Embodiments herein relate to cell encapsulation membranes, devices including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, a cell encapsulation membrane is included. The cell encapsulation membrane can include a mesh substrate. The mesh substrate can include a first series of fibers extending in a first direction and a second series of fibers extending in a second direction, the first series of fibers intersecting with the second series of fibers, the mesh substrate defining a plurality of apertures disposed between adjacent fibers of the first series and the second series. The cell encapsulation membrane can further include a coating disposed on the mesh substrate, the coating partially occluding the plurality of apertures defined by the mesh substrate and forming pores. Other embodiments are also included herein.

A method of treating a subject having a musculoskeletal disorder includes administering to a subject's articular site in need thereof an effective amount of a hyaluronic acid (HA) composition. In one embodiment, the HA composition includes an HA derivative, wherein carboxyl functionalities of the hyaluronic acid derivative are each independently derivatized to include an N-acylurea or O-acyl isourea, or both N-acylurea and O-acyl isourea. In another embodiment, the HA composition includes a crosslinked HA gel that is prepared by reacting an uncrosslinked HA with a biscarbodiimide in the presence of pH buffer in a range of between about 4 and about 8. The composite can optionally include at least one second bioactive agent other than the HA derivative, such as a steroid.

The invention provides a method for producing a cell aggregate containing a ciliary marginal zone-like structure by culturing a cell aggregate containing a retinal tissue in which Chx10 positive cells are present in a proportion of 20% or more of the tissue in a serum-free medium or serum-containing medium, each containing a substance acting on the Wnt signal pathway for only a period before the appearance of a RPE65 gene expressing cell, followed by culturing the “cell aggregate in which a RPE65 gene expressing cell does not appear” thus obtained in a serum-free medium or serum-containing medium, each not containing a substance acting on the Wnt signal pathway and so on.

It has been established that optimizing cell seeding onto tissue engineering vascular grafts (TEVG) is associated with reduced inflammatory responses and reduced post-operative stenosis of TEVG. Cell seeding increased TEVG patency in a dose dependent manner, and TEVG patency improved when more cells were seeded, however duration of incubation time showed minimal effect on TEVG patency. Methods of engineering patient specific TEVG including optimal numbers of cells to maintain graft patency and reduce post-operative stenosis are provided. Closed, single-use customizable systems for seeding TEVG are also provided. Preferably the systems are custom-designed based on morphology of the patient specific graft, to enhance the efficacy of cell seeding.

Provided is a transplantation device comprising a hydrogel in which insulin-secreting cells or pancreatic islets are enclosed, wherein the hydrogel is prepared by gelatinizing an alginic acid derivative by a chemical crosslinkage. Thus, a novel transplantation device is provided.

Disclosed is a method of constructing a cell sheet using only cells without a support. More particularly, a method of manufacturing a multi-layered cell sheet without a separate lamination step and a cell sheet manufactured by the method are disclosed.

The present invention relates to an injectable hydrogel composition having the recruitment of endogenous progenitors or stem cells and the induction of vascular differentiation of recruited cells, and more specifically to an injectable hydrogel composition having the recruitment of endogenous progenitors or stem cells and the induction of vascular differentiation of recruited cells, which consists of: a first solution including anionic hyaluronic acid into which a vascular differentiation inducing factor is introduced; and a second solution including a cationic material, wherein a stem cell recruitment factor is further included in the first solution and/or the second solution, and wherein a hydrogel is formed by electrostatic interaction.

In the hydrogel composition of the present invention, it was confirmed that the stem cell recruitment factor was released from the injected hydrogel, and endogenous progenitor cells/stem cells were recruited in the hydrogel, and the induction of angiogenesis was promoted by differentiating into vascular cells by the vascular differentiation inducing factor chemically introduced into hyaluronic acid. In particular, it was confirmed that when the vascular differentiation inducing factor was chemically introduced into hyaluronic acid, a high angiogenesis-inducing effect was observed. Therefore, the hydrogel composition of the present invention has excellent recruitment of endogenous progenitor cells/stem cells and induction of vascular differentiation, and thus, it can be effectively applied to various tissue regenerations and wound treatments in addition to the formation of blood vessels.

This document provides methods and materials for treating fistulas (e.g., refractory fistulas such as refractory anal fistulas). For example, methods and materials for implanting a synthetic scaffold (e.g., fistula plug) comprising randomly arranged fibers comprising polymers of PGA and TMC and seeded with mesenchymal stem cells (e.g., adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells) located in the spaces between the randomly arranged fibers into a fistula (e.g., refractory anal fistula) of a mammal (e.g., a human) are provided.

A method for promoting conversion of cells into cardiomyocytic tissue is carried out by contacting fibrotic tissue (e.g., scar tissue) with a microRNA oligonucleotide or combination of microRNA oligonucleotides. The methods lead to direct reprogramming of fibroblasts to cardiomyocytes or cardiomyoblasts.

Disclosed herein are methods and compositions for the cryopreservation of stem cells, such as stem-cell derived retinal pigment epithelial cells, that have been seeded onto and cultured on a substrate, such as a polymeric substrate. Such cryopreserved stem cells are useful for cell therapies, such as treatment of ocular damage or disease.