A method for damaged viable disc regeneration has the steps of identifying the damaged viable disc and inserting a cannula via Kambin's Triangle to an edge of an outer annulus of the disc; introducing a trocar into the cannula and penetrating the trocar into a central region of nucleus pulposus; removing a tissue biopsy sample from the nucleus pulposus for pathology and removing additional degenerative tissue from the central region to create a void or space; withdrawing the trocar from the cannula and inserting a needle into the cannula to the void or space; and injecting a regenerative disc material through the needle into the void or space to repair the damaged disc.

According to the present invention, there are provided a chamber for transplantation, including a membrane for immunoisolation including a porous membrane at at least part of a boundary between an inside and an outside of the chamber for transplantation, in which the porous membrane contains a polymer and has a layered compact portion where a pore diameter is the smallest within the membrane, a pore diameter continuously increases in a thickness direction from the compact portion toward both one surface A and the other surface B of the porous membrane, a porosity in a vicinity of the surface A is 65% or more, an average pore diameter of the surface A is larger than an average pore diameter of the surface B, and the surface B is disposed on the inside of the chamber for transplantation; and a device for transplantation including the chamber for transplantation enclosing a biological constituent therein. In the chamber for transplantation of the present invention, angiogenesis in a recipient is induced and a deterioration in substance permeability is unlikely to occur.

Compositions of exosomes are provided that include a plurality of exosomes and a biocompatible cryoprotectant, such that the exosomes are suspended in the biocompatible cryoprotectant as a colloidal suspension of exosomes. Preferably, the cryoprotectant is a carboxylated E-poly-l-lysine (COOH-PLL) cryoprotectant, but other moieties might be extended to the claim of hybridization polymers to incorporate preferred embodiments for lineage and tissue specific intentions. The colloidal suspension of exosomes can be frozen at −65 degrees C. or colder and thereafter stored as a frozen composition of exosomes or can be freeze-dried and thereafter stored at ambient conditions in a vacuum sealed container. Also provided are kits comprising the composition of exosomes and methods of making the compositions of exosomes.

Compounds, compositions and methods for improving the viability and/or function of cells or for the in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo protection of cells, tissue, graft or organs from various damages are described. The reagents and composition are based on activation of the heat shock response and/or the antioxidant response and include for example, HSP90 co-factor inhibitor such as Celastrol or Celastrol analogs used alone or in combination with an adjunct agent (e.g., a NRF-2 activator, antioxidant, etc.). Therapeutic enhancement may also include increase in paracrine effector production and signaling. Methods for improving the resistance of cells, tissue, grafts or organs to damages or stress, such as hypoxic or oxidative stress-induced cell death, and/or for improving the viability and retention of transplanted or transfused cells are also described. Therapeutic treatment or prevention of ischemic injury (e.g. myocardial infarct, ischemia/reperfusion injury) and related stressors (hypoxia, oxidative stress, inflammation, sepsis/shock, etc) are also provided.

This disclosure relates to ice nucleation formulations for cryopreservation and stabilization of biologics, and methods of use thereof.

Systems and methods are disclosed relating to extracorporeal fetal care. A fetal chamber assembly configured to enclose and support a fetus therein includes a base configured to receive the fetus therein; a lid configured to removably contact the base to form a liquid-tight seal between the lid and the base; a growth chamber defined between the base and the lid, the growth chamber being configured to receive the fetus therein; and a cannulation chamber in fluid communication with the growth chamber, the cannulation chamber being configured to receive therein a cannulated umbilical cord of the fetus. The growth chamber is configured to be adjusted in size to accommodate the fetus during gestation based on the size of the fetus, and the fetal chamber assembly is configured to receive a liquid from a liquid source.

A kit, including: a first solution, a second solution, and a metal mesh. The first solution includes: dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM), 65-95 V/V %; dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), 5.5-20 V/V %; ethylene glycol (EG), 3.5-15 V/V %; bovine serum albumin (BSA), 0.5-4 W/V %; sucrose 1-5 W/V %; methylcellulose with a viscosity of 4000 centipoise (cP), 0.05-0.8 W/V %; hetastarch 0.25-0.6 W/V %; and glucose 15-35 W/V %. The second solution includes: DMEM, 65-95 V/V %; DMSO, 5.5-20 V/V %; EG, 8-20 V/V %; BSA, 0.5-4 W/V %; sucrose, 10-20 W/V %; methylcellulose with a viscosity of 4000 centipoise (cP), 0.05-0.8 W/V %; polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), 0.25-0.6 W/V %; and glucose 15-35 W/V %. The metal mesh has a thickness of 0.15-0.2 mm and includes a plurality of square holes. The side length of the square holes is 2.0-3.0 mm, and the spacing between adjacent holes is 0.5-2.0 mm.

Compounds, compositions and methods for improving the viability and/or function of cells or for the in vitro, ex vivo or in vivo protection of cells, tissue, graft or organs from various damages are described. The reagents and composition are based on activation of the heat shock response and/or the antioxidant response and include for example, HSP90 co-factor inhibitor such as Celastrol or Celastrol analogs used alone or in combination with an adjunct agent (e.g., a NRF-2 activator, antioxidant, etc.). Therapeutic enhancement may also include increase in paracrine effector production and signaling. Methods for improving the resistance of cells, tissue, grafts or organs to damages or stress, such as hypoxic or oxidative stress-induced cell death, and/or for improving the viability and retention of transplanted or transfused cells are also described. Therapeutic treatment or prevention of ischemic injury (e.g. myocardial infarct, ischemia/reperfusion injury) and related stressors (hypoxia, oxidative stress, inflammation, sepsis/shock, etc) are also provided.

The present disclosure provides a method for producing a frozen body of a three-dimensional tissue aggregate of retinal pigment epithelial cells, the method including a step of preparing the three-dimensional tissue aggregate of the retinal pigment epithelial cells, and a step of subjecting the three-dimensional tissue aggregate of the retinal pigment epithelial cells to a freezing treatment at a predetermined freezing temperature set in advance using, as an index, the occurrence rate of a linear aggregate of dead cells in the three-dimensional tissue aggregate of the retinal pigment epithelial cells after thawing, thus obtaining the frozen body.

The present disclosure provides a method for freeze-drying cells in a hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose, the method comprising providing a hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose, providing cells, combining the cells and the hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose to form a cell system, and freeze drying the cell system to obtain dried cells in a hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose. The present disclosure also provides a freeze-dried hydrogel comprising nanofibrillar cellulose and cells.