The present invention relates to a serum-free conditioned medium that solves the drawbacks mentioned in the prior art, as it does not require prior handling of the cells, and it furthermore allows starting from a large population with no additional cost. This medium favors in vitro proliferation and conservation of the pluripotency potential that allows maintaining a state that is undifferentiated with respect to the subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and in turn does not allow survival of the differentiated cells.

Factor rich compositions produced from umbilical cord (UC) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are described. Secretory UC MSCs in serum free culture conditions produce a factor rich conditioned medium which may be concentrated and filtered to obtain clinical grade products.

The present invention relates to a method for producing astrocytes comprising obtaining neural progenitor cells from stem cells so as to continuously produce astrocytes with high purity and same traits, followed by two steps of differentiating the neural progenitor cells into the astrocytes, and astrocytes produced therefrom. Since the method of preparing the astrocytes provided in the present invention enables not only production of the astrocytes with high purity and faster production of the astrocytes with same characteristics, but also rapid differentiation of the astrocytes using the neural progenitor cells when necessary, it can be widely used for effectively treating a patient with a disease which requires transplantation of the astrocytes.

The invention provides a method for producing a ciliary marginal zone stem cell induced to differentiate from a pluripotent stem cell, including either the following step (1) or step (2), or both of these steps: (1) a step of floating culturing cells obtained from a cell aggregate containing a ciliary marginal zone-like structure induced to differentiate from pluripotent stem cells, thereby obtaining a retinosphere; and (2) a step of collecting stage specific embryonic antigen-1 positive cells from cells obtained from a cell aggregate containing a ciliary marginal zone-like structure induced to differentiate from pluripotent stem cells.

The present invention provides a novel oocyte maturation medium or/and embryo culture medium with a chemically defined supplement to produce matured oocytes at high efficiency. The inventive medium or supplement comprises three growth factors, namely, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in a synergistic combination. Methods for oocyte and embryo culture are also provided.

Several methods are described for generating mycelial scaffolds for use several technologies. In one embodiment, a mycelial scaffold is generated using a perfusion bioreactor system for cell-based meat technologies. In another embodiment, a mycelial scaffold is prepared for biomedical applications. The mycelial scaffolds may be generated from a liquid medium or from a solid substrate.

Described is a composite material composed of an atomically thin (single layer) amorphous carbon disposed on top of a substrate (metal, glass, oxides) and methods of growing and differentiating stem cells.

The present invention relates to methods of efficiently generating pancreatic endoderm from human pluripotent stem (PS) cell derived human definitive endoderm. The present invention also relates to pancreatic endoderm cells obtained by the methods of the invention. Finally, the present invention relates to culture medium and composition comprising a RAR antagonist and uses of said RAR antagonist in the induction of pancreatic endoderm cells. The present invention provides a more homogenous and synchronised pancreatic cell population, with increased efficiency.

In some aspects, disclosed are methods and compositions for disc regeneration and/or repair using one or more components from conditioned media from fibroblasts. In certain cases, conditioned media is obtained from fibroblasts stimulated with one or more opioid receptor antagonists and one or more toll-like receptor agonists. Conditioned media from fibroblasts may be provided in an effective amount to an individual in need thereof.

In vitro equine organ model systems, and methods of making and using such systems, are provided and can include an organoid prepared using equine tissue associated with the organ of interest; or equine primary cells, wherein the equine primary cells are derived from equine tissue associated with an organ of interest, or derived from an organoid prepared using equine tissue associated with the organ of interest.