Several embodiments disclosed herein relate to methods and processes for the co-expansion of multiple types of immune cells, in order to generate a mixed cell population. Some embodiments relate to the use of various stimuli specific to the various subpopulations to achieve expansion of those subpopulations at a particular time in a culturing process in order to generate an expanded population of immune cells having a desired ratio of the various subpopulations. In several embodiments, such mixed cell populations exhibit desirable characteristics, such as cytotoxic effects against tumor cells that enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.

The present invention provides a method for generation of a cell composition of mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells from a starting cell composition comprising pluripotent and/or multipotent stem cells, the method comprising the steps of a) differentiating said pluripotent and/or multipotent stem cells into mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells, thereby generating a cell population comprising mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells and other cells, b) dissociating the differentiated cells of step a) into a single cell suspension, and c) enriching said mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells by using an antigen binding molecule specific for the CD47 antigen for positive selection of said mesencephalic dopaminergic progenitor cells in said single cell suspension. Said method may be performed in a closed cell sample processing system and may be performed in an automated manner.

The present invention concerns the development of a model to evaluate active substances targeting the epidermis. It more particularly relates to the preparation of mixed spheroids of melanocytes and keratinocytes reproducing cell interactions occurring in the epidermis, to the spheroids as such and to the uses thereof.

The invention provides engineered biomaterials derived from plant products. The engineered biomaterials are useful for biomedical applications. The engineered biomaterials are able to support the growth of animal calls.

[Problem] To provide a cell culture substrate, and a cell culturing method using the substrate and a method for inducing differentiation of pluripotent stem cells using the substrate, which allow culturing of pluripotent stem cells and allow differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into a specified cell species, particularly neural and neural progenitor cells, at a high purity. [Means for Solution] A cell culture substrate, characterized in that, onto the surface, one or more selected from the group consisting of N-cadherin, a fusion protein comprising an entire or partial region of N-cadherin, and a fusion protein comprising an entire or partial region of a protein homologous to N-cadherin are immobilized or coated.

The invention provides a bioreactor and methods for tissue cultivation. A bioreactor module comprises a container, a holder adapted to hold a scaffold containing an inherent vascular network, an inlet connectable to a vessel of the inherent vascular network, an inflatable device disposed within the container, and a pair of electrodes attached to opposing walls of the container, wherein the holder is removably receivable in the container and the inflatable device has a conduit extending through a wall of the container. An alternative embodiment provides an in-vitro method for tissue cultivation, comprising seeding an interior and an exterior of a vessel of an inherent vascular network of a scaffold with a first and a second cell type, respectively, and perfusing through the inherent vascular network with culture medium to facilitate compartmentalized co-cultivation of the first and the second cell type in different niches of the tissue. A further embodiment provides an in-vitro method for tissue cultivation, comprising seeding a surface of a scaffold with a predetermined cell type, and perfusing the scaffold with culture medium from an opposite surface of the scaffold through the scaffold and towards the seeded surface to create a nutrient/oxygen gradient and cause migratory diffusion induced penetration of cells towards the opposite surface.

The invention relates to medicine and biology, particularly to the means for artificial manufacturing of biological tissues and organs, and can be used in biotechnology, bioengineering, tissue engineering, regenerative medicine, and in the 3D-printing of biological tissues and organs. Technical character of the invention consists in the development of a method of printing living tissues and organs as well as of the apparatus for its implementation. The proposed apparatus consists of at least: a printing platform, a bioink printing module with at least one nozzle designed for bioink dosing, a gel-forming composition printing module, containing a UV-module, and at least one nozzle capable of dosing gel-forming composition that starts polymerizing under the influence of UV radiation, a module for relatively displacing the nozzles and/or the platform, and in which the bioink printing module is separated from the gel-forming-composition printing module in such a way so as to prevent UV radiation from reaching the bioink printing module, the radiation from the UV module being directed predominantly parallel to the platform for printing, in such a way so as to prevent UV radiation from reaching the biological tissues and/or organs being printed. The technical result of the invention is the development of a multi-functional device capable of combining various printing modes, providing a method of high-resolution printing of living tissues and organs based on UV-induced hydrogel polymerization, and a method of cell protection from UV radiation during the printing process.

Provided herein are methods for the activation and expansion of T cells. Further provided are methods for the use of the T cells for therapy.

The present application provides: a suppressor of pluripotent stem cell aggregation for use in suspension culture of pluripotent stem cells, comprising a cell cycle arresting agent; a method for producing a pluripotent stem cell aggregate(s), comprising a step of subjecting pluripotent stem cells to suspension culture in a culture medium comprising the suppressor; a pluripotent stem cell aggregate obtained by the method; and a composition for culture of pluripotent stem cells comprising a cell aggregate(s) of pluripotent stem cells, a culture medium, and a cell cycle arresting agent. According to the method, it is possible, in suspension culture of pluripotent stem cells, to produce a cell aggregate(s) with high cell viability and appropriate size in a high yield while maintaining the undifferentiated state of the cells and suppressing the aggregation.

The present invention provides, among other things, methods for producing platelets including the steps of providing a silk membrane about 2 μm and 100 μm thick, inclusive, contacting the silk membrane with a porogen to form a porous silk membrane comprising at least one silk wall defining a lumen, associating the porous silk membrane with stromal derived factor-1? and at least one functionalizing agent, forming a three dimensional silk matrix comprising interconnected pores wherein the pores have a diameter of between about 5 and 500 μm, inclusive, wherein the silk matrix is formed around at least a portion of the porous silk membrane, introducing a plurality of megakaryocytes to the silk matrix such that the megakaryocytes are located at least partially within the porous silk matrix, and stimulating the plurality of megakaryocytes to produce platelets. Also provided are various new compositions and methods of making those compositions.