This disclosure provides modified natural killer (NK) cells possessing both NK cell function and dendritic cell function and method of culturing the same. By administration of the modified NK cell, cancer cells in a subject may be effectively inhibited via cell-mediated immunity.

Subpopulations of spore-like cells expressing specific cell surface and gene expression markers are provided. In one embodiment, the cells express at least one cell surface or gene expression marker selected from the group consisting of Oct4, nanog, Zfp296, cripto, Gdf3, UtF1, Ecat1, Esg1, Sox2, Pax6, nestin, SCA-1, CD29, CD34, CD90, B1 integrin, cKit, SP-C, CC10, SF1, DAX1, and SCG10. Also provided are methods for purifying a subpopulation of spore-like cells of interest from a population of spore-like cells, and methods for inducing differentiation of the isolated spore-like cells into cells of endodermal, mesodermal or ectodermal origin. The spore-like cells can be used to generate cells originating from all three germ layers and can be used to treat a patient who has a deficiency of functional cells in any of a wide variety of tissues, including the retina, intestine, bladder, kidney, liver, lung, nervous system, or endocrine system.

Provided are methods for isolating potent extracellular vesicle or exosome populations from mesenchymal stromal cells, and the use of the isolated extracellular vesicles or exosomes in treating vasculopathy, including pulmonary hypertension, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and disease and conditions associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.

A peptide which can be utilized as an active ingredient of a composition for use in stimulation of migration of PDGFRα-positive cells, a composition for use in recruitment of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow to peripheral blood, a composition for use in regeneration of tissues, or a composition for use in stimulation of migration of bone marrow-derived stromal cells is provided.

A system for forming a scaffold-free 3D tissue construct includes a three dimensional (3D) printer; a self-healing, shear thinning, crosslinkable, biocompatible hydrogel support medium; and a first bioink that includes a plurality of cells. The first bioink is capable of being printed with the 3D printer into the hydrogel support medium in a defined shape.

The present disclosure relates to a microfluidic devices and methods for culturing bone marrow cells. Aspects include methods of preparing microfluidic devices and culturing bone marrow cells with the microfluidic devices. In some aspects, a method includes providing a microfluidic device having an upper chamber, a lower chamber, and a porous membrane separating the upper chamber from the lower chamber. The method further includes seeding walls of the lower chamber and a bottom surface of the membrane with endothelial cells. The method further includes providing a matrix within the upper chamber. The matrix includes fibrin gel and bone marrow cells. The method further includes filling or perfusing the upper chamber with a media.

A method includes: obtaining relevant information of the bone marrow smear; generating a global image; generating a to-be-digitized region, an amount of nucleated cells to be collected, and an amount of megakaryocytes to be classified; digitally labeling the bone marrow smear; scanning the to-be-digitized region by low magnification, labeling and identifying a target observation object; generating a switched image of the scanned region; scanning megakaryocytes by low magnification, and labeling and identifying the scanned megakaryocytes, the amount of the scanned megakaryocytes being the same as the amount of megakaryocytes to be classified; generating images of the scanned megakaryocytes; scanning nucleated cells by oil mirror scanning, and labeling and identifying the scanned nucleated cells, the amount of the scanned nucleated cells being the same as the amount of nucleated cells to be collected; generating images of the scanned nucleated cells; and generating a digital smear of the bone marrow smear.

A bone cutting assembly includes a manually actuated upper cutting element that carries a plurality of cutting blades configured to cut through frozen bone segments. A lower cutting element supports a bone segment to be cut and can include cutting blades aligned with the cutting blades of the upper cutting assembly. A pivoting linkage or a rack and pinion arrangement can be provided between the upper cutting element and a manually operated handle to provide sufficient mechanical advantage or leverage to allow an operator to manually cut through the bone.

Hybrid hydrogels comprised of decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) and biocompatible conductive nanomaterials are disclosed. The hybrid hydrogels provide a more instructive microenvironment for proper cell and tissue development. The mechanical and electrical properties of the hydrogels can be tuned. The hydrogels can be used in bioinks for printing tissues in a high-throughput manner, and engineered tissues generated using the hybrid hydrogels can be utilized to assess biological activity of drug candidates.

The present invention examines the interaction between an angiopoietin-1 mimetic peptide, QHREDGS (glutamine-histidine-arginine-glutamic acid-aspartic acid-glycine-serine (SEQ ID NO: 1)) immobilized to a collagen-chitosan hydrogel, and murine bone marrow derived macrophages. When macrophages were cultured in the presence of the peptide conjugated to a hydrogel, both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines were produced, in contrast to the application of soluble peptide which elicited minimal cytokine secretion. This indicates a unique macrophage polarization with covalently immobilized peptide hydrogels, which can be beneficial in the context of the wound microenvironment.