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 spheroids can be effectively utilized for screening drugs for treating cancer cell resistance.

Hollow glass microspheres (HGMS) with a controlled nanotopographical surface structure (.sup.NSHGMS) demonstrate improved isolation and recovery of cell from biological fluid. .sup.NSHGMS can be achieved by applying layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of negatively charged SiO2 nanoparticles and positively charged poly-L-arginine molecules. Then, a sheathing can be applied to the surface with an enzymatically degradable LbL film made from biotinylated alginate and poly-L-arginine. Further, a cap of anti-EpCAM antibodies and anti-fouling PEG molecules can be applied to the sheathed film covering the microspheres. Compared to smooth-surfaced HGMS, NSHGMS reveals shorter isolation times, enhanced capture efficiency and lower detection limit in, for example, commonly used cancer cell lines. An .sup.NSHGMS-based cell isolation method does not require specialized lab equipment or an external power source, and thus, can be used for separation of targeted cells from blood or other body fluid in a resource-limited environment.

The present disclosure provides a substrate for cell culture. Systems comprising the substrate, and methods for using and manufacturing the substrate are also disclosed herein.

The three main peripheral sensory neuron (SN) subtypes, nociceptors, mechanoreceptors, and proprioceptors localize to dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and convey sensations such as pain, temperature, pressure and limb movement/position. Disclosed herein is a chemically defined differentiation protocol that generates all three SN subtypes from the same starting population, as well as methods to enrich for each individual subtypes. The protocol yields high efficiency and purity cultures that are electrically active and respond to specific stimuli. Their molecular character and maturity stage are described and evidence for their use as an axotomy model is exemplified. Cell populations and compositions formed from the resulting cells, as well as methods of their use for disease treatment, drug screening, and modeling of human disorders affecting SNs are also provided.

A cell culture article, including: a substrate comprising a polygalacturonic acid compound selected from at least one of: pectic acid; partially esterified pectic acid having a degree of esterification from 1 to 40 mol %, or salts thereof; and an adhesion polymer on the surface of the polygalacturonic acid compound. A method of making and using the article are also disclosed.

Mesenchymal stem cells may be efficiently obtained from a biological cell sample containing mesenchymal stem cells by: (1) culturing the biological cell sample containing mesenchymal stem cells in a serum-free medium in the presence of vitronectin or a partial peptide thereof capable of adhering mesenchymal stem cells, and (2) collecting a cell aggregate of the mesenchymal stem cells.

There is provided a surface functionalized with cross linking groups adapted to receive antibodies and/or fragments thereof. The surface has an antibody binding biomolecule having a linker region which is covalently crosslinked to functional groups and an antibody binding region. The surface also has a cell interacting biomolecule having a linker region which is covalently crosslinked to functional groups of the surface and a cell interacting region that imparts functional attributes including cell adhesion, spreading, proliferation, differentiation and/or a functional response. The two biomolecules are present in independently controlled concentrations and have similar small molecular weights.

Composites based on a polymer and a mixture of proteins derived from a MaSp (major ampullate spidroin) protein are provides. Further, methods for preparation of same, and method of use of the composites are provided.

Compositions, devices and methods are described for improving adhesion, attachment, and/or differentiation of cells in a microfluidic device or chip. In one embodiment, one or more ECM proteins are covalently coupled to the surface of a microchannel of a microfluidic device. The microfluidic devices can be stored or used immediately for culture and/or support of living cells such as mammalian cells, and/or for simulating a function of a tissue, e.g., a liver tissue, muscle tissue, etc. Extended adhesion and viability with sustained function over time is observed.

To provide a cell culture scaffold material capable of enhancing adhesiveness of cells. The cell culture scaffold material according to the present invention contains a peptide-conjugated acrylic resin, in which the peptide-conjugated acrylic resin has a first structural part having no peptide portion in a side chain and a second structural part having a peptide portion in a side chain, and solubility parameter calculated by Okitsu's equation for the first structural part is 9.7 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 or more and 10.7 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2 or less.