Means which enables preparation of a thick cell aggregate by a simple process without an operation of detaching and stacking of cells is disclosed. The method for preparing a three-dimensional cell aggregate by the present invention comprises: a cell encasing step of placing a cell suspension in a cell container; and a pressure application step of applying pressure to cells in the container. The cell encasing step and the pressure application step may be carried out a plurality of times. By the present invention, a thick, robust cell aggregate can be obtained by a simple operation of applying pressure to a cell suspension or a medium containing cells.

Since the method does not require an operation of stacking a plurality of cell sheets, the cells are hardly damaged, and the conditions of the cells can be favorably maintained, so that the cells can be advantageously used as a tissue piece for transplantation.

Means which enables preparation of a thick cell aggregate by a simple process without an operation of detaching and stacking of cells is disclosed. The method for preparing a three-dimensional cell aggregate by the present invention comprises: a cell encasing step of placing a cell suspension in a cell container; and a pressure application step of applying pressure to cells in the container. The cell encasing step and the pressure application step may be carried out a plurality of times. By the present invention, a thick, robust cell aggregate can be obtained by a simple operation of applying pressure to a cell suspension or a medium containing cells.

Since the method does not require an operation of stacking a plurality of cell sheets, the cells are hardly damaged, and the conditions of the cells can be favorably maintained, so that the cells can be advantageously used as a tissue piece for transplantation.

The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating cell, such as stem cell, arrays on a carrier where the surface energy of the carrier has been modified and patterned so that only areas of low contact angle are wetted by a water based cell solution. The patterned cell solution when applied to the carrier surface then self assembles into a 3 dimensional micro pattern on the carrier that mimics the surface topography of mammalian organs.

A device for isolating, retaining, separating and/or purifying mesenchymal stem cells from a heterogeneous population of cells. The device includes at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a housing, and at least one surface located in the housing, the surface having an affinity for mesenchymal stem cells, wherein the surface is in communication with the inlet and the outlet, and the at least one surface includes at least two portions facing each other, and separated by a distance ranging from 1 mm to 1 cm.

The present invention aim at providing a novel animal cell growth promoter. Specifically, a culture supernatant of an embryonic membrane derived from an avian or reptilian fertilized egg is use as an animal cell growth promoter. For example, by adding, to an animal cell culture medium, an animal cell growth promoter comprising, as an active ingredient, a culture supernatant of an embryonic membrane derived from an avian or reptilian fertilized egg, the animal cell growth can be promoted.

Methods and devices are disclosed for processing stromal precursor cells (i.e., cells which can differentiate into connective tissue cells, such as in muscles, ligaments, or tendons) which can be obtained from fatty tissue extracts obtained via liposuction. Normal processing of a liposuction extract involves centrifugation, to concentrate the stromal cells into a semi-concentrated form called “spun fat”. That “spun fat” can then be treated by mechanical processing (such as pressure-driven extrusion through 0.5 mm holes) under conditions which can gently pry the stromal cells away from extra-cellular collagen fibers and other debris in the “spun fat”. The extruded mixture is then centrifuged again, to separate a highly-enriched population of stromal cells which is suited for injection back into the patient (along with platelet cells, if desired, to further promote tissue repair or regeneration).

The present invention provides for methods and devices suitable for producing a transplantable cellular suspension of living tissue suitable for promoting tissue regeneration in an epithelium-related procedure, as well as compositions produced therefrom. The cellular suspension can include viable and functioning cells at various stages of differentiation, including undifferentiated/progenitor cells and differentiated cells, as well as those in between. In certain embodiments, the cellular suspension can be subjected to a stress to induce a heat shock response therein, or be exposed to an exogenously supplied agent such as heat shock protein or a fragment thereof, hyaluronic acid, platelet-enriched plasma, and/or growth factors. The cellular suspension can be applied directly to a patient's recipient site for in vivo regeneration, or be cultured or seeded to a matrix for in vitro growth/regeneration.

A cell culture cartridge is provided comprising a plurality of zones geometrically configured to provide for symmetrical fluid flow with each of the plurality of zones to avoid dead areas in flow within each of the plurality of zones. In certain embodiments, at least eight inlets are provided, with an inlet positioned at each corner of the cell culture cartridge. In certain embodiments, a shared outlet is positioned on a top surface of the cell culture cartridge.

A method for fabricating an in vitro vessel includes forming a substrate that defines a microfluidic passage therein extending along a longitudinal axis and defined by an inner surface, positioning the substrate in a vertical orientation whereby an acute angle is formed between the longitudinal axis of the microfluidic passage and the direction of gravity, and culturing a plurality of first cells in the microfluidic passage while the substrate is disposed in the vertical orientation whereby an annular layer of the plurality of first cells is formed in the microfluidic channel, wherein the layer of the plurality of first cells defines a lumen extending longitudinally through the microfluidic channel.

Compositions, devices and methods are described for improving adhesion, attachment, and/or differentiation of cells in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, one or more ECM proteins are covalently coupled to the surface of a microchannel of a microfluidic device. The microfluidic devices can be stored or used immediately for culture and/or support of living cells such as mammalian cells, and/or for simulating a function of a tissue, e.g., a liver tissue, muscle tissue, etc. Extended adhesion and viability with sustained function over time is observed.