A method for freeze-drying a hydrogel composition is disclosed, the method comprising providing the hydrogel composition, wherein the hydrogel composition comprises cellulose nanofibrils and/or cellulose nanocrystals, at least one saccharide, at least one amino acid, and biologics; and freeze-drying the hydrogel composition, thereby obtaining a freeze-dried hydrogel composition.

3D native tissue-derived scaffolding materials are made in various formats, including but not limited to hydrogel, sponge, fibers, microspheres, and films, all of which function to better preserve natural extracellular matrix molecules and to recapitulate the natural tissue environment, thereby effectively guiding tissue regeneration. Tissue-derived scaffolds are prepared by incorporating a homogenized tissue-derived suspension into a polymeric solution of synthetic, natural, or hybrid polymers. Such tissue-derived scaffolds and scaffolding materials have a variety of utilities, including: the creation of 3D tissue models such as skin, bone, liver, pancreas, lung, and so on; facilitation of studies on cell-matrix interactions; and the fabrication of implantable scaffolding materials for guided tissue formation in vivo. The tissue-derived scaffolds and scaffolding materials also provide the opportunity to correlate the functions of extracellular matrix with tissue regeneration and cancer metastasis, for example.

Described herein is a beads-free bioprocessor as an automated and cost-effective T cell processing and manufacturing platform. T cells are a core component in CAR T cell therapies for cancer treatment, but are difficult to manufacture to scale in clinically relevant quantities. The 3D bioprocessor provides an alternative device that is scalable, beads-free, easy-to-use, and cost-effective for using CAR T cell therapy in cancer immunotherapy. Besides CAR T cell application, this platform technology has potential for many other applications such as cancer cell isolation.

[Problem] To provide a cell preparation including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) having a high therapeutic effect. [Solution] A method for producing activated mesenchymal stem cells, including a step of culturing MSCs in a medium containing an activator that includes an extract from a mammalian fetal appendage as an active ingredient, using a cell culture carrier having a three-dimensional structure formed of a fiber is provided. A marker for a therapeutic effect of MSCs selected from the group consisting of p16.sup.ink4a, p14.sup.ARF, CDK4, CDK6, RB, and CD47, a method for determining a therapeutic effect using the marker, a method for determining suitability of MSCs to be treated with a treatment for enhancing a therapeutic effect of MSCs, a cell preparation including MSCs, and a method for producing the same are also provided.

The present disclosure provides a system, including methods and apparatus, for culturing, monitoring, and/or analyzing organoids. In an exemplary method of organoid culture, the method may comprise disposing a scaffold in a receptacle having an open side. A sealing member may be bonded to the open side of the receptacle to create a chamber. An organoid may be formed in the chamber using the scaffold. Fluid and/or at least one substance may be introduced into the chamber from an overlying reservoir for contact with the organoid.

Described herein are compositions, methods, kits, and systems relating to smooth, spherical microgels which can be charge-neutral. The microgels can be made using an emulsification process. In certain aspects, charge-neutral microgels as described herein are suitable for 3D cell culture, use in perfusion bioreactors, and/or 3D printing of cells for 3D cell culture.

The disclosure features methods and compositions for differentiating stem cells into hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) and/or Natural Killer (NK) cells. The methods and compositions described herein are used to differentiate stem or progenitor cells having at least one gene-edit that is maintained in the differentiated cell. Also provided are differentiated cells produced using the methods and compositions described herein for therapeutic applications.

Provided is a cell culture sheet. A cell culture sheet according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a fiber web which has a 3-dimensional network structure formed through the accumulation of support fibers having an average diameter of at most 1.5 μm, and has a basis weight of 1 to 15 g/m.sup.2; and a functional coating layer which is coated on the support fibers exposed on at least one surface of the fiber web, and has a function of promoting one or more of the adhesion, movement, proliferation, and differentiation of cells. Accordingly, cell adhesion is improved due to the large specific surface area and the surface morphology suitable for cells, and the adhered cells are stably supported. Moreover, the cells can be cultured at high density at a high culture efficiency, and can be cultured and recovered without agglomeration caused by forming a thin film.

A method of inducing expression of a calcium channel and/or a calcium pump in a cell includes: irradiating the cell with light in a wavelength range of 315-325 nm. The calcium channel and/or the calcium pump is/are at least one selected from the group consisting of dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR), voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC), ryanodine receptor (RYR), and sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca.sup.2+-ATPase (SERCA).

A cellular support system comprises a three-dimensional scaffold structure comprising at least one void. At least one suspended protein bridge spans across the at least one void in the three-dimensional scaffold structure. The suspended protein bridge is capable of supporting cells and promotes three-dimensional cellular growth. In certain aspects, the protein in the suspended protein bridge is an extracellular matrix protein, such as collagens, laminins, fibronectins, and combinations thereof. Such a cellular support system supports thriving cell cultures in three-dimensions emulating cell growth in vivo in an extracellular matrix, including promoting cell remodeling. Methods for making such cellular support systems are also provided.