The invention relates to culturing motor neuron cells together with skeletal muscle cells in a fluidic device under conditions whereby the interaction of these cells mimic the structure and function of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) providing a NMJ-on-chip. Good viability, formation of myo-fibers and function of skeletal muscle cells on fluidic chips allow for measurements of muscle cell contractions. Embodiments of motor neurons co-cultures with contractile myo-fibers are contemplated for use with modeling diseases affecting NMJ's, e.g. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The present invention is directed to a method of producing compositions derived from culturing cells under hypoxic conditions on a biocompatible surface in vitro. The culturing method produces both an extracellular matrix composition and a conditioned culture medium composition, which may be used separately or in combination to obtain physiologically acceptable compositions useful in a variety of medical and therapeutic applications.

Described in certain embodiments herein are combinatorial addressable arrays configured for high-throughput analysis of a sample and methods of using said combinatorial addressable arrays. Also described herein in certain embodiments are computer-implemented methods of training a statistical or machine learning model for determining and/or predicting culture conditions effective for growth of a biologic sample and computer-implemented method to determine and/or predict culture conditions effective growth for growth of a biologic sample.

Described herein are methods for transfecting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with a nucleic acid construct using a cationic polymer, a first reagent capable of redirecting endocytosed nucleic acids from intracellular acidic compartments, and a second agent capable of stabilizing a microtubular network of the MSCs. The methods are free of virus-based transfection vehicle materials and the transfected MSCs have substantially unchanged multipotent phenotype. In certain embodiments, the transfected MSCs express functional genes comprising suicide gene, such as cytosine deaminase or uracil phosphoribosyltransferase. Also described are methods for the treatment of diseases, such as cancer, using such transfected cells in combination with 5FC, 5FU, GCV, as well as kits and composition relating thereof.

The invention discloses a method of manufacturing polysaccharide beads, comprising the steps of: i) providing a water phase comprising an aqueous solution of a polysaccharide; ii) providing an oil phase comprising at least one water-immiscible organic solvent and at least one oil-soluble emulsifier; iii) emulsifying the water phase in the oil phase to form a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion; and iv) inducing solidification of the water phase in the w/o emulsion, wherein the organic solvent is an aliphatic or alicyclic ketone or ether.

Provided is a method for efficiently culturing pluripotent stem cells with higher safety. The present invention relates to a method for culturing pluripotent stem cells, the method comprising culturing an isolated pluripotent stem cells in a pseudo-microgravity environment to proliferate the pluripotent stem cells while maintaining the pluripotent stem cells in an undifferentiated state, thereby forming and growing spheroids of the pluripotent stem cells; and a method for inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells by using the method.

Methods and systems for processing suspensions of biological cells and microcarriers are disclosed. The biological cells are separated from the microcarriers by introducing the suspension into a spinning membrane separator whereby the biological cells pass through the membrane and the microcarriers do not pass through the membrane.

A method for culturing primary cells from solid tumor tissues of lung cancer and primary tumor cells from pleural effusion of lung cancer, and the auxiliary reagents. A method for culturing primary cells from solid tumor tissues of lung cancer and primary tumor cells from pleural effusion of lung cancer and the auxiliary reagents. The core of the technology is as follows: (1) solid tumor of lung cancer are treated by using a mild cell dissociating reagent, and lung cancer cells in pleural effusion are dissociated by a mild method, ensuring the vitality of cancer cells to the greatest extent; (2) a special serum-free medium is prepared, and tumor cells derived from solid tumor tissues of lung cancer are cultured in vitro by using a suspension culture system, ensuring the normal amplification of the cancer cells while eliminating the interference of normal cells to the greatest extent.

A method of coating a surface with nanoparticles for biological analysis of cells that includes the steps of cleaning the surface with an oxidizing acid, treating the surface with an organosilane, coating the surface with nanoparticles, and then growing cells on the surface coated with the nanoparticles. The surface may be a glass surface, a silica-based surface, a plastic-based surface or a polymer-based surface. The nanoparticles may be gold-based nanomaterials.

The invention provides for compositions and methods for making and using adipose-derived stem cells for treating non-human mammals for various medical conditions.