A factor that is caused by a nucleic acid and influences the kinetics of an extracellular vesicle is screened. A library of barcoded extracellular vesicles is provided.

The invention provides methods of preparing a sample of viable diseased cells obtained from a human subject for clinical testing, wherein the methods inhibit anoikis and/or anoikis in the cells while maintaining the physiological functions and genomic composition of the cells when they were in vivo. In the methods of the invention, primary cells are cultured in media comprising at least one anoikis inhibitor, preferably at least one inhibitor of an intrinsic anoikis pathway and at least one inhibitor of an extrinsic anoikis pathway, under anti-anoikis atmospheric conditions, such as greater than 2% and less than 20% oxygen. Method combining multiple culturing conditions, including surface attachment under conditions that inhibit anoikis, are also provided. Compositions and kits for use in the methods of the invention are also provided.

A method of expanding natural killer cells, comprising: providing a population of internally gelated cells, each of which includes a gelated interior and a fluid cell membrane that contains one or more membrane-bound proteins each or collectively are capable of stimulating expansion of natural killer (NK) cells; and culturing a population of cells containing NK cells, which are capable of responding to the one or more membrane-bound proteins, with the population of internally gelated cells under conditions that allow expansion of NK cells.

Provided are a culture medium and cultivation method of rapidly expanding primary cells of esophageal squamous carcinoma in vitro, and the use thereof in screening drugs. The culture medium comprises an initial culture medium selected from DMEM/F12, DMEM, F12, or RPMI-1640, a Rho protease inhibitor, an antibiotic, insulin, an N2 additive, insulin-like growth factor 1, a non-essential amino acid, and optionally, hydrocortisone, optionally, glutamine, and optionally, bovine pituitary extract.

A bioactive suspension derived from freshly disaggregated tissue is provided, as well as related methods of formulation and use. The bioactive suspension may comprise a cell-free supernate derived from epidermal and dermal tissue that has been enzymatically and mechanically disaggregated, then separated, and which may contain tissue regeneration factors known to speed healing. The bioactive suspension may further comprise genetically-modified treatment cells, wild type cells, or both, and may be combined with one or more scaffolding elements to form a bioactive suspension combination product suitable for treatment of a cutaneous defect. Synthetic bioactive suspensions and bioactive suspension combination products are also provided.

The invention relates to a method for the formation of renal tubules by embedding individual renal cells into a synthetic hydrogel, which is based on polyethylene glycol as a component, and the culturing of the cells until tubule structures are formed. The culturing can be continued until the obtained tubule structures correspond in terms of size, structure, morphology and functionality to adult human renal tubules or are at least similar thereto.

This document provides methods and materials for performing retinal pigment epithelium transplantation. For example, methods and materials for using fibrin supports for retinal pigment epithelium transplantation are provided.

Provided is a method by which cells deviated from the undifferentiated state, which emerge in a colony during culture of stem cells having pluripotency, can be removed. In one aspect, provided is a method for culturing stem cells having pluripotency, the method including performing cell culture in the presence of a substance that can inhibit cell-cell adhesion. In another aspect, provided is a method for removing cells deviated from the undifferentiated state, the cells being cells that have emerged or may possibly emerge during culture of stem cells having pluripotency, the method including performing cell culture in the presence of a substance that can inhibit cell-cell adhesion. In still another aspect, provided is a method for maintaining the undifferentiated state of stem cells having pluripotency, the method including performing cell culture in the presence of a substance that can inhibit cell-cell adhesion.

Objects of the present invention are to provide a method for directly obtaining pluripotent stem cells which do not have tumorigenic property from body tissue and the thus obtained pluripotent stem cells. The present invention relates to SSEA-3 (+) pluripotent stem cells that can be isolated from body tissue.

To provide a method for serum-free culture of human cartilage cells and a serum-free culture medium. A method for serum-free culture of cartilage cells, said method comprising: an enzymatic treatment step for treating a human cartilage cell-containing tissue with a protease; an inhibitor-treatment step for, after the enzymatic treatment step, treating the tissue with an inhibitor for the aforesaid protease; and a culture step for, after the inhibitor-treatment step, culturing the tissue in a serum-free culture medium that contains kartogenin and/or SAG, ITS, FGF2 and hydrocortisone. A serum-free culture medium for culturing cartilage cells, said serum-free culture medium containing kartogenin and/or SAG, ITS, FGF2 and hydrocortisone.