The present disclosure provides a method of performing a functional assay on human spheroids, e.g., three-dimensional human cell spheroids using, in one embodiment, a fluorometric imaging plate reader.

The invention provides a cell-containing vessel comprising a plurality of neural cell-containing spheroids for which the variation calculated using the calculation method described below is less than 20%, wherein the neural cell-containing spheroids contain a plurality of types of cells including neural cells,

(Calculation Method)

Calcium transient assays are conducted for each of a plurality of neural cell-containing spheroids, a number of spontaneous oscillations in a 10-minute period is measured, an average and standard deviation for the number of spontaneous oscillations are calculated, and a variation is calculated using formula (1) below:

Variation (%)=standard deviation for number of spontaneous oscillations/average number of spontaneous oscillations×100  (1).

Provided herein are methods and systems for bio-printing of three-dimensional organs and organoids. Also provided herein are bio-printed three-dimensional organs and organoids for use in the generation and/or the assessment of immunological products and/or immune responses. Also provided herein are methods and system for bio-printing three-dimensional matrices.

The present invention provides means for producing an organoid close to an organ in a living body and capable of secretion of a plasma protein and immune response. A matrix composition of the present invention provided as such means includes: (1) a first matrix containing one or more cells selected from the group consisting of vascular cells, nerve cells, and blood cells; and (2) a second matrix containing to cells constituting an organ and/or an organoid, in which the first matrix envelops the second matrix, and the first matrix has at least one opening.

The present invention is drawn to the generation of micropatterns of biomolecules and cells on standard laboratory materials through selective ablation of a physisorbed biomolecule with oxygen plasma. In certain embodiments, oxygen plasma is able to ablate selectively physisorbed layers of biomolecules (e.g., type-I collagen, fibronectin, laminin, and Matrigel) along complex non-linear paths which are difficult or impossible to pattern using alternative methods. In addition, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to the micropatterning of multiple cell types on curved surfaces, multiwell plates, and flat bottom flasks. The invention also features kits for use with the subject methods.

A system and method for printing cells in a medium. A multi-dimensional printer, stably constructed of low-mass parts, can include a computer numerically controlled system that can enable motors driving delivery systems. The motors can include encoders that can enable achieving arbitrary resolution. The motors can drive ballscrews to enable linear motion of delivery systems, and the delivery systems can enable printing of a biological material in a pre-selected pattern in a petri dish. The petri dish can accommodate a medium such as a gel, and can further accommodate a vision system that can detect actual position and deflection of the delivery system needle. The printer can accommodate multiple delivery systems and therefore multiple needles of various sizes.

A microfluidic cell culture system is provided. The system includes a dual circulation arrangement for providing the cell culture with culture medium (and, optionally, selected compounds for study). The dual circulation arrangement permits culture conditions to be readily modified for different phases of cell culture. In particular, a first circulation route can be used to circulate a relatively high volume of medium, thereby allowing a low cell number to medium volume ratio, and a second circulation route can be used to circulate a relatively low volume of medium, thereby allowing a high cell number to medium volume ratio. The first circulation is optimised for a pre-culture period, before test compounds are added, and the second circulation is optimised for the test phase, providing a high cell number to medium ratio while preserving function during the test period.

The invention relates to differentiation methods for progenitor cells, e.g. mammalian epithelial stem cells, differentiation media for use in said methods, organoids and cells obtainable by said methods and uses, including therapeutic uses, thereof.

The present application pertains to a sialyloligosaccharide for augmenting the stemness of stem cells and a use thereof and provides a composition for augmenting stemness of stem cells, a method of culturing stem cells in a medium containing a sialyloligosaccharide, a method of augmenting stemness of stem cells, a stem cell with augmented stemness, obtained by the method, and a cell therapy composition including the stem cells as an active ingredient. The composition or the method according to one or more embodiments may suppress the aging of stem cells and may maintain and augment stemness.

The present invention provides a hydrogel capsule comprising a cell, a protein, and a cross-linking agent; wherein the cell is within a first core layer comprising the protein; and wherein the first core layer is surrounded by a second layer comprising the protein and the cross-linking agent. The invention further provides the hydrogel capsule for use in therapy, prognosis and diagnosis, a method for culturing cells, a method for differentiating cells, and method for producing the hydrogel capsule. The hydrogel capsules of the invention are particularly useful for encapsulating pancreatic islets