To provide a cell or tissue embedding device highly capable of supplying a physiologically active substance, by curbing the reduction of living cells or living tissue in the process of preparing a PVA gel containing the living cells or living tissue.

An aqueous gel to form an immunoisolation layer of a cell or tissue embedding device has a denatured polyvinyl alcohol resin having an activated carbonyl group (A) and a crosslinking agent (B) as its components.

The present disclosure provides patterned biomaterials having organized cords and extracellular matrix embedded in a 3D scaffold. According, the present disclosure is provides compositions and applications for patterned biomaterials. Pre-patterning of these biomaterials can lead to enhanced integration of these materials into host organisms, providing a strategy for enhancing the viability of engineered tissues by promoting vascularization.

The present disclosure provides an encapsulated liver tissue that can be used in vivo to improve liver functions, in vitro to determine the hepatic metabolism and/or hepatotoxicity of an agent and ex vivo to remove toxic compounds from patients' biological fluid. The encapsulated liver tissue comprises at least one liver organoid at least partially covered with a biocompatible cross-linked polymer. Processes for making the encapsulated liver tissue are also provided.

Provided herein are methods which alter the mechanical and biological properties of polymeric materials. Also provided are compositions comprising the polymeric materials having said properties.

The invention provides methods and compositions for making and using collagen-glycosaminoglycan three-dimensional scaffolds immobilized with biomolecules that are spatially and temporally patterned. The method comprises adding benzophenone to a collagen-glycosaminoglycan three dimensional scaffold in the dark; adding one or more biomolecules to one or more areas of the collagen-glycosaminoglycan three-dimensional scaffold (which can be done optionally in the dark or in the light); and exposing the collagen-2glycosaminoglycan three-dimensional scaffold to light at a wavelength of about 350 to about 365 nm.

The present invention solves the following problems [1] to [3] found in conventional methods of preparing a three dimensional structure (organ primordium) by coculturing functional cells with umbilical cord-derived vascular endothelial cells and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal cells: [1] the quality of resultant organ primordia varies greatly depending on donors; [2] the growth capacities of cell sources are limited; and [3] it is difficult to secure immunocompatibility because cells are derived from different sources. An organ bud prepared from vascular cells, mesenchymal cells and tissue or organ cells, wherein each of the vascular cell, the mesenchymal cell and the tissue or organ cell has been induced from pluripotent stem cells. A method of preparing an organ bud, comprising culturing vascular cells, mesenchymal cells and tissue or organ cells in vitro, wherein each of the vascular cell, the mesenchymal cell and the tissue or organ cell has been induced from pluripotent stem cells.

The present invention provides engineered tissue scaffolds, engineered tissues, and methods of using them. The scaffolds and tissues are derived from natural tissues and are created using non-thermal irreversible electroporation (IRE). Use of IRE allows for ablation of cells of the tissue to be treated, but allows vascular and neural structures to remain essentially unharmed. Use of IRE thus permits preparation of thick tissue scaffolds and tissues due to the presence of vasculature within the scaffolds. The engineered tissues can be used in methods of treating subjects, such as those in need of tissue replacement or augmentation.

Described are methods, cell growth substrates, and devices that are useful in preparing cell-containing graft materials for administration to patients. Tubular passages can be defined in cell growth substrates to promote distribution of cells into the substrates. Also described are methods and devices for preparing cell-seeded graft compositions, methods and devices for preconditioning cell growth substrates prior to application of cells, and cell seeded grafts having novel substrates, and uses thereof.

A method for obtaining epithelial organoids is provided. In one embodiment, the method comprises culturing one or more epithelial ducts, epithelial duct fragments and/or epithelial stem cells isolated therefrom in contact with an extracellular matrix in the presence of a basal medium, wherein the medium is free of FGF and/or nicotinamide. Organoids obtained by the methods described herein, and uses thereof, are also provided.

Engineered human tissue seed constructs are provided that are suitable for implantation in subjects. Methods of making and using the engineered tissue seed constructs are provided.