Abstract: The present invention provides in vitro methods of differentiating brain mural cells and methods of use, including use in blood brain barrier models. Suitable in vitro derived cell populations of brain mural cells are also provided.

Abstract: This disclosure relates generally to the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, and more particularly to a method of spatially adsorbing morphogens to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to methods for generating cardiac fibroblast cells from epicardial cardiac progenitor cells, populations of cardiac fibroblast cells and uses thereof.

Abstract: A model blood brain barrier obtained from hPSCs is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for generating high-yield, high-purity cardiomyocyte progenitors or cardiomyocytes from pluripotent cells are described. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is first activated in pluripotent cells, e.g., by inhibition of Gsk-3 to obtain a first population of cells. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is then inhibited in the first cell population to induce cardiogenesis under fully defined, growth factor free culture conditions.

Abstract: Methods for generating high-yield, high-purity cardiomyocyte progenitors or cardiomyocytes from pluripotent cells are described. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is first activated in pluripotent cells, e.g., by inhibition of Gsk-3 to obtain a first population of cells. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is then inhibited in the first cell population to induce cardiogenesis under fully defined, growth factor free culture conditions.

Abstract: Methods for generating high-yield, high-purity cardiomyocyte progenitors or cardiomyocytes from pluripotent cells are described. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is first activated in pluripotent cells, e.g., by inhibition of Gsk-3 to obtain a first population of cells. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is then inhibited in the first cell population to induce cardiogenesis under fully defined, growth factor free culture conditions.

Abstract: Methods for culturing the pluripotent stem cells to undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and for generating high-yield, high-purity cardiomyocyte cultures from pluripotent stem cells are described. Pluripotent stem cells are cultured on a support with an overlaid matrix and, optionally, exposed to one or more factors to induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cardiogenesis.

Abstract: Methods for generating high-yield, high-purity cardiomyocyte progenitors or cardiomyocytes from pluripotent cells are described. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is first activated in pluripotent cells, e.g., by inhibition of Gsk-3 to obtain a first population of cells. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is then inhibited in the first cell population to induce cardiogenesis under fully defined, growth factor free culture conditions.

Abstract: Methods for generating high-yield, high-purity cardiomyocyte progenitors or cardiomyocytes from pluripotent cells are described. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is first activated in pluripotent cells, e.g., by inhibition of Gsk-3 to obtain a first population of cells. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is then inhibited in the first cell population to induce cardiogenesis under fully defined, growth factor free culture conditions.

Abstract: Methods for generating high-yield, high-purity cardiomyocyte progenitors or cardiomyocytes from pluripotent cells are described. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is first activated in pluripotent cells, e.g., by inhibition of Gsk-3 to obtain a first population of cells. Wnt/?-catenin signaling is then inhibited in the first cell population to induce cardiogenesis under fully defined, growth factor free culture conditions.

Abstract: A model blood brain barrier obtained from hPSCs is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for culturing the pluripotent stem cells to undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and for generating high-yield, high-purity cardiomyocyte cultures from pluripotent stem cells are described. Pluripotent stem cells are cultured on a support with an overlaid matrix and, optionally, exposed to one or more factors to induce epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cardiogenesis.

Abstract: A three-dimensional microwell system that supports long term embryonic stem cell (ESCs) culture and formation of homogeneous embryoid bodies (EBs) is described. Microwell-cultured ESCs remain viable and undifferentiated for several weeks in culture and maintain undifferentiated replication when passaged to Matrigel®-coated, tissue culture-treated polystyrene dishes. Microwell-cultured ESCs maintain pluripotency, differentiating to each of the three embryonic germ layers. ESC aggregates released from microwells can be passaged for undifferentiated replication or differentiated to monodisperse EBs. The ability to constrain ESC growth in three dimensions advantageously provides for more efficient, reproducible culture of undifferentiated cells, high-throughput screening, and the ability to direct ESC differentiation by generating monodisperse EBs of a desired size and shape.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to liquid crystalline substrates useful in the culture of cells and methods of their use. In certain embodiments, the invention provides methods and devices for imaging changes (e.g., reorganization) of extracellular matrix components by living cells.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polyacrylamide-based method of fabricating surface-bound peptide and protein arrays, the arrays themselves, and a method of using the arrays to detect proteins and to measure their concentration, binding affinity, and kinetics. Peptides, proteins, fusion proteins, protein complexes, and the like, are labeled with an acrylic moiety and attached to acrylic-functionalized glass surfaces through a copolymerization with acrylic monomer. The specific attachment of GST-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein was more than 7-fold greater than the nonspecific attachment of non-acrylic labeled GST-GFP. Surface-attached GST-GFP (0.32 ng /mm2) was detectable by direct measurement of GFP fluorescence and this lower detection limit was reduced to 0.080 ng /mm2 using indirect antibody-based detection. The polyacrylamide-based surface attachment strategy was also used to measure the kinetics of substrate phosphorylation by the kinase c-Src.

Abstract: Disclosed are a polyacrylamide-based method of fabricating surface-bound peptide and protein arrays, the arrays themselves, and a method of using the arrays to detect biomolecules and to measure their concentration, binding affinity, and kinetics. Peptides, proteins, fusion proteins, protein complexes, nucleic acids, and the like, are labeled with an acrylic moiety and attached to acrylic-functionalized glass surfaces through a copolymerization with acrylic monomer. The specific attachment of GST-green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion protein was more than 7-fold greater than the nonspecific attachment of non-acrylic labeled GST-GFP. Surface-attached GST-GFP (0.32 ng/mm2) was detectable by direct measurement of GFP fluorescence and this lower detection limit was reduced to 0.080 ng/mm2 using indirect antibody-based detection. The polyacrylamide-based surface attachment strategy was also used to measure the kinetics of substrate phosphorylation by the kinase c-Src.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for culturing embryonic stem (ES) cells. The methods relate to growing the cells in culture on a flexible solid porous matrix, suitably without conditioned media or fibroblast feeder cells and applying an effective amount of periodic strain to stretch the flexible matrix, such that the cells proliferate and exhibit reduced differentiation. These methods in part facilitate a reduction in cross-species contamination for ES cells used in medical applications.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for the cryopreservation of pluripotent cells in general and human embryonic stem (ES) cells in particular. The stem cells are grown on a bottom layer of solid support matrix and subsequently covered by a top layer of solid support matrix forming a matrix-cell-matrix composition, to which an effective amount of cryopreservation media is added, prior to freezing. The methods of the invention yield cryopreserved cells that exhibit an increase in cell viability and a decrease in cell differentiation, facilitating storage, shipping and handling of embryonic stem cell stocks and lines for research and therapeutics.