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 invention provides the use of selected thermogelling polymers for the purpose of growing tumor spheroids. The invention provides a thermogelling platform comprising a synthetic polymer which, when seeded with cancer cells, induces the cells to grow into a natural spheroidal pattern forming a tumor spheroid. After accomplishing this in about 3-10 days, the gel washes away, leaving behind the spheroids.

The disclosure relates to the fabrication of a three dimensional [3-D] cell culture membrane comprising one or more functionalized surfaces adapted to provide cell culture conditions suitable for the analysis of proliferation, differentiation or function of cells, typically eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells.

Disclosed are methods for coating microcarriers with a marrow stromal cell derived extracellular matrix, and maintaining and expanding mammalian mesenchymal stem cells on the marrow stromal cell derived extracellular matrix coated microcarriers in culture.

To provide a technique for selecting a target cell producing a target substance that specifically binds to a desired cell membrane protein more rapidly and efficiently. A substrate 1 having a plurality of microwells 2 is provided. A first cell 3 expressing a target cell membrane protein on its surface is allowed to adhere to each of the microwells 2. One or two second cells 5 as a candidate of a target cell are introduced into each microwell 2, and are allowed to coexist with the first cell 3 in the microwell 2, and target substance 6 secreted by the second cell 5 is brought into contact with the first cell 3. A microwell 2 including the first cell 3 to which the target substance 6 binds is identified. The second cell 5 as the target cell is recovered from the identified microwell 2. One example of the target substance 6 is an antibody. Visualization may be performed by adding a label substance 7.

The present invention relates to a stable and readily usable administration type including a composition including mesenchymal stem cells cultured in hydrogel, more specifically, a adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cell-hydrogel composition and a method of preparing the same. More specifically, the present invention relates to a composition including mesenchymal stem cells cultured in hydrogel, washed, and filled into a syringe, wherein the composition of the present invention may be readily administered without modification and may not need an enzyme treatment in a final process of preparing transplanted cells, almost no cell is lost because the composition is washed as hydrogel without an washing process using centrifugation or other methods, and the therapeutic effect is shown immediately after administration to an individual because bioactive substances are patched in pores of the hydrogel.

Provided are a protein-coated culture container for classifying, identifying, or specifying mesenchymal stem cells by controlling cell adhesion; and a method of classifying, identifying, or specifying mesenchymal stem cells by using the container.

The invention relates to bola-amphiphilic compounds and their uses for biomedical application. The invention particularly relates to the use of bola-amphiphilic compounds for providing low molecular weight gels (LMWG), useful, in particular, as culture media for animal or human cells, or as biocompatible material for biomedical applications.

The present invention provides three-dimensional microenvironment niches prepared from biomaterial compositions that supports growth and self renewal of stem cells. The invention also provides methods for inducing pluripotency in a somatic cell using chemical compounds, as well as methods for screening for compounds that can induce pluripotency in a somatic cell.

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.