Collagen compositions, methods for preparing those collagen compositions, and 3D constructs formed from those collagen compositions are provided. In particular, methods of isolating collagen that exhibits an enhanced rate of gelling, such collagen compositions, and 3D constructs formed from such collagen compositions are provided.

Methods are disclosed for fabricating a three-dimensional engineered blood retinal barrier (BRB) comprising a choroid and retinal pigment epithelial cells. The methods include the use of bioprinting. Also disclosed is a three-dimensional engineered BRB, and its use. Methods are also disclosed for using the three-dimensional engineered BRB, such as for the treatment of retinal degeneration in a subject or screening. A three-dimensional printing insert that is adapted for bioprinting on a culture substrate sheet that is securely retained within and exposed through a printing frame is also disclosed.

The invention relates to three-dimensional tissue units which are hollow and which comprise, when organized about an internal opening, at least one layer of living human retinal pigment epithelium cells which are differentiated, the basal face of each cell pointing outwards and the apical face pointing towards the internal opening. The invention also relates to these tissue units for use in the treatment of retinopathies, and to a method for preparing these tissue units and an implantation kit.

Compositions and methods of transplanting cells by grafting strategies into solid organs (especially internal organs) are provided. These methods and compositions can be used to repair diseased organs or to establish models of disease states in experimental hosts. The method involves attachment onto the surface of a tissue or organ, a patch graft, a “bandaid-like” covering, containing epithelial cells with supporting early lineage stage mesenchymal cells. The cells are incorporated into soft gel-forming biomaterials prepared under serum-free, defined conditions comprised of nutrients, lipids, vitamins, and regulatory signals that collectively support stemness of the donor cells. The graft is covered with a biodegradable, biocompatible, bioresorbable backing used to affix the graft to the target site. The cells in the graft migrate into and throughout the tissue such that within a couple of weeks they are uniformly dispersed within the recipient (host) tissue. The mechanisms by which engraftment and integration of donor cells into the organ or tissue involve multiple membrane-associated and secreted forms of MMPs.

Provided herein are constructs of micro-aggregate multicellular, minimally polarized grafts containing Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled Receptor (LGR) expressing cells for wound therapy applications, tissue engineering, cell therapy applications, regenerative medicine applications, medical/therapeutic applications, tissue healing applications, immune therapy applications, and tissue transplant therapy applications which preferably are associated with a delivery vector/substrate/support/scaffold for direct application.

Compositions and methods of transplanting cells by grafting strategies into solid organs (especially internal organs) are provided. These methods and compositions can be used to repair diseased organs or to establish models of disease states in experimental hosts. The method involves attachment onto the surface of a tissue or organ, a patch graft, a “bandaid-like” covering, containing epithelial cells with supporting early lineage stage mesenchymal cells. The cells are incorporated into soft gel-forming biomaterials prepared under serum-free, defined conditions comprised of nutrients, lipids, vitamins, and regulatory signals that collectively support stemness of the donor cells. The graft is covered with a biodegradable, biocompatible, bioresorbable backing used to affix the graft to the target site. The cells in the graft migrate into and throughout the tissue such that within a couple of weeks they are uniformly dispersed within the recipient (host) tissue. The mechanisms by which engraftment and integration of donor cells into the organ or tissue involve multiple membrane-associated and secreted forms of MMPs.

The present invention relates to a bellows framework having a concave-convex structure on at least one of outer and inner sides using three-dimensional printing technology and a method of producing thereof, and an artificial tracheal replacement comprising an epithelium part formed on the inner side of the bellows framework and an annular cartilage part formed along the circumference of concave-convex grooves on the outer side and a method of producing thereof.

Provided is a composite comprising a neural retina, a retinal pigment epithelial cell sheet, and a hydrogel.

Disclosed herein are compounds effective for activation of Tie-2 and inhibition of HPTPβ. Further disclosed are formulations to increase the efficacy of the compounds that activate Tie-2 and inhibit HPTPβ.

The subject invention is directed to a mixed cell composition to generate a therapeutic protein at a target site by providing a first population of mammalian cells transfected or transduced with a gene that is sought to be expressed, and a second population of mammalian cells that have not been transfected or transduced with the gene, wherein endogenously existing forms of the second population of mammalian cells are decreased at the target site, and wherein generation of the therapeutic protein by the first population of mammalian cells at the target site stimulates the second population cells to induce a therapeutic effect.