A method for producing a three-dimensional cell structure having a vascular network, including preparing a mixture of a cationic substance, a polyelectrolyte, an extracellular matrix component, and a cell population including endothelial cells, collecting, from the mixture, a cell aggregate including the cell population, the cationic substance, the polyelectrolyte, and the extracellular matrix component, and culturing a collected cell aggregate in a medium. The mixture includes the extracellular matrix at a concentration of 1.0×10.sup.−8 mg/mL or more and less than 2.5×10.sup.−2 mg/mL.

A method for controlled production of glyceric acid includes, during the glyceric acid fermentation process, real-time online monitoring of at least one of the respiratory quotient and redox potential in the fermentation liquid as well as the fermentation process specific growth rate, and controlling their values within the following ranges: 0.1˜1.5 for respiratory quotient, −300˜50 mV for redox potential, 0.05˜0.8 for specific growth rate. Process parameters for this method are controlled within predetermined ranges by online monitoring at least one of respiratory quotient (RQ) and redox potential as well as the specific growth rate in the fermentation process, thereby meeting the growth requirements of bacteria, effectively promoting the glycerol metabolism and synthesis and improving the conversion rate.

The invention relates to a method for producing a recombinant protein in cells with a cell wall, comprising the step of increasing the secretion of the recombinant protein through the cell wall by expression of the protein in the cells in a culture medium containing a combination of a surface-active polymer and monovalent metal ions and with an osmolarity at least 0.32 osmol/L, said invention further relating to culture media and nutrient mixtures for the method.

Disclosed are compositions of matter, cells, protocols and procedures useful for augmentation of one or more therapeutic activities of fibroblast cellular populations. In one embodiment, fibroblasts are cultured in an acidic pH incubation medium before genetic modification, after genetic modification, or both. In another embodiment, fibroblasts are cultured under hypoxic conditions. In another embodiment, fibroblasts are treated with mitogenic factor-comprising composition(s) to increase the efficacy of genetic modification, wherein the mitogenic factor(s) may be cytokines, peptides, and/or proteins. In another embodiment, a therapeutically effective amount of the genetically modified fibroblasts are provided as a therapeutic application to an individual in need thereof. In another embodiment, the therapeutic application is treatment of fibrosis, treatment of inflammation, acceleration of healing, treatment of clotting disorders, or promotion of angiogenesis.

Delivering a payload across a plasma membrane of a cell includes providing a population of cells and contacting the population of cells with a volume of an aqueous solution. The aqueous solution includes the payload and alcohol content greater than 5 percent concentration. The volume of the aqueous solution may be a function of exposed surface area of the population of cells, or may be a function of a number of cells in the population of cells. Related compositions, apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

A method, a medium and a kit for the enrichment and detection of Listeria species, especially Listeria monocytogenes. The medium is an enrichment medium of C12 to C16 fatty acids and/or derivatives thereof.

A method for preparing non-free radical photo-crosslinked hydrogels includes: dissolving component A that is a polymer derivative modified with o-nitrobenzyl phototrigger in a biocompatible medium to obtain solution A; dissolving component B that is a polymer derivative containing hydrazide, hydroxylamine or primary amine in a biocompatible medium to obtain solution B; mixing solution A and solution B to obtain a precursor solution of hydrogel; under light irradiation, crosslinking aldehyde generated from the o-nitrobenzyl with the hydrazine, hydroxylamine or primary amine to obtain a hydrogel by forming hydrazone, oxime or schiff base, respectively. A kit for preparation and application of the hydrogel in tissue repair, beauty therapy, and cells, proteins or drugs carriers is also described. The method or kit can achieve in situ photo-gelling on tissue surface or in situ forming thin gel on wounds in clinical treatment of wounds.

Systems and methods (S/M) to detect stress in stem cells are described. The S/M, including modified stem cells, assays and high throughput screens, can be used to identify compounds or other potential stressors that can negatively affect development potential.

Provided is a method for separating and extracting mesenchymal stem cells from the human umbilical cord. The method uses healthy neonatal umbilical cord tissue; after cleaning and disinfection, mechanically pulverising same, separating the Wharton's jelly, and after treating with erythrocyte lysate, carrying out suspension culture in a serum-free culture medium. Replacing the liquid every 3-5 days; after the plate adherence rate reaches 30-70%, carrying out trypsin digestion, and then collecting the cells by centrifugation for passage amplification, until the rate of confluence of the cells reaches 80-90% confluence, thereby obtaining high purity umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.

The technology described herein relates to methods, assays, and compositions relating to causing a cell to assume a more pluripotent state, e.g. without introducing foreign genetic material.