The present invention provides substantia nigra organoids on silica iSECnMs and method of producing the same. The present invention also provides method of cell therapy including the substantia nigra organoids on silica iSECnMs. It also provides a method of promoting differentiation of neural stem cells to neurons includes culturing the neural stem cells on a nanostructure having a plurality of nanozigzags or nanohelices fabricated from SiO.sub.2 or TiO.sub.x.

Decellularized plant tissues and the use of these plant tissues as scaffolds are disclosed herein. Particularly, decellularized plant tissues are functionalized such to allow for human cell adhesion, thereby allowing for their use as scaffolds for human cells. These scaffolds can then be used in a number of applications/markets, including as research tools for tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and basic cellular biology.

The subject matter of the present invention is a device for guiding cell migration comprising a substrate having a textured surface intended to be brought into contact with cells, said textured surface having an anisotropic three-dimensional structure consisting of a network of projections inclined relative to the normal to the plane formed by said textured structure, in the direction imparted by said anisotropic structure. The invention also concerns, according to another aspect, a method for guiding cell migration including the bringing into contact of cells with a substrate having a textured surface and an anisotropic three-dimensional structure, said structure consisting of projections inclined as previously described. The device or method according to the invention can in particular be applied in the fields of dermatology, implantology and tissue engineering.

The present invention provides nanostructures for use in proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells. The present invention also provides method of proliferating and differentiating neural stem cells.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of a platform for forming a neuronal spheroid and, more specifically, to the manufacture of a structure capable of simultaneously forming a test-tube three-dimensional neuronal spheroid and generating a neurite by forming a three-dimensional neuronal spheroid with a micro-platform and forming a neurite between the neuronal spheroid and the micro-platform so as to enable signal transduction, which is an essential function of a nerve cell.

A bacteriophage structure, a method of making the structure, and uses of the structure are described. The structure is a substrate with a surface having an ordered arrangement of parallel microridges thereon. Each microridge is composed of a plurality of nanoridges and has a longitudinal axis. Each nanoridge contains a bundle of phage nano fibers having longitudinal axes. The phage nanofibers in each nanoridge bundle are arranged in a substantially smectic alignment. The longitudinal axis of each microridge is perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the phage nanofibers which make up the nanoridges of the microridge. The structure may be used as a growth surface for inducing differentiation of stem cells such as neural progenitor cells.

A three-layer structure is comprised of an extra-cellular matrix, a sheet-shaped cell culture, and a biodegradable gel layer (single layer). By virtue of this three-layer structure, breakage of the sheet-shaped cell culture due to high spray pressure is reduced. The fibrin gel may be formed on one surface of the sheet-shaped cell culture by spraying of a thrombin liquid. A production method may involve culturing cells on a temperature-responsive cell culture substrate, dripping fibrinogen onto a sheet-shaped cell culture having an extra-cellular matrix on a lower surface thereof, further spraying a thrombin liquid onto the sheet-shaped cell culture from an oblique direction, whereby the result is a three-layer structure having a fibrin gel layer only on one surface of the sheet-shaped cell culture and having an extra-cellular matrix layer on the opposite surface.

An elastomeric substrate comprises a surface with regions of heterogeneous rigidity, wherein the regions are formed by exposing the elastomeric substrate to an energy source to form the regions such that the regions include a rigidity pattern comprising spots.

The presently disclosed subject matter provides a biomimetic organ model, and methods of its production and use. In one exemplary embodiment, the biomimetic organ model can be a multi-layer model including a at least two microchannels and at least one chamber slab with at least one membrane coated with cells disposed between at least one microchannel and the at least one chamber slab. In another exemplary embodiment, the biomimetic organ disease model can be a five-layer model including a first and second microchannel with a membrane-gel layer-membrane coated or encompassing cells disposed between the microchannels. In certain embodiments, at least one device can be coupled to the biomimetic organ model that delivers an agent to at least one microchannel.

The present invention is directed to a construct for promoting absorption of molecules by a cell and the application thereof in drug and gene delivery. The present invention further describes topographical modulation of endocytosis for drug and gene delivery.