This disclosure relates to methods for expanding inner ear supporting cells (e.g., Lgr5+ inner ear supporting cells) and differentiating inner ear supporting cells (e.g., Lgr5+ inner ear supporting cells) to inner ear hair cells (e.g., atonal homolog 1 (Atoh1)+ inner ear hair cells) and the use of the inner hear supporting cells and hair cells, e.g., for identifying candidate therapeutic compounds for the treatment of hearing loss and balance loss. Additionally, the methods described herein can be used in the treatment of a subject having hearing loss and balance loss that would benefit from increased proliferation and differentiation of inner ear supporting cells (e.g., Lgr5+ inner ear supporting cells).

The present invention is directed to purified preparations of dermal mesenchymal stem cells that are characterized by the cell surface expression of the ABCB5 P-glycoprotein. The cells may be used for any purpose that mesenchymal stem cells from other course are used. For instance they may be administered to treat an organ transplant recipient to improve allograft survival or as a treatment to patients with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Provided subject matter relates to tissue engineering. More specifically provided are kits, devices and methods for in situ repair and regeneration of guided and functional growth of cells and cell components by providing into the injury site biomaterial solution including the cell(s), magnetic particles and solidifying the biomaterial while applying the magnetic field.

[Problem] To provide a supporting bath useful for three-dimensional tissue culture and a method for producing cultured three-dimensional tissue by using the supporting bath. [Solution] Use of a supporting bath for three-dimensional tissue culture, that comprises polymer and water, wherein a thixotropic gel is formed in the bath with the gel being dissolvable in solvent. Also, use of a method for producing the supporting bath.

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to methods and systems for converting stem cells into specific tissue(s) or cells through directed differentiation. In particular, the invention disclosed herein relates to methods and systems for promoting functional basal-like cells from pluripotent stem cell-derived lung bud tip progenitor organoid tissue through activation of SMAD signaling via activation of TGFβ1 (and/or the TGFβ signaling pathway) and BMP4 (and/or the BMP signaling pathway).

A bottom surface of a container (1) formed of a flexible material is partially raised to be partitioned it into plural compartments (10), and cells are cultured in each compartment (10). In due time, the compartments (10) are removed to expand a culture area in the container. As a result, the cell density at the time of culture can be maintained at an appropriate level, and an operation of transferring cells from one culture container to another culture container at the time of proliferating cells in a large amount can be eliminated, whereby damage on cells and risk of contamination can be reduced.

An application of a transgenic stem cell-derived exosome in preparing a medicament or whitening cosmetic is provided. In the present disclosure, miR-27b-3p is transfected into an epidermal stem cell, and a transgenic stem cell-derived exosome is harvested. It is experimentally verified that the exosome can inhibit the expression of PIK3R3 protein in melanocytes and the proliferation and migration of melanocytes; and safety experiments further demonstrate the safety of the exosome. Therefore, corresponding medicaments or cosmetics prepared from the exosome have excellent medicinal and cosmetic application prospects.

Provided herein are constructs of micro-aggregate multicellular, minimally polarized grafts containing Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled Receptor (LGR) expressing cells for wound therapy applications, tissue engineering, cell therapy applications, regenerative medicine applications, medical/therapeutic applications, tissue healing applications, immune therapy applications, and tissue transplant therapy applications which preferably are associated with a delivery vector/substrate/support/scaffold for direct application.

Sub-millimeter scale three-dimensional (3D) structures are disclosed with customizable chemical properties and/or functionality. The 3D structures are referred to as drop-carrier particles. The drop-carrier particles allow the selective association of one solution (i.e., a dispersed phased) with an interior portion of each of the drop-carrier particles, while a second non-miscible solution (i.e., a continuous phase) associates with an exterior portion of each of the drop-carrier particles due to the specific chemical and/or physical properties of the interior and exterior regions of the drop-carrier particles. The combined drop-carrier particle with the dispersed phase contained therein is referred to as a particle-drop. The selective association results in compartmentalization of the dispersed phase solution into sub-microliter-sized volumes contained in the drop-carrier particles. The compartmentalized volumes can be used for single-molecule assays as well as single-cell, and other single-entity assays.

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a serum-free medium suitable for culturing of DS cells. The present invention relates to a serum-free medium for culturing of DS cells containing platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), or to a method for culturing of dermal sheath (DS) cells, using serum-free medium comprising PDGF.