Provided are methods for the production of infinite immune cells with an increased lifespan and high proliferation rates by engineering them to express BCL6 and a cell survival-promoting gene. Further provided herein are methods for the production and use of the infinite immune cells for the treatment of diseases, such as cancer.

The present invention relates to a method for inducing megakaryocytic differentiation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). The method comprises transferring into the HSPCs an effective amount of small RNAs. The HSPCs may differentiate into megakaryocytes in the absence of thrombopoietin (TPO) and/or without using megakaryocytic microparticles (MkMPs). The small RNAs may be micro RNAs (miRs) selected from the group consisting of miR-486, miR-22, miR-191, miR-181, miR-378, miR-26, let-7, miR-92, miR-126, miR-92, miR-21, miR-146, miR-181, and combinations thereof. For example, the small RNAs are miR-486 and miR-22. The small RNAs may be synthetic or isolated from cells. Also provided is a method for enhancing megakaryocytic differentiation of HSPCs cultured with megakaryocytic microparticles MkMPs in the presence of an effective amount of one or more exogenous small RNAs (e.g., miR-486).

The present disclosure relates to the generation of an activated platelet product in which one or more of the presence or absence of clots, the timing of clot formation (if present), and/or the mechanical strength of clots (if present) is controlled by the presence or concentration of calcium ions during the activation process. In certain embodiments, the calcium ion concentration is controlled in the presence of pulsed electric fields or a chemical activator (e.g., thrombin) as part of the activation process.

A suspension composition for a hematology analysis control particularly useful for preserving relevant detectable characteristics of blood cells for a prolong stability period. The suspension may include at least one polysaccharide, which may include or derive from chitosan and/or chitin, as a stabilizing agent.

Methods for making hemoglobin based blood substitute preparations and hemoglobin based blood substitute preparations. The methods involve preparing a low purity erythrocyte protein fraction comprising hemoglobin protein and endogenous non-hemoglobin protein complement, and chemically modifying the proteins in the protein fraction to form a cross-linked hemoglobin containing blood substitute preparation. The low purity erythrocyte protein preparation can contain from at least about 0.2% (mole/mole) up to about 20% (mole/mole) endogenous non-hemoglobin protein complement. At least about 90% (mole/mole) of the hemoglobin proteins can be cross-linked, so that the average molecular mass of cross-linked proteins comprising hemoglobin protein molecules in the preparation is at least about 300 kDa. The preparations can be used to prepare finished blood substitute formulations for in-vivo and ex-vivo use.

Provided herein are carrier cells and virus combinations and methods for treatment of cancers. Also provided are modified carrier cells for such treatment, and methods of selecting carrier cells that are matched to subjects for such treatment.

Methods and devices are provided herein for identifying a cell population comprising an effector cell that exerts an extracellular effect. In one embodiment the method comprises retaining in a microreactor a cell population comprising one or more effector cells, wherein the contents of the microreactor further comprise a readout particle population comprising one or more readout particles, incubating the cell population and the readout particle population within the microreactor, assaying the cell population for the presence of the extracellular effect, wherein the readout particle population or subpopulation thereof provides a direct or indirect readout of the extracellular effect, and determining, based on the results of the assaying step, whether one or more effector cells within the cell population exerts the extracellular effect on the readout particle. If an extracellular effect is measured, the cell population is recovered for further analysis to determine the cell or cells responsible for the effect.

The present invention concerns platelets transfected with exogenous genetic material and microparticles deriving from said transfected platelets having a high percentage of transfection and able to transport and to transfect acceptor cells with genetic material and then used for example in gene and cell therapy. The invention further concerns a method for the preparation of mature platelets transfected with exogenous genetic material and microparticles deriving from said transfected platelets and microparticles deriving from said transfected mature platelets which permits to obtain high percentages of transfection.

The present disclosure provides a membrane separation method of a cell suspension which can appropriately separate cells from debris, and a cell culture device. That is, membrane separation processing of the cell suspension is performed using a filtration membrane which includes an inlet-side opening formed on one surface and an outlet-side opening, which is formed on the other surface and communicates with the inlet-side opening, and in which the inlet-side opening and the outlet-side opening are disposed at positions deviated in a direction parallel to the surfaces of the membrane.

Certain exemplary embodiments are directed to a biologically active composition of matter (and uses thereof) configured for targeted delivery of biotin to mitochondria, the composition comprising a first D-biotin conjugated to a water-soluble, cell-permeable, peptide sequence, wherein the peptide sequence is selected from a polypeptide group with an alternating aromatic-cationic motif.