The present invention relates to preparation and use of nanocellulose fibrils or crystals such as disintegrated bacterial nanocellulose, tunicate-derived nanocellulose, or plant-derived nanocellulose, together with carbon nanotubes, as a biocompatible and conductive ink for 3D printing of electrically conductive patterns. Biocompatible conductive bioinks described in this invention were printed in the form of connected lines onto wet or dried nanocellulose films, bacterial cellulose membrane, or tunicate decellularized tissue. The devices were biocompatible and showed excellent mechanical properties and good electrical conductivity through printed lines (3.8.Math.10.sup.−1 S cm.sup.−1). Such scaffolds were used to culture neural cells. Neural cells attached selectively on the printed pattern and formed connective networks. The devices prepared by this invention are suited as bioassays to screen drugs against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, study brain function, and/or be used to link the human brain with electronic and/or communication devices. They can also be implanted to replace neural tissue or stimulate guiding of neural cells. They can also be used to stimulate the heart by using electrical signaling or to repair myocardial infarction and/or damage related thereto.

Novel MSC stem-cell culture and therapy methods and culture medium compositions for the purpose of inducing, activating, or priming discrete uniform cell phenotypes to selectively promote or suppress inflammation and immunity, yielding polarized, primed, activated, or induced cells used in cell-based therapy.

Compositions comprising a condensed mesenchymal cell body and a hydrogel are provided. The compositions may further include drugs or growth factors. The condensed mesenchymal cell body may include a connective tissue cell, or even a progenitor cell capable of producing connective tissue extracellular matrices such collagen and glycosaminoglycan. Also provided are methods of treating connective tissue defects, cartilage injury, and cartilage degradation.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for removing highly proliferative Ki67-positive cells co-present in insulin-secreting cells obtained by differentiation induction. A method for producing an insulin-producing cell population or a pancreatic beta cell population containing less than 3% of Ki67-positive cells, comprising: embedding an endocrine progenitor cell population or a cell population at a later stage of differentiation into a gel containing alginic acid; and differentiating the cell population.

The present disclosure relates to an in vitro method for enhancing engraftment of isolated pancreatic cells comprising the step of contacting an isolated pancreatic cell prior to a transplantation in a subject in need thereof, with a gem-difluorinated C-glycopeptide compound of general formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable base, addition salt with an acid, hydrate or solvate of the compound of general formula I:

##STR00001##

The present disclosure relates to an in vitro method for enhancing engraftment of isolated pancreatic cells comprising the step of contacting an isolated pancreatic cell prior to a transplantation in a subject in need thereof, with a gem-difluorinated C-glycopeptide compound of general formula I, or a pharmaceutically acceptable base, addition salt with an acid, hydrate or solvate of the compound of general formula I:

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to preparation and use of biocompatible and electrically conductive 3D hydrogels comprising nanocellulose fibrils, such as disintegrated bacterial nanocellulose, plant derived nanocellulose, tunicate derived nanocellulose, or algae derived nanocellulose, together with carbon nanotubes or graphene oxide, as a biocompatible and conductive 3D hydrogel for diagnostics and intervention to mimic or restore tissue and organ function. Biocompatible conductive 3D hydrogels described in this invention can be extruded, casted or injected. The 3D hydrogels described in this invention are cohesive 3D structures and provide electrical conductivity in wet form. 3D hydrogels described in this invention can be further crosslinked using divalent ions such as Calcium ions which improve mechanical stability. Such crosslinking can take place in an animal or human body in a physiological environment after injection into the tissue. 3D hydrogels are biocompatible and show preferable mechanical properties and electrical conductivity through printed lines (4.10.sup.1 S cm.sup.1). The 3D hydrogels prepared by this invention are suited as bioassays to screen drugs against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, study brain function, and/or be used to link the human brain with electronic and/or communication devices. They can also be injected to replace neural tissue or stimulate guiding of neural cells. They can also be used to inject into the heart and stimulate the heart by using electrical signaling or to repair myocardial infarction.

This invention relates generally to compositions and methods for identifying the regulatory network that modulates, controls or otherwise influences T cell balance, for example, Th17 cell differentiation, maintenance and/or function, as well compositions and methods for exploiting the regulatory network that modulates, controls or otherwise influences T cell balance in a variety of therapeutic and/or diagnostic indications. This invention also relates generally to identifying and exploiting target genes and/or target gene products that modulate, control or otherwise influence T cell balance in a variety of therapeutic and/or diagnostic indications.

The present invention relates to preparation and use of nanocellulose fibrils or crystals such as disintegrated bacterial nanocellulose, tunicate-derived nanocellulose, or plant-derived nanocellulose, together with carbon nanotubes, as a biocompatible and conductive ink for 3D printing of electrically conductive patterns. Biocompatible conductive bioinks described in this invention were printed in the form of connected lines onto wet or dried nanocellulose films, bacterial cellulose membrane, or tunicate decellularized tissue. The devices were biocompatible and showed excellent mechanical properties and good electrical conductivity through printed lines (3.8.Math.10.sup.1 S cm.sup.1). Such scaffolds were used to culture neural cells. Neural cells attached selectively on the printed pattern and formed connective networks. The devices prepared by this invention are suited as bioassays to screen drugs against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, study brain function, and/or be used to link the human brain with electronic and/or communication devices. They can also be implanted to replace neural tissue or stimulate guiding of neural cells. They can also be used to stimulate the heart by using electrical signaling or to repair myocardial infarction and/or damage related thereto.

The nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells with mRNA encoding reprogramming factors is shown to be greatly accelerated by activation of innate immune responses in the somatic cell. Methods of activating innate immunity include activation of PKR, of toll-like receptors, e.g. TLR3, etc. In some embodiments the mRNA provides the activator of innate immunity.