The present invention provides methods of predicting cell sensitivity or resistance to a therapeutic agent.

Compositions, devices and methods are described for improving adhesion, attachment, and/or differentiation of cells in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, one or more ECM proteins are covalently coupled to the surface of a microchannel of a microfluidic device. The microfluidic devices can be stored or used immediately for culture and/or support of living cells such as mammalian cells, and/or for simulating a function of a tissue, e.g., a liver tissue, muscle tissue, etc. Extended adhesion and viability with sustained function over time is observed.

The invention relates to the use of disconnection agents before, or together with, toxic agents for the treatment of solid tumours.

A screening system provided with a potential-dependent Na ion channel that extends the duration of the action potential associated with depolarization, and a K ion channel that deepens the resting membrane potential in the negative direction, said screening system furthermore including cells provided with ion channels that contribute to deepening the resting membrane potential in the negative direction and/or shortening the duration of the action potential as target ion channels. By such cells, the action of a test compound on the target ion channel can be easily evaluated by providing an inhibitor for the K ion channel to control the probability of cell death.

The present disclosure provides compositions, methods, systems, and devices for polynucleotide processing and analyte characterization from a single cell. Such polynucleotide processing may be useful for a variety of applications. The compositions, methods, systems, and devices disclosed herein generally describe barcoded oligonucleotides, which can be bound to a bead, such as a gel bead, useful for characterizing one or more analytes.

Compositions, devices and methods are described for improving adhesion, attachment, and/or differentiation of cells in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, one or more ECM proteins are covalently coupled to the surface of a microchannel of a microfluidic device. The microfluidic devices can be stored or used immediately for culture and/or support of living cells such as mammalian cells, and/or for simulating a function of a tissue, e.g., a liver tissue, muscle tissue, etc. Extended adhesion and viability with sustained function over time is observed.

Compositions, devices and methods are described for improving adhesion, attachment, and/or differentiation of cells in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, one or more ECM proteins are covalently coupled to the surface of a microchannel of a microfluidic device. The microfluidic devices can be stored or used immediately for culture and/or support of living cells such as mammalian cells, and/or for simulating a function of a tissue, e.g., a liver tissue, muscle tissue, etc. Extended adhesion and viability with sustained function over time is observed.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides are provided. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides include peptide sequences corresponding to the sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 fusion complex heptad repeat domain HR2 and having at least one artificial mutation. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides may be 39-mers, such as peptides #121 (SEQ ID NO: 2) and #125 (SEQ ID NO: 5). These peptides may competitively bind to SARS-CoV-2 and prevent either membrane mediated SARS-CoV-2 fusion, endocytosis-mediated viral entry, or both. The anti-SARS-CoV-2 fusion peptides may be administered to a subject in need thereof to inhibit or prevent SARS-CoV-2 cellular entry.

A cell evaluation method evaluates the quality of a cell population including a plurality of cells. The cell evaluation method comprises: an index calculation step of calculating an index, based on a captured image of the cell population, the index including at least any one of an average distance representing a packing degree of the cells, a spring constant representing a degree of consistency in distances between the cells, and a hexagonal order parameter representing a degree to which an arrangement of the cells resembles a regular hexagon; and an evaluation step of evaluating the cell population, based on the index calculated in the index calculation step.

This invention provides methods for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease in a symptomatic human subject, and for determining whether a human subject is predisposed to becoming afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. These methods employ the steps of (a) culturing a subject's lymphocytes with a suitable basement membrane matrix to permit the lymphocytes to aggregate; (b) measuring the resulting lymphocyte aggregation; and (c) based on such measurement, either diagnosing Alzheimer's disease or determining a predisposition to it, as appropriate.