Disclosed are methods for treating or limiting development of diabetes, by transplanting into the eye of a subject with diabetes or at risk of diabetes an amount effective to treat or limit development of diabetes of insulin-producing cells engineered to reduce expression of a β3 subunit of Cav (Cavβ3).

A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

A skin sample culture apparatus which has a base frame, with a skin sample receiving surface upon which at least part of the skin sample may be placed and which extends across an area defined by the shape of the frame. A securing member which is releasably connectable to the base frame and a grip which holds the skin sample under tension. The apparatus may include a tensioner to hold the sample under tension and means for introducing a fluid to the upper or lower surface of the sample.

Thin film devices, e.g., multilayer thin film devices, that encapsulate cells for transplantation into a subject are provided. Also provided are methods of using and methods of preparing the subject devices. The thin film devices include a first porous polymer layer and a second porous polymer layer that define a lumen therebetween and encapsulate a population of cells within the lumen. The thin film devices can promote vascularization into the lumen of the device via the pores in the first polymer layer and/or second polymer layer; limit foreign body response to the device; limit ingress of cells, immunoglobulins, and cytokines into the lumen via the first and the second polymer layers; and release from the first polymer layer and/or the second polymer layer molecules secreted by the population of cells.

A method of producing induced exosomes, the method comprising: contacting an isolated population of stem cells with an amount of a prostaglandin E receptor 4 (EP4) antagonist effective for inducing release of exosomes, whereby induced exosomes are released from the stem cells, and isolating the induced exosomes.

The present invention provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention provides an improved method for the formation of pancreatic endoderm, pancreatic hormone expressing cells and pancreatic hormone secreting cells. The present invention also provides methods to promote the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells without the use of a feeder cell layer.

Provided herein are compositions and methods to make and use engineered cells, for the purpose of increasing the cell density of a culture comprising metazoan cells and for the production of a cultured edible product.

A 3D tissue culture selected from the group consisting of hydrogel-based 3D tissue culture and cellular self-assembly 3D tissue culture as well as self-assembly 3D tissue culture. Additionally, disclosed is a method of preparing cells for 3D tissue culture, which method comprises the steps of plating the cells on a suitable surface, optionally, checking for their capability to adhere to said surface, discarding the cells which have not adhered to said surface, detaching the adhered cells and transferring them into a 3D tissue culture process.

Protein enriched micro-vesicles and methods of making and using the same are provided. Aspects of the methods include maintaining a cell having a membrane-associated protein comprising a first dimerization domain and a target protein having a second dimerization domain under conditions sufficient to produce a micro-vesicle from the cell, wherein the micro-vesicle includes the target protein. Also provided are cells, reagents and kits that find use in making the micro-vesicles, as well as methods of using the micro-vesicles, e.g., in research and therapeutic applications.

Provided herein are immunomodulatory proteins comprising ICOSL variants and nucleic acids encoding such proteins. The immunomodulatory proteins provide therapeutic utility for a variety of immunological and oncological conditions. Compositions and methods for making and using such proteins are provided.