A biocompatible membrane composite that can provide an environment that is able to mitigate or tailor the foreign body response is provided. The membrane composite contains a mitigation layer and a vascularization layer. A reinforcing component may optionally be included to provide support to and prevent distortion of the biocompatible membrane composite in vivo. The mitigation layer may be bonded (e.g., point bonded or welded) or adhered (intimately or discretely) to an implantable device and/or cell system. The biocompatible membrane composite may be used as a surface layer for implantable devices or cell systems that require vascularization for function but need protection from the host's immune response, such as the formation of foreign body giant cells. The biocompatible membrane composite may partially or fully cover the exterior of an implantable device or cell system. The mitigation layer is positioned between the implantable device or bioactive scaffold and the vascularization layer.

An implantable medical device and methods for making and using the same are provided. In various embodiments, the device comprises a central hub structure in communication with at least one housing or pod capable of containing cells and therapeutic materials. Also provided are membrane structures and methods of forming the same, the membranes comprising a gradient of varying porosity for use with devices of the present disclosure, as well as other uses.

A model-based control scheme consisting of either a proportional-integral-derivative (IMC-PID) controller or a model predictive controller (MPC), with an insulin feedback (IFB) scheme personalized based on a priori subject characteristics and comprising a lower order control-relevant model to obtain PID or MPC controller for artificial pancreas (AP) applications.

A bioartificial device, such as a bioartificial pancreas, for implantation in a patient's vascular system. The bioartificial pancreas includes a scaffold adapted to engage an interior wall of a blood vessel, a cellular complex support by the scaffold and extending longitudinally within the interior cavity of the scaffold so as to be exposed to the blood flow when the scaffold is engaged with the blood vessel, the cellular complex support comprising one or more pockets bordered by thin film; and cellular complex comprising pancreatic islets disposed in the one or more pockets, the thin film being adapted to permit oxygen and glucose to diffuse from flowing blood into the one or more pockets at a rate sufficient to support the viability of the islets. The invention also includes methods of making and using a bioartificial pancreas.

Methods of printing a bio-ink on a substrate are provided comprising at least one bio ink layer, said method comprising: i) positioning a printhead comprising a two-dimensional array of print nozzles within proximity of or in contact with a substrate; and ii) ejecting a bio-ink through the print nozzles onto the substrate, forming a bio ink layer, wherein the bio-ink construct comprises at least one bio-ink layer. The methods further encompass methods of printing a live tissue and methods of treating tissue defects.

The present disclosure is directed to a degradable 3D-printable scaffold for use in tissue engineering, which scaffold has a combined gradient and staggered structure. Further provided is a medical device for use in tissue engineering, comprising such a scaffold. The present disclosure also provides a method for preparing a scaffold by additive manufacturing, e.g. 3D-printing, a method for in vivo tissue engineering, use of the scaffold in an in vitro cell culture system, in an in vitro method for culturing of cells and/or in an in vitro method for regenerating tissue. Also provided is a scaffold and a medical device for use in a method for in vivo tissue engineering. Further disclosed is a novel degradable copolymer of ε-caprolactone and p-dioxanone, which can be printed without degradation and which is particularly suitable for use as scaffold material in the scaffold and method according to the present disclosure.

Disclosed herein are devices for encapsulating biological cells and are suitable to be implanted into a subject. In different aspects of the disclosure, the devices may comprise a plurality of polymer layers. In one aspect, a device comprises a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer. In some cases, the first polymer layer may be a nanoporous polymer layer. In some cases, the second polymer layer may be a macroporous polymer layer. The first and second polymer layers may define a lumen for enclosing a population of cells. The devices may be used to transplant cells producing therapeutic agents into a subject (e.g., for the treatment of a disease).

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel method for producing a biological tissue-like structure comprising differentiated cells induced from pluripotent stem cells, and the present invention provides a method of forming a biological tissue-like structure together with host-derived blood vessels and connective tissue by transplanting a composition in which cells derived from pluripotent stem cells are disposed to be dispersed in a biocompatible material to induce the differentiation of the cells.

This application relates to a method of making a cell construct, comprising a) plating a plurality of cells on a substantially flat surface; b) growing the plurality of cells to at least 80% confluent to form a cell sheet with intercellular linkages; c) applying a culture medium having a pH of about 5 to about 6.8 to the cell sheet; d) replacing the culture medium of step c) with a culture medium having a pH of about 7.5 to about 8.5; and e) replacing the culture medium of step d) with a culture medium having a pH of about 7 to about 7.7, to obtain a substantially planar untethered cell sheet. Also provided is a cell construct formed according to the method and uses thereof.

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