Aspects of the invention are directed to mineral-based nanoparticles comprising silicate nanoparticles that induce human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) into a cartilage-lineage through the upregulation of cartilage-specific genes resulting in the transformation of the cell phenotype into that of a chondrocyte, i.e., a cartilage producing cell. The silicate nanoparticles are synthesized through a process where the precipitate of sodium silicate is mixed with one or more elements and compounds and milled into nanoparticles.

The present invention relates to a method or kit for producing cancer stem cell spheroids, and a method of screening of drugs for treating cancer cell resistance using the prepared cancer stem cell spheroid, and it can conveniently produce cancer stem cell spheroids, and the prepared cancer stem cell spheroid can be effectively utilized for screening drugs for treating cancer cell resistance.

Provided is a membrane for cell culture and differentiation. The membrane has a base portion and an array of protrusions consisting of a plurality of protrusions. The protrusions are substantially evenly distributed on the base portion. The plurality of protrusions has dimensions on the order of micrometers. In particular, the membrane consists of particles of different particle sizes of two or more kinds. One kind of particles have an average particle size of 1 m to 50 m. Two or more kinds of particles of different particle sizes include nanoscale particles, 10-900 nm. One kind of particles are selected from the group consisting of inorganic compound microspheres. The other kind of particles of the two or more kinds of particles of different particle sizes are selected from the group consisting of organic polymer nanospheres. Also provided is a method for maintaining, culturing and/or differentiating cells using such membrane.

Systems and methods generally useful in medicine, cellular biology, nanotechnology, and cell culturing are discussed. In particular, at least in some embodiments, systems and methods for magnetic guidance and patterning of cells and materials are discussed. Some specific applications of these systems and methods may include levitated culturing of cells away from a surface, making and manipulating patterns of levitated cells, and patterning culturing of cells on a surface. Specifically, a method of culturing cells is presented. The method may comprise providing a plurality of cells, providing a magnetic field, and levitating at least some of the plurality of cells in the magnetic field, wherein the plurality of cells comprise magnetic nanoparticles. The method may also comprise maintaining the levitation for a time sufficient to permit cell growth to form an assembly.

A method for expanding circulating tumor cell in vitro includes preparing a cell culture tool having a multi-particle colloidal crystal layer, preparing a cell solution including circulating tumor cells, and contacting the cell solution with the multi-particle colloidal crystal layer, to attach the circulating tumor cells in the cell solution to the multi-particle colloidal crystal layer and rapidly expand by 20 times or more. The multi-particle colloidal crystal layer at least includes first particles having a particle size of 1000 to 5000 nm and second particles having a particle size of 20 to 400 nm. The culture medium in the cell solution at least includes a platelet lysate.

A method of screening for a substance that acts on a cell mass includes producing a cell mass by three-dimensional culture of primary cancer cells using a tumor tissue, adding a test substance to the cell mass, and evaluating an action of the test substance on the cell mass. The cell mass is produced by culturing cells obtained from the tumor tissue in a medium containing a 5% v/v or less extracellular matrix on a substantially low-adhesive cell culture substrate and producing the cell mass of the primary cancer cells.

This disclosure provides nano-scale Artificial Antigen Presenting Cells (aAPC), which deliver stimulatory signals to lymphocytes, including cytotoxic lymphocytes, for use as a powerful tool for immunotherapy.

A method of producing a cell mass by three-dimensional culture of primary cancer cells having proliferative ability and properties of handleability, versatility, and high-throughput performance, in which a tumor tissue is used as a starting material, proliferation of cells such as fibroblasts other than cancer cells is inhibited, and the cell mass includes primary cancer cells as a main component. The object is achieved by providing a method of producing a cell mass by three-dimensional culture of primary cancer cells using a tumor tissue, including: a three-dimensional culture step of culturing cells obtained from the tumor tissue in a medium containing a 5% v/v or less extracellular matrix on a substantially low-adhesive cell culture substrate.

Provided is a cell-culture substrate that can improve cellular activity functions, that is less likely to inactivate cellular activity, and that can be used in a long-term culture. The cell-culture substrate according to the present invention contains hydrophobic silica aerogel. A method for producing the cell-culture substrate according to the present invention includes hydrolyzing a starting material containing a first hydrolyzable silane compound and a second hydrolyzable silane compound that is other than the first hydrolyzable silane compound to produce hydrophobic silica aerogel.

The present invention provides tissue scaffolds, methods of generating such scaffolds, and methods of use of such scaffolds to generate aligned and functional neural tissues for use in methods including regenerative medicine, wound repair and transplantation.