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.

Articles and methods for stem cell differentiation are generally described. In some embodiments, an article for stem cell differentiation may comprise an oxygen permeable substrate having at least a portion of a surface coated with a matrix. The matrix may allow the surface chemistry of the substrate to be altered, such that the cell-substrate surface interactions may be finely controlled without substantially affecting the oxygen permeability of the substrate. The surface chemistry may be altered to promote directed stem cell differentiation by, e.g., modification of the matrix surface with a specific density of biological molecules. In some embodiments, methods for stem cell differentiation may comprise directing the differentiation of stem cells on the articles, described herein, under suitable environmental conditions. Articles and methods, described herein, may be free of xenogeneic components and particularly well-suited for applications involving the differentiation of human stem cells into specific lineages.

Functionalized zwitterionic and mixed charge polymers and copolymers, methods for making the polymers and copolymers, hydrogels prepared from the functionalized zwitterionic and mixed charge polymers and copolymers, methods for making and using the hydrogels, and zwitterionic and mixed charge polymers and copolymers for administration for therapeutic agents.

The present invention provides a technique which enables organization of bone marrow cells by a simple method in a short period of time.

A method for preparing a bone marrow cell aggregate, comprising adding a liquid containing a bone marrow cell population to a medium containing a swellable material and culturing the bone marrow cell population in the presence of the swellable material. A method for reassembling a bone marrow tissue, comprising adding a liquid containing a bone marrow cell population to a medium containing a swellable material and culturing the bone marrow cell population in the presence of the swellable material.

According to common knowledge in the art, it has been considered difficult to reorganize once disintegrated bone marrow tissue without changing the cell composition (that is, without adding any adherent cell or extracellular matrix which will work as a “connecting material (binder)”). Indeed, it was impossible to aggregate bone marrow cells by conventional methods. As a result of its achievement, the present invention changes such conventional thought and results and provides a major breakthrough technique pertaining to 3D culture of bone marrow cells. It has also been confirmed that culture of a bone marrow-like tissue reassembled by the method of the present could be continued up to day 14 in the MC medium.

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.

A method of producing a cell-containing container is provided, including a process in which pluripotent stem cells that have been induced to differentiate into neurons, and astrocytes are mixed and seeded in a cell culture container in which an electrode array is arranged on a culture surface, and a process in which the cell culture container is incubated, and as a result, the pluripotent stem cells and the astrocytes adhere to the culture surface, and the pluripotent stem cells differentiate into neurons.

Disclosed herein is a 4D printed programmable culture substrate with the self-morphing ability to accommodate the change in morphology of stem cells during differentiation. The 4D printed culture substrate includes a shape memory polymer that is configured for transformation from a first topographical shape to a second topographical shape during a predetermined time period in response to a stimulus, such as temperature. The first topographical shape may include micro-wells and the second topographical shape may include microgrooves, which can accommodate the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells.

Disclosed herein are improved methods for fabricating bioprinted, three-dimensional, biological tissues. The methods relate to exposures to low temperatures, incubations at low temperatures of various durations, and fabrication in environments without structural cross-linking treatments.

A cell culture substrate for cultivating adherent cells, including: a substrate (S), a polymer (P) comprising amino groups, which is bonded to the substrate, and a saccharide (Z) having at least two monosaccharide units for attaching the adherent cells, wherein the saccharide (Z) is covalently bonded to the polymer (P) via the amino groups.

Such a cell culture substrate is suitable for cultivating adherent cells and allows the cells to be detached from the cell culture substrate in a gentle manner by adding a saccharide.

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.