Certain populations of small cells present in adult human tissue can undergo activation/development to form human pluripotent stem cell populations. These small cells are generally less than six micrometers in diameter and are CD49f-positive, and are referred to herein as human early stage precursors or CD49f.sup.+ cells. Accordingly, provided are cell populations and compositions with enriched CD49f.sup.+ cells from adult human tissue samples and methods and compositions for promoting activation/development of these CD49f.sup.+ cells. Upon differentiation, the activated stem cells can be used for various therapeutic purposes.

This disclosure relates to a multi-stage method and apparatus for purifying extracellular vesicles using an aqueous two-phase system, in which extracellular vesicles mixed and contaminated with proteins can be isolated and purified in a large amount at high purity within a short time through a multi-stage purification process using an aqueous two-phase system, thereby removing 95% or more of proteins and obtaining high-purity extracellular vesicles, resulting in very high processing efficiency compared to conventional techniques. In particular, the method of the disclosure does not require an expensive device or material such as an ultracentrifuge or an antibody, and can be performed at low cost and is thus economical and highly competitive. Furthermore, the extracellular vesicles thus isolated and purified can be employed in analysis methods such as RT-PCR or western blot, and can be utilized for research fields and disease diagnosis using the same.

An operational unit for locating and neutralizing pathogen cells in blood. A cassette has a plurality of thin holding chambers that are filled with blood drawn from a patient. A light source illuminates each of the holding chambers and passes light to an underlying sensor array such that the cells in the blood produce shadow images of the cells in the sensor array. A processor performs pattern recognition to identify and locate the pathogen cells by use of an image library. After the pathogen cells are located, the pump is operated to move the identified cells to a processing zone. When each identified cell reaches the processing zone, electric energy is applied to destroy the identified pathogen cells. A pump refills the cassette holding chambers, returns the neutralized-pathogen blood to the patient, and the process is repeated for a treatment time period.

The invention relates to a method for separating viable target cells from a sample comprising the steps of contacting a sample comprising a suspension of viable target cells that display a molecule on the cell surface with non-porous microparticles that have a density of about 1.45 g/cm.sup.3 or greater, a diameter of about 10 m to 200 m, and a capture ligand covalently immobilized to the microparticle surface that is capable of specifically binding to said molecule; incubating said sample without substantial agitation to form a target cell/microparticle complex; separating non-bound substances in said sample from said target cell/microparticle complex by washing said non-bound substances through a filter while retaining said target cell/microparticle complex; mechanically dissociating said target cell/microparticle complex and eluting said viable target cells through said filter while retaining said microparticles with said capture ligand covalently immobilized to the microparticle surface as well as a cartridge, kit-of-parts, an apparatus configured to be used in the method and a medicament comprising viable target cells obtainable by the method.

The present invention provides methods for optimization of the harvest process by clarification of cell samples using centrifugation and depth filtration. The present invention provides methods for the determination of the optimal ratio of Q/ for the centrifugation step of a harvest process of a cell culture. The present invention provides methods for the determination of the number of particles and the size of the particles in the centrate of a centrifugation step of a harvest process of a cell culture by the use of imaging technology. The present invention provides methods for the scaling of the harvesting process from lab-bench scale to industrial scale.

The present invention relates to a method for isolating bona fide pancreatic progenitor cells and to cell populations enriched for bona fide pancreatic progenitor cells.

The present disclosure provides a method for preparing a decellularized muscle scaffold, decellularized muscle scaffolds produced therefrom, and uses thereof to treat a subject with damaged or lost muscle.

One or more embodiments are described directed to a method and system for loading and distributing cells in a bioreactor of a cell expansion system. Accordingly, embodiments include methods and systems that may provide for adding a plurality of cells to a fluid within a bioreactor of the cell expansion system. A first percentage of the plurality of cells is allowed to settle in the bioreactor and a second percentage of the plurality of cells is allowed to settle outside of the bioreactor. The first percentage of cells is then expanded in the bioreactor. The second percentage of cells is wasted.

The present invention relates to methods for the specific separation of target cells from a biological sample, comprising specific binding of the target cells to phase-change hydrogel compositions and separation of respective cell-hydrogel complexes by counter-current centrifugation.

Methods are provided herein for selectively killing senescent cells and for treating senescence-associated diseases and disorders by administering a senolytic agent. Senescence-associated diseases and disorders treatable by the methods using the senolytic agents described herein include cardiovascular diseases and disorders associated with or caused by arteriosclerosis, such as atherosclerosis; idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; osteoarthritis; senescence-associated ophthalmic diseases and disorders; and senescence-associated dermatological diseases and disorders.