The cell structure producing apparatus including needles, a sticking unit configured to detachably hold an end portion of each of the needles, descend the each of the needles with respect to a cell tray in which cell aggregates are held, stick and penetrate each of the cell aggregates with the tip end, and ascend the needle after sticking, at least one time or more, a base unit, and a control unit configured to move the sticking unit so that for the each of the needles, each of the needles sticking the cell aggregates is positioned at a predetermined position over the base unit, descend each of the needles by a predetermined amount to stick the tip end into the base unit at the predetermined position on the base unit, and control the sticking unit.

The present invention discloses a three-dimensional cell spheroid with high proliferation activity, and the cell spheroid is obtained by ejecting a cell aggregate through a needle with a needle gauge of less than 30G. The present invention further provides the producing method and the use for the cell spheroid.

A method for growing polarized endometrial cells, said method comprising: (a) disposing endometrial cells on a scaffold, said scaffold comprising a silica-based glass composition, characterized by multi-modal porosity, said scaffold being to define a top side and a bottom side; (b) providing nutrients to said top and bottom sides of said scaffold and an environment to grow polarized endometrial cells on said scaffold.

A method for in vitro activation and/or expansion of immune cells is provided, including the steps of: a) providing magnetic particles having multi-protrusive surface modified with at least one type of immuno-inducing substance, in which each magnetic particle includes a copolymer core, a polymer layer, a magnetic substance layer, and a silicon-based layer from the inside to the outside; b) providing a cell solution including at least one type of immune cell in the cell solution; and c) bringing the magnetic particles in contact with the cell solution, in which the at least one type of immuno-inducing substance on the surface of the magnetic particle activates and/or expands the at least one type of immune cell in the cell solution.

Methods to form a surface coating and surface pattern, which are based on adsorption of hydrocarbon chains that can be used with imaging optics to visualize macrophage fusion and multinucleated giant cell formation with living specimens are described.

A mold for producing a hydrogel support for a 3-dimensional (3D) cell culture, includes: an upper mold comprising a base and a plurality of upper unit molds protruding downward from the base to form accommodating portions of a female type corresponding to shapes of hydrogel supports, having through holes at bottoms thereof, and patterned at a lower portion of the base; a lower mold where a plurality of lower unit molds are patterned, the plurality of lower unit molds formed in a female type to respectively accommodate the plurality of upper unit molds protruding downward and having sealed lower portions; and an ejecting unit for separating, from the accommodating portions of the plurality of upper unit molds, the hydrogel supports that are coagulated after being inserted into the through holes respectively formed in the plurality of upper unit molds.

A packed-bed bioreactor system for culturing cells is provided, the system including a cell culture vessel having at least one interior reservoir, an inlet fluidly connected to the reservoir, and an outlet fluidly connected to the reservoir; and a cell culture matrix disposed in the reservoir. The cell culture matrix includes a structurally defined multi-layered substrate for adhering cells thereto, and each layer of the multi-layered substrate has a physical structure and a porosity that are substantially regular and uniform.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cell structure which can be produced within a short period of time and has a predetermined or larger size, and a method for producing the above-described cell structure. According to the present invention, there is provided a cell structure including: a biocompatible macromolecular block; and two or more kinds of cells, in which a plurality of the biocompatible macromolecular blocks are arranged in gaps between a plurality of the cells, and in which the two or more kinds of cells contain at least one kind of first cell selected from the group consisting of vascular endothelial cells, cardiac muscle cells, pancreatic islet cells, liver cells, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, nerve cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, corneal epithelial cells, and retinal pigment epithelial cells, and at least one kind of second cell selected from the group consisting of mesenchymal cells, stromal cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, myoblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, adipose-derived stem cells, and umbilical cord-derived stem cells.

A cell-support matrix having narrowly defined uniformly vertically and non-randomly organized porosity and pore density and a method for preparation thereof. The matrix suitable for preparation of cellular or acellular implants for growth and de novo formation of an articular hyaline-like cartilage. A gel-matrix composite system comprising collagen-based matrix having a narrowly defined porosity capable of inducing hyaline-like cartilage production from chondrocytes in vivo and in vitro.

Solid, porous, glass-based substrate for storage and delivery of useful microorganisms are described. Materials include one or more microorganisms lyophilized on the substrate, e.g., in the form of a lyophilized biofilm. The materials can be utilized for long-term storage, transport, and deployment of one or more microorganisms, such as consortium of microorganisms at a remediation site.