Human pluripotent stem cells are differentiated in vitro into forebrain subdomain structures, which are then fused to generate an integrated system for use in analysis, screening programs, and the like.

Disclosed herein are devices for encapsulating biological cells and are suitable to be implanted into a subject. In different aspects of the disclosure, the devices may comprise a plurality of polymer layers. In one aspect, a device comprises a first polymer layer and a second polymer layer. In some cases, the first polymer layer may be a nanoporous polymer layer. In some cases, the second polymer layer may be a macroporous polymer layer. The first and second polymer layers may define a lumen for enclosing a population of cells. The devices may be used to transplant cells producing therapeutic agents into a subject (e.g., for the treatment of a disease).

Compositions for preventing or limiting surface fouling as well as evaporation and methods for their use in air-matrix digital microfluidics (DMF) apparatuses are described. A mobilizing wax material may be used to selectively encapsulate a reaction droplet in the air gap of the apparatus, which permits the at least partially encapsulated reaction droplet to be portable within the DMF apparatus. Additional aqueous droplets may be combined with the encapsulated droplet, by merging with an aqueous droplet having a coating of a secondary material (e.g., an oil or other hydrophobic material) that may allow combining of the droplets. The compositions may be additionally useful in non-DMF applications such as laboratory protocols for hybridization, ligation and amplification.

Various embodiments disclosed relate to conductive graphene matrix-encapsulated cells. A matrix-encapsulated cell includes an encapsulating polymer matrix including a biopolymer and graphene. The matrix-encapsulated cell also includes one or more of the cells encapsulated within the encapsulating polymer, wherein the graphene directly contacts at least some of the cells. The matrix encapsulating the one or more cells is electrically conductive.

Devices, and methods for preventing immune rejections are disclosed, in which trophoblasts or trophoblast-like cells are used to induce tolerance toward allogeneic cell and tissue grafts. The devices can be used as artificial placenta vaccines to avoid immunosuppression in organ transplantation.

The present disclosure provides compositions and methods for antigen identification. The methods provided herein comprise capturing polypeptides such as cytokines secreted by TCR-expressing cells (e.g., T cells) by antigen-presenting cells (APCs) presenting the antigens recognized by the TCRs of the TCR-expressing cells. The APCs can be detected or selected for antigen identification.

The present invention provides a hydrogel capsule comprising a cell, a protein, and a cross-linking agent; wherein the cell is within a first core layer comprising the protein; and wherein the first core layer is surrounded by a second layer comprising the protein and the cross-linking agent. The invention further provides the hydrogel capsule for use in therapy, prognosis and diagnosis, a method for culturing cells, a method for differentiating cells, and method for producing the hydrogel capsule. The hydrogel capsules of the invention are particularly useful for encapsulating pancreatic islets

The present disclosure relates to implantable constructs (encapsulated cells) designed to deliver antigenic therapeutic reagents, such as IL-2.

Provided are polymers, which may be crosslinked to form a main-chain liquid crystalline (LC) hydrogel with a three-dimensional network. Also provided are methods of using the hydrogel as a substrate for tissue culture. For example, the hydrogel may organize into LC phases and encapsulate a plurality of cells within its polymeric network. In some embodiments, human stem cells are cultured using the present method with good viability and demonstrate faster proliferation in the present LC hydrogel compared to a non-LC gel.

The present disclosure relates to a hydrogel comprising hyaluronic acid modified by serotonin, a use thereof, and a method of preparing the same.