A composite is disclosed. The composite comprises a first conjugate of a polymer and a first phenol-containing moiety, and a second conjugate of a gelatin or collagen and a second phenol-containing moiety, wherein the polymer is selected so that the first conjugate is less cell-adhesive than the second conjugate, at least one of the first and second conjugates is crosslinked to form a matrix, and the composite comprises discrete regions that are rich in one of said first and second conjugates. A method of forming such composite is also disclosed. The method comprises mixing precursors for the first and second conjugates in a solution for forming said composite, and dispersing a catalyst in the solution to catalyze crosslinking of at least one of the first and second conjugates to form the matrix. The composite may be used to grow cells.

A cell tissue gel, comprising one or more matrix molecules cross-linked with a cross-linking agent, and a quenching agent bound to a reactive group of the cross-linking agent, wherein the quenching agent contains a moiety that is capable of reacting with the reactive group of the cross-linking agent and the one or more matrix molecules contain one or more functional groups that are capable of cross-linking with the reactive group, the amount of the reactive group of the cross-linking agent being equal to or less than a total amount including the amount of the one or more functional groups and the amount of the moiety.

A method for forming a bioactive agent spatially patterned includes providing a photocrosslinkable hydrogel that includes a photocrosslinkable base polymer, photocrosslinkable bioactive agent coupling polymer macromers, and at least one bioactive agent that couples to the photocrosslinkable bioactive agent coupling polymer macromer, an selectively exposing discrete portions of the photocrosslinkable hydrogel to actinic radiation effective to initiate cross-linking of the base polymer and the bioactive agent coupling polymer macromers at the exposed portions.

A composition includes a dual crosslinkable hydrogel that includes a plurality of polymer macromers, which are crosslinked with a first agent and a second agent different than the first agent, wherein the crosslinks formed using the second agent are reversible and repeatable to allow the mechanical properties of the hydrogel to be dynamically adjusted.

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) structured hydrogel includes a crosslinked first natural polymer macromer with a first elasticity and an interpenetrating network of crosslinked second natural polymer macromers having a second elasticity higher than the first elasticity, the IPN structured hydrogel being cytocompatible, and, upon degradation, produce substantially non-toxic products.

A tissue culture vessel including a graft support tray (200) and a box having a lid (400) and a base which engages and retains the tray. The tray has two operational states: a first operational state in which a floor of the tray is slightly raised with respect to a floor of the base and a second operational state in which the floor of said tray descends to contact the floor of the base.

A leather substrate formed from waste leather and its method of production, particularly a leather substrate made up substantially of a collagen fibril matrix.

A leather substrate formed from waste leather and its method of production, particularly a leather substrate made up substantially of a collagen fibril matrix.

A leather substrate formed from waste leather and its method of production, particularly a leather substrate made up substantially of a collagen fibril matrix.

A leather substrate formed from waste leather and its method of production, particularly a leather substrate made up substantially of a collagen fibril matrix.