A spherical particle comprising decellularized omentum being between 1 nM-300 μM in diameter is disclosed. In some embodiments, the particle comprises biological cells. In other embodiments, the particle comprises a biomolecule. Uses of the particles are also disclosed.

A nerve conduit loaded with adipose-derived stem cells and a preparation method thereof are provided. The preparation method includes: S1, adding polycaprolactone and polyvinylpyrrolidone into a binary organic solvent, performing ultrasonic treatment, and then adding reduced graphene oxide nanoparticles to obtain a spinning solution; S2, electrospinning with the spinning solution and then washing for several times to obtain a semi-finished conduit product; and S3, injecting a cell mixture into the semi-finished conduit product to obtain the nerve conduit. A fiber surface of the nerve conduit has groove structures, and thus a specific surface area and cell adhesion sites are increased, and adhesion and proliferation of cells are facilitated. By loading the adipose-derived stem cells, neurotrophic phenotypic effect of peripheral nerve scaffold is improved, and can effectively avoid immunological rejection of transplantation, promote orientational growth of axons into the nerve conduit and promote myelination effect of Schwann cells.

The present application provides methods of functionalizing an organ or tissue of a mammal by administering a nutrient (e.g., peracetylated N-azido galactosamine Ac4GalNAz) to the mammal or by culturing an organ or tissue in a bioreactor containing such nutrient. The present application also provides methods of selectively functionalizing extracellular matrix (ECM) of an organ or tissue of a mammal by administering a nutrient (e.g., peracetylated N-azido galactosamine Ac4GalNAz) to the mammal. In some aspects, the present application provides a decellularized scaffold of a mammalian organ or tissue comprising an extracellular matrix, wherein the extracellular matrix of the decellularized scaffold is functionalized with a chemical group that is reactive in a bioorthogonal chemical reaction, such as an azide chemical group. The present application also provides biological prosthetic mesh and mammalian organs and tissues for transplantation prepared according to the methods of the application.

The invention provides a method for producing a ciliary marginal zone stem cell induced to differentiate from a pluripotent stem cell, including either the following step (1) or step (2), or both of these steps: (1) a step of floating culturing cells obtained from a cell aggregate containing a ciliary marginal zone-like structure induced to differentiate from pluripotent stem cells, thereby obtaining a retinosphere; and (2) a step of collecting stage specific embryonic antigen-1 positive cells from cells obtained from a cell aggregate containing a ciliary marginal zone-like structure induced to differentiate from pluripotent stem cells.

A method is disclosed for coating and patterning hydrogels in order to modify surface properties. The method exploits the water content of the hydrogel and the hydrophobicity of the reaction solvent to create a thin oxide adhesion layer on the hydrogel surface. This oxide adhesion layer enables rapid transformation of the hydrophilic, cell non-adhesive hydrogel into either a highly hydrophobic or a cell-adhesive hydrogel by reaction with an alkylphosphonic acid or an α,ω-diphosphonoalkane, respectively. Also disclosed are coated, patterned hydrogels and constructs comprising the coated, patterned hydrogels.

A nerve regeneration system includes a nerve guide having a proximal end and a distal end. The system includes nerve growth factor configured to enhance the growth of axons and associated nerve tissue. The nerve growth factor has a first concentration nearer to a proximal end and a second growth factor concentration nearer to a distal end. The second growth factor concentration is higher than the first growth factor concentration. The system includes myelination factor configured to enhance myelination of the grown axons. The myelination factor has a first myelination factor concentration nearer to the proximal end, a third myelination factor concentration nearer to the distal end, and a second myelination factor concentration between the first myelination factor concentration and the third myelination factor concentration. The second myelination factor concentration is higher than the first myelination factor and higher than the third myelination factor concentration.

The present invention features a neural organoid that recapitulates in vitro most characteristics of the brain (e.g., human), and methods of using this neural organoid to study disease and to identify therapeutic agents for the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders.

The invention relates to a cell sheet construct for neurovascular reconstruction. The cell sheet construct has a vascular endothelial cell layer and a neural stem cell layer, and the two layers are physically in direct contact with each other, where the vascular endothelial cell layer forms branching vasculatures, and the neural stem cell layer differentiates into neurons. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the cell sheet construct, having the following steps: culturing vascular endothelial cells on a substrate to form a vascular endothelial cell layer, seeding neural stem cells on the vascular endothelial cell layer to make the neural stem cells be physically in direct contact with the vascular endothelial cell layer, and culturing the neural stem cells and the vascular endothelial cell layer to differentiate into neurons and branching vasculatures to form a cell sheet construct.

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.

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