depositing the polyurethane coating composition on the substrate; and curing the polyurethane coating composition to form an abrasion resistant coating on the substrate.

Abstract: Methods to prepare electrophysiology mature cells from immature cells are provided, without the need for genetic manipulation.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated stem cell that has been modified to provide, enhance or contain the functional characteristics of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The isolated stem cells are modified in one or more of the following manners: by expressing a calcium channel protein; by expressing a calcium pump protein such as the sarcro/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) protein; by inhibiting or downregulating expression of the Na+/Ca+ exchanger (NCX) protein; by expressing a calcium handling protein; by expressing a transverse (t-tubule; and/or by expressing a transverse (t-tubule biogenic protein. After the cell has been modified, it may be expanded to a substantially homogenous population of these cells or alternatively, differentiated to a more mature cell type. Compositions containing these cells and population of cells are also provided by this invention.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for modulating electrical behavior of cardiac cells. Preferred methods include administering a polynucleotide or cell-based composition that can modulate cardiac contraction to desired levels, i.e., the administered composition functions as a biological pacemaker.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compositions and methods to induce, and/of modulate bio-electrical rhythms (e.g. in cardiac, neuronal and pancreatic cells) by fine-tuning the activity of HCN-encoded pacemaker channels via a novel protein- and genetic-engineering approach to augment or attenuate the associated physiological responses (e.g. heart beat, neuronal firing, insulin secretion, etc) for achieving various therapeutic purposes (e.g. sick sinus syndrome, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, diabetes, etc).

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compositions and methods to induce, and/or modulate bio-electrical rhythms (e.g. in cardiac, neuronal and pancreatic cells) by fine-tuning the activity of HCN-encoded pacemaker channels via a novel protein- and genetic-engineering approach to augment or attenuate the associated physiological responses (e.g. heart beat, neuronal firing, insulin secretion, etc) for achieving various therapeutic purposes (e.g. sick sinus syndrome, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, diabetes, etc).

Abstract: Provided are methods of preparing a biocompatible textured surface on a thermoplastic material comprising treating the material with a plasma and subsequently shrinking the substrate to induce formation of textures. The textured surfaces are useful in one aspect, to align cells such as stem cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for modulating electrical behavior of cardiac cells. Preferred methods include administering a polynucleotide or cell-based composition that can modulate cardiac contraction to desired levels, i.e., the administered composition functions as a biological pacemaker.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated stem cell modified to provide, enhance or contain the functional characteristics of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) The isolated stem cells are modified by expressing a calcium channel protein, by expressing a calcium pump protein such as the sarcro/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) protein, by inhibiting or downregulating expression of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) protein, by expressing a calcium handling protein, by expressing a transverse (t)-tubule, and/or by expressing a transverse (t)-tubule biogenic protein The modified cells may be expanded to a substantially homogenous population of these cells or differentiated to a more mature cell type Compositions are also provided The cells and compositions can be administered to a host and used to regenerate cardiac tissue, improve cardiac function, restore action potential of cardiac tissue, and treat or prevent cardiac malfunction Use for diagnostic screening of therapeutic candidates is also provided

Abstract: Self-renewable embryonic stem cells (ESCs), derived from the inner cell mass of blastocysts, can propagate indefinitely in culture while maintaining their normal karyotypes and pluripotency to differentiate into all cell types. Therefore, ESCs may provide an unlimited supply of even specialized cells such as brain and heart cells for transplantation and cell-based therapies that are otherwise limited by donor availability. However, this promising application is hampered by concerns that ESCs or their multipotent derivatives also possess the potential to form malignant tumors after transplantation in vivo. The present invention provides for a novel genetic method to arrest undesirable cell division (of ESCs and other unwanted lineages) as a means to inhibit or eliminate their tumorgenic potential after transplantation.

Abstract: Raman spectra of cells, such as normal human T- and B-cells from peripheral blood or human tonsil and the corresponding transformed cells are obtained by optically trapping the cells and obtaining their Raman spectra. The trapped cells can be subjected to one, two, or more different excitation wavelengths, and each wavelength of the corresponding Raman spectra can be stored in a separate channel. In preferred embodiments, two spectra are subtracted from each other to give a difference spectrum and each channel is analyzed independently to characterize the trapped cell. Alternatively, the Raman spectrum can be subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) in order to characterize the trapped cell. The trapped cell thus classified can be sorted, or further manipulated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel compositions and methods to induce, and/or modulate bio-electrical rhythms (e.g. in cardiac, neuronal and pancreatic cells) by fine-tuning the activity of HCN-encoded pacemaker channels via a novel protein- and genetic-engineering approach to augment or attenuate the associated physiological responses (e.g. heart beat, neuronal firing, insulin secretion, etc) for achieving various therapeutic purposes (e.g. sick sinus syndrome, epilepsy, neuropathic pain, diabetes, etc).

Abstract: This invention provides a eukaryotic cell that stably expresses exogenous, ectopic SID-1 to confer enhanced polynucleotide, e.g. siRNA or dsRNA, uptake. Thus, in one aspect, this invention provides a eukaryotic cell which stably expresses exogenous SID-1 polynucleotide and is. The cells stably expressing SID-1 are particularly useful for high throughput screening of gene activity using RNA interference. Methods for producing and using the cells also are provided in this application.

Abstract: This invention provides an isolated electrophysiologically immature cell or its derivative that has been modified to provide a mature electrophysiological phenotype and populations of these cells. Compositions containing these cells and populations of cells are also provided by this invention. These cells and compositions have therapeutic and diagnostic uses. Non-limiting therapeutic uses include regenerating cardiac tissue, improving cardiac function, restoring action potential of cardiac tissue; and treating or preventing cardiac malfunction. The cells and population of cells also can be used diagnostically to screen drug or other therapeutic candidate.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for modulating electrical behavior of cardiac cells. Preferred methods include administering a polynucleotide or cell-based composition that can modulate cardiac contraction to desired levels, i.e., the administered composition functions as a biological pacemaker.

Abstract: A ground connector assembly (20) having a substrate (22) and a ground member (24). The substrate (22) is used to retain an electrical circuit and has a ground region (34), a ground hole (30), and at least one strain relief slot (32). The ground member (24) is attached within the ground hole (30). The ground region (34) surrounds the ground hole (30) and is at least partially interposed between the ground hole (30) and the strain relief slot (32). The ground connector assembly (20) may further include a conductive ring (42), such as a copper ring, surrounding the ground hole (30) and attached to the ground region (34). There is also a method of making the ground connector assembly (20).

Abstract: A ground connector assembly (20) having a substrate (22) and a ground member (24). The substrate (22) is used to retain an electrical circuit and has a ground region (34), a ground hole (30), and at least one strain relief slot (32). The ground member (24) is attached within the ground hole (30). The ground region (34) surrounds the ground hole (30) and is at least partially interposed between the ground hole (30) and the strain relief slot (32). The ground connector assembly (20) may further include a conductive ring (42), such as a copper ring, surrounding the ground hole (30) and attached to the ground region (34). There is also a method of making the ground connector assembly (20).

Abstract: An electronic control module (40) includes a base plate (12) bent about first and second major bend axis (27, 28). The base plate includes first and second grooves (29, 30) formed at an upper surface (15a) coextensive with the first and second major bend axis (27, 28). A flexible film (18) is asymmetrically bonded by adhesive films (31, 32) about the first and second major bend axis (27, 28). The asymmetrical bonding of the flexible film (18) about the major bend axis (27, 28) causes non-bonded loop portions (35) of the flexible film (18) to assume a serpentine pattern and deflect away from the major bend axis (27, 28) when the base plate (12) is bent about the major bend axis (27, 28). The bonding arrangement of the flexible film (18) to the base plate (12) permits an electrical connector (36) to be attached to the backside of the electronic control module (40).