The present invention is directed to the use of microfluidics in the preparation of cells and compositions for therapeutic uses.

The present invention relates to an organoid and, more specifically, to an organoid and a use thereof, the organoid being produced using a carrier for cell culture which comprises microcapsules containing gelatin, a natural polymer, an oil, and an oil thickener. When used as a carrier for cell culture in culturing cells, the microcapsules containing a natural oil, according to the present invention, have the effects of improving adhesion and survival of the cells and inducing maturation of the cultured cells. The organoid produced by culturing cells using the carrier for cell culture has been confirmed to have the function of the organ concerned and, when treated with a drug, react to the toxicity of the drug and thus may be variously employed in the development of new drugs, disease research, and the field of artificial organ development.

The present invention relates to microcapsules comprising natural oil and, more specifically, to microcapsules which contain gelatin, natural polymers, oil, and an oil thickener and have enhanced mechanical properties, and a preparation method therefor. The microcapsules comprising natural oil according to the present invention have remarkably enhanced mechanical properties and retention properties, and when co-cultured with cells, the microcapsules provide the effect of inducing maturation of the cells, and thus may be used in various fields of microcarriers, cell cultures, and co-culture systems.

There is described a method of promoting the attachment, survival and/or proliferation of a stem cell in culture, the method comprising culturing a stem cell on a positively-charged support surface. There are also provided a cell composition prepared according to the method of the invention.

The present disclosure provides ex vivo chamber-specific cardiac tissues, methods for generating the cardiac tissues in a bioreactor, and methods of using the cardiac tissues. Examples of cardiac tissues that can be generated include, but are not limited to, atrial tissues, ventricular tissues, and composite tissues having an atrial tissue connected to a ventricular tissue.

A method for reducing renal tissue toxicity in a subject caused by a kidney damaging agent is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject: (i) a kidney damaging agent; and (ii) an inhibitor of glucose reabsorption.

The present invention refers to a method of manufacturing an implantable construct comprising chondrogenically differentiated cells and one or more polycaprolactone (PCL) microcarriers, an implantable construct produced using said method, and uses of the implantable construct. The present invention also refers to a method of manufacturing an implantable construct comprising mesenchymal stromal cells and one or more polycaprolactone (PCL) microcarriers, an implantable construct produced using said method, and uses of the implantable construct. The present invention further refers to a method of treating a disease or disorder associated with cartilage and/or bone defect, the method comprises administering one or more cell-free polycaprolactone (PCL) microcarriers in a patient suffering from the disease or disorder.

The present invention provides methods for optically micropatterning hydrogels, which may be used for, e.g., regenerative medicine, synthetic or cultured foods, and in devices suitable for use in high throughput drug screening assays.

An in vitro process for producing megakaryocytes, and optionally platelets from the megakaryocytes, including the steps of cultivating stem cells, e.g. induced pluripotent stem cells, to generate aggregated pluripotent stem cells, preferably cultivating the aggregates in suspension in medium, inducing differentiation in these aggregates, and isolating megakaryocytes from the culture medium.

Hollow glass microspheres (HGMS) with a controlled nanotopographical surface structure (.sup.NSHGMS) demonstrate improved isolation and recovery of cell from biological fluid. .sup.NSHGMS can be achieved by applying layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of negatively charged SiO2 nanoparticles and positively charged poly-L-arginine molecules. Then, a sheathing can be applied to the surface with an enzymatically degradable LbL film made from biotinylated alginate and poly-L-arginine. Further, a cap of anti-EpCAM antibodies and anti-fouling PEG molecules can be applied to the sheathed film covering the microspheres. Compared to smooth-surfaced HGMS, NSHGMS reveals shorter isolation times, enhanced capture efficiency and lower detection limit in, for example, commonly used cancer cell lines. An .sup.NSHGMS-based cell isolation method does not require specialized lab equipment or an external power source, and thus, can be used for separation of targeted cells from blood or other body fluid in a resource-limited environment.