Provided herein are materials and methods for the preparation of blood products. In one aspect, provided herein is a composition including platelets or platelet derivatives and an aqueous medium, wherein the aqueous medium has a protein concentration less than 50% of the protein concentration of donor apheresis plasma.

The present invention relates to methods allowing adherence and outgrowth of embryoid bodies (EBs) using macrocarriers. The methods of the invention are useful for an up-scaled production of myeloid cells, such as macrophage- and microglia-like/-precursor cells, in a bioreactor system. The invention further relates to microglia-like cells or microglial precursor cells obtainable by these methods that are cryopreservable. The invention also concerns a porous macrocarrier coated with a material facilitating cell adherence.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods employing stem cell-derived embryo-like structures. In some embodiments, methods of generating embryo-like tissues from stem cells and the resulting tissues are provided. In some embodiments, uses of such tissues for research, compound screening and analysis, and therapeutics are provided. Accordingly, in some embodiments, provided herein is a method for preparing embryo-like tissue, comprising: a) introducing stem cells into a microfluidic device comprising a culture channel and a plurality of fluidic channels, wherein the stem cells are introduced to the culture channel of the microfluidic device; b) contacting the stem cells with basal medium via the plurality of fluidic channels for at least 18 hours (e.g., 36 hours) to generate the embryo-like tissue.

A device for preparation of liquid marbles that has a belt conveyor for carrying a layer of solid particles, the belt conveyor being provided, successively in the direction of movement of the belt with at least one solids dispenser with a reservoir for solid particles, at least one liquid dispenser with a reservoir for liquid, and a separator for separating the prepared liquid marbles from solid particles, is disclosed.

One embodiment relates to a method for manufacturing a cell suspension, the method including (A), (B) and (C) described below: (A) culturing adherent cells in a cell suspension containing the adherent cells, a microcarrier and a medium, and having a volume of at least 0.3 L, (B) culturing the adherent cells in a cell suspension containing the adherent cells obtained through (A), a microcarrier and a medium, and having a volume of at least 5 L, and (C) culturing the adherent cells in a cell suspension containing the adherent cells obtained through (B), a microcarrier and a medium, and having a volume of at least 10 L.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for activation and expansion of T cells using a biocompatible solid substrate with tunable rigidity. Rigidity of a substrate is an important parameter that can be used to control the overall expansion and differentiation of T cells.

The present disclosure provides soluble mutant PD-L1 peptides, polynucleotides and vectors encoding the peptides, and methods of using the peptides to elicit differentiation of regulatory T cells.

Methods for treating radiation or chemical injury are described that comprise administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of adherent stromal cells. Methods of preparing adherent stromal cells and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the cells are also described.

The present subject matter provides a microfluidic device that enables the precise and repeatable three dimensional and compartmentalized coculture of muscle cells and neuronal cells. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

A method for micro-tissue encapsulation of cells includes coating a tissue scaffold stamp with an extracellular matrix compound; depositing the tissue scaffold stamp onto a thermoresponsive substrate; seeding the tissue scaffold stamp with a cell culture; incubating the cell culture on the tissue scaffold stamp at a temperature that is specified, wherein the cell culture forms a cell patch that is attached to the extracellular matrix compound; removing the thermoresponsive substrate by lowering the temperature; removing the tissue scaffold stamp from the cell patch to form a micro-tissue structure by dissolving the tissue scaffold stamp in a solvent; folding the micro-tissue structure by suspending the micro-tissue in the solvent to enable the cell patch to fold the micro-tissue structure; collecting the folded micro-tissue structure from the solvent; and administering the folded micro-tissue structure to an organism.