A microcarrier for cell culture and expansion is provided. The microcarrier includes decellularized mammalian tissue. Further, the microcarrier has an average particle size ranging from about 10 micrometers to about 600 micrometers. A method of forming a decellularized mammalian tissue microcarrier for cell culture and expansion is also provided, along with a method for treating a mammalian tissue defect via a decellularized mammalian tissue microcarrier on which cells from the same tissue type as the decellularized mammalian tissue are expanded.

A cell culture substrate includes: a first layer that includes a first gel in which gold nanoparticles dispersed; and a second layer that includes a second gel in which the gold nanoparticles are not present or are present in a lower concentration in comparison with the first layer.

Hydrogel compositions and methods of using hydrogel compositions are disclosed. Advantageously, the hydrogel compositions offer the ability to promote cellular expansion and/or cellular differentiation of various neuronal cells. The hydrogel compositions can further be used in toxicity screening assays for neurotoxicants.

The invention provides methods for producing arrays of organoids, the arrays thereof and uses of such arrays.

Aspects of the present disclosure include methods that include co-culturing a cell and a microparticle that includes a capture ligand, in a culture medium under conditions in which a biomarker produced by the cell is bound by the capture ligand. Such methods may further include detecting (e.g., by flow or mass cytometry) complexes that include the microparticle, the capture ligand, the biomarker, and a detection reagent. The methods may further include determining the proportion or number of cells among a heterogeneous cell population that produced the biomarker and/or the level of biomarker secreted by such cells. Compositions, systems and kits are also provided.

Methods of repeated aggregate dissociation and reformation of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) within the same bioreactor until a desired final cell number is achieved. A preferred step-wise process for controlled growth of PSCs and aggregate size using periodic dissociation with a dissociation medium which contains either proteolytic enzymes or chemical reagents, mechanical agitation, or a combination of these methods.

An elongated or fiber-supported multicellular aggregation of multipotent cells, wherein multipotent cells are arranged in an oblong or longish arrangement with an aspect ratio of a prolate dimension to a perpendicular dimension of at least 2:1, or supported by a fibrous structure, and wherein the aggregate contains cells at different stages of differentiation, and the aggregate contains polar cells; methods of generating such aggregates; methods of developing the aggregates further into tissue organoids and kits for such methods.

Among the various aspects of the present disclosure is the provision of methods, synthetic DC, and compositions for T cell activation. The present disclosure provides for synthetic dendritic cells (DCs), methods of generating synthetic dendritic cells (DCs), methods of generating T cell-encapsulated gelatin microspheres and microcapsules, methods of activating T cells using synthetic DCs, methods for expanding T cells against individualized antigen-specific mutational antigens using synthetic DCs, and methods of treating a chronic disease (e.g., HIV, HPV) or cancer using the synthetic DCs.

Sub-millimeter scale three-dimensional (3D) structures are disclosed with customizable chemical properties and/or functionality. The 3D structures are referred to as drop-carrier particles. The drop-carrier particles allow the selective association of one solution (i.e., a dispersed phased) with an interior portion of each of the drop-carrier particles, while a second non-miscible solution (i.e., a continuous phase) associates with an exterior portion of each of the drop-carrier particles due to the specific chemical and/or physical properties of the interior and exterior regions of the drop-carrier particles. The combined drop-carrier particle with the dispersed phase contained therein is referred to as a particle-drop. The selective association results in compartmentalization of the dispersed phase solution into sub-microliter-sized volumes contained in the drop-carrier particles. The compartmentalized volumes can be used for single-molecule assays as well as single-cell, and other single-entity assays.

A closed, automated and scalable stirred tank bioreactor platform, capable of sustaining high fold expansion of hPSCs is provided. hPSCs are expanded in a controlled bioreactor using perfused xeno-free media. Cell harvest and concentration are performed in closed steps. The hPSCs can be cryopreserved to generate a bank of cells or further processed as needed. Cryopreserved cells can be thawed into a 2D tissue culture platform or a 3D bioreactor to initiate a new expansion phase or be differentiated to the clinically relevant cell type. The expanded hPSCs express hPSC-specific markers, have a normal karyotype and the ability to differentiate to the cells of the three germ layers. This end-to-end platform allows large expansion of high quality hPSCs that can support the required cell demand for various clinical indications.