The present invention provides a scaffold for culturing retinal tissue comprising an amount of gelatin, an amount of chondroitin sulfate, an amount of hyaluronic acid, wherein the amount of gelatin, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid are prepared into a three-dimensional monolith, wherein the monolith is sectioned into planar sheets, and an amount of laminin-521.

The present invention is directed to a system including neurons over-expressing UBB+1, organized in a 3-dimensional culture, and method of using same. A process for making the system of the invention is also provided.

The present invention provides a cell culture substrate including a polymer having a lower critical solution temperature, the substrate including one or more inorganic materials selected from a water-swellable clay mineral and silica and further including an adhesive matrix in the substrate, in which the adhesive matrix is an extracellular matrix and/or an adhesive synthetic matrix. Furthermore, the invention is to provide a cell culture substrate in which the extracellular matrix is at least one selected from laminin, fibronectin, vitronectin, cadherin, and fragments thereof, and/or the adhesive synthetic matrix is poly[2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide] or an oligopeptide-supporting polymer.

Provided herein, inter alia, are methods, host cells, and vectors for producing 3-hydroxypropionate (3-HP). In some embodiments, the host cells include a recombinant polynucleotide encoding an oxaloacetate decarboxylase (OAADC) and a polynucleotide encoding a 3-hydroxypropionate dehydrogenase (3-HPDH). In some embodiments, the methods include culturing said host cell(s) in a culture medium comprising a substrate under conditions suitable for the recombinant host cell to convert the substrate to 3-HP. Expression of the OAADC and the 3-HPDH results in increased production of 3-HP, as compared to production by a host cell lacking expression of the OAADC and the 3-HPDH.

Polymers suitable for forming carbon nanotube-functionalized reverse thermal gel compositions, compositions including the polymers, and methods of forming and using the polymers and compositions are disclosed. The compositions have reverse thermal gelling properties and transform from a liquid/solution to a gel—e.g., near or below body temperature. The polymers and compositions can be injected into or proximate an area in need of treatment.

[Problem] To provide a supporting bath useful for three-dimensional tissue culture and a method for producing cultured three-dimensional tissue by using the supporting bath. [Solution] Use of a supporting bath for three-dimensional tissue culture, that comprises polymer and water, wherein a thixotropic gel is formed in the bath with the gel being dissolvable in solvent. Also, use of a method for producing the supporting bath.

Provided is a method for evaluating a sample, the method including using a mixture containing a sample including at least one member selected from the group consisting of cell support-derived components, a cell suspension containing cells, an evaluation sample obtained from a cell suspension, a sample containing a liquid and microcarriers for use in cell culture, and a sample containing a liquid obtained following treatment of microcarriers, together with at least one substance selected from the group consisting of an aromatic compound having at least one functional group selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl group, an amino group, a nitro group and a carbonyl group, and a fluorescent dye.

Disclosed is a nanofiber-based long-term primary hepatocyte culture system and a culture method, wherein the primary hepatocyte culture system has an advantage that it can culture cells in three-dimensions in vitro to maintain the original physiological activity of low proliferative primary hepatocytes for a long time by co-culturing indirectly by separating primary hepatocytes and hepatic non-parenchymal cells with a support consisting of nanofibers therebetween without direct co-culture.

A method of forming a tissue or an organ, including: disposing, in a support medium in a gel state, a composition comprising a live biologic; changing a state of the support medium from the gel state to a solid state; and supporting, in the support medium at the solid state, the live biologic in the composition.

Provided herein are hydrogel cell matrices, hydrogel cell matrix systems for the support, growth, and differentiation of a stem cell or progenitor cell and methods for making such hydrogel cell matrices.