Provided are polymers, which may be crosslinked to form a main-chain liquid crystalline (LC) hydrogel with a three-dimensional network. Also provided are methods of using the hydrogel as a substrate for tissue culture. For example, the hydrogel may organize into LC phases and encapsulate a plurality of cells within its polymeric network. In some embodiments, human stem cells are cultured using the present method with good viability and demonstrate faster proliferation in the present LC hydrogel compared to a non-LC gel.

Methods for engineered cellular magmatic microbial habitat and articles thereof are disclosed. For example, the magmatics may include one or more infiltration materials that are configured not to sinter when a foamed mass is formed. The infiltration materials may be enclosed in cells of the foamed mass and may be floating and/or fixed to the cell walls.

The present invention provides methods, compositions and kits for use in the culture of organoids in solution. In particular, a method for producing an expanded population of organoids in vitro is provided. The method comprises providing a population of organoid progenitor cells or organoids and culturing the population of organoids in a composition comprising a culture medium and a scaffold matrix, wherein the scaffold matrix is present in the composition at a concentration that is equivalent to a concentration of between 2% (v/v) and 18% (v/v) of a complex protein hydrogel having a protein concentration between 12 and 18 mg/ml, thereby producing an expanded population of organoids. The invention is particularly useful in the context of high-throughput production of organoids such as e.g. for screening.

Spheroid microtissues that can mimic native tissue-like structure and function, spheroid production methods that are high-throughput, suitable for efficient production, maintainable over long-term culture, and/or offer repeatable control over size distribution. Spheroids that have blood vessels, including spheroids with functional, blood-perfused vascular networks upon injection in vivo. Dissolvable hydrogel microwell arrays for high throughput parallel formation of spheroids in a single pipetting step and easy retrieval for downstream applications. A method to produce prevascularized microtissues in sufficient numbers to form a macrotissue in vivo for therapeutic purposes. This method is based on sacrificial release of dissolvable microwell templates, a novel and scalable strategy which enables gentle harvesting of microtissues with control over size and composition. The method forms microtissues containing endothelial cells and mesenchymal stem cells, which are co-cultured under dynamic conditions and self-organize into blood-vessel units.

The present disclosure relates to a biocompatible, in vitro probe system. The probe system may have a substrate and a culture well supported on the substrate. The culture well defines a three-dimensional volume for containing in vitro cultures of electroactive cells. The probe system has at least one probe subsystem supported on the substrate. The probe subsystem has at least one probe having an array of electrodes, with the probe being disposed within the culture well for in vitro electrically communicating with the electroactive cells. The probe subsystem is adapted to be interfaced to an external instrumentation/recording device.

Thin parylene C membranes having smooth front sides and ultrathin regions (e.g., 0.01 μm to 5 μm thick) interspersed with thicker regions are disclosed. The back sides of the membranes can be rough compared with the smooth front sides. The membranes can be used in vitro to grow monolayers of cells in a laboratory or in vivo as surgically implantable growth layers, such as to replace the Bruch's membrane in the eye. The thin regions of parylene are semipermeable to allow for proteins in serum to pass through, and the thick regions give mechanical support for handling by a surgeon. The smooth front side allows for monolayer cell growth, and the rough back side helps prevents cells from attaching there.

There is provided a self-assembly amphiphilic peptide having the formula (I): XYZ (I), wherein X is a polar moiety at the N-terminus; X and Z each independently has between 1 to 4 residues of aliphatic amino acids or analogs or derivatives thereof, and wherein the average degree of hydrophobicity of the residues in block Z is more than the average degree of hydrophobicity of the residues in block Y. Disclosed are compositions and hydrogel comprising the peptide thereof. Also disclosed are methods of treatment for tissue regeneration, wound healing and methods of culture of stem cells, tissues and organoids.

The application provides a system for continuous cell production, comprising: a culture container; and a polymer blended layer arranged on the inner surface of the culture container; wherein, the polymer blended layer is a pH-responsive polymer blended with nylon. Additionally, a method for continuous cell production using the system of the present application is provided.

A microrobot is formed by mixing a biodegradable first material, biocompatible magnetic nanoparticles, and a drug, and includes a structure body having a three-dimensional (3D) structure and cells cultured on the surface of the structure body three-dimensionally.

The invention provides a composition for forming a coating film having compatibility with a biological substance which comprises a block copolymer having unit structures represented by the formula (1) and the formula (2):

##STR00001##

(wherein R.sup.1 to R.sup.3, U.sup.1 and U.sup.2 each independently represent a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, X.sup.1 and X.sup.2 represent an alkylene group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and n1 represents an integer of 1 to 10), and a solvent. The invention also provides a coating film using the same, a substrate for cell culture using the same, a method for producing the substrate for cell culture, and a method for producing a cell aggregate.