The present invention is drawn to the generation of micropatterns of biomolecules and cells on standard laboratory materials through selective ablation of a physisorbed biomolecule with oxygen plasma. In certain embodiments, oxygen plasma is able to ablate selectively physisorbed layers of biomolecules (e.g., type-I collagen, fibronectin, laminin, and Matrigel) along complex non-linear paths which are difficult or impossible to pattern using alternative methods. In addition, certain embodiments of the present invention relate to the micropatterning of multiple cell types on curved surfaces, multiwell plates, and flat bottom flasks. The invention also features kits for use with the subject methods.

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.

The substrates, systems, and methods described herein relate to textured substrates for preparing a comestible meat product. Substrates and methods are described herein for controlling one or more of growth, adhesion, retention, and/or release of cells (e.g., of a cell sheet) on or from the surface of the substrate. A method of preparing a comestible meat product may include applying a plurality of non-human cells to at least one patterned texture substrate, growing the cells on the patterned texture substrate to form the comestible meat product, and separating the comestible meat product from the patterned texture substrate. The patterned texture allows for improved growth, adhesion, retention, and/or release of cells as compared to another surface not comprising the patterned texture. In some embodiments, the cell culture substrate surfaces include a plurality of regions corresponding to a plurality of patterned textures.

Described herein are methods, compositions, and kits for directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, neuromesodermal progenitors, and neural stem cells into bioengineered elliptical neuroepithelial tissues and bioengineered neuroepithelial tubes that contain a single rosette of polarized neuroepithelial cells and have microscale cellular organization similar to that of an in vivo developing human neural tube.

An adherent cell culture substrate, which is a sheet-shaped substrate used for producing a culture vessel for adherent cells, includes a groove including a crest-shaped portion and a valley-shaped portion on one surface side of the substrate, in which a distance from a top end portion of the crest-shaped portion to the other surface of the substrate is 1 mm or less. Further, it is preferable that a cross section of the groove perpendicular to a direction in which the groove extends is formed in a substantially V-shape and an inclination angle of a side surface of the substantially V-shape of the groove is 80 degrees or less. Further, it is preferable that a plurality of the grooves are linearly arranged in parallel and the top end portions of the crest-shaped portions are formed in a linear shape.

A method for fabricating an in vitro vessel includes forming a substrate that defines a microfluidic passage therein extending along a longitudinal axis and defined by an inner surface, positioning the substrate in a vertical orientation whereby an acute angle is formed between the longitudinal axis of the microfluidic passage and the direction of gravity, and culturing a plurality of first cells in the microfluidic passage while the substrate is disposed in the vertical orientation whereby an annular layer of the plurality of first cells is formed in the microfluidic channel, wherein the layer of the plurality of first cells defines a lumen extending longitudinally through the microfluidic channel.

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.

Provided are a method for producing undifferentiated cell spheroids, the method comprising the step of culturing undifferentiated cells on a cell-adhesive surface of a cell culture sheet; a method for maintaining cell spheroids in an undifferentiated state, the method comprising the step of culturing undifferentiated cell spheroids on a cell-adhesive surface of a cell culture sheet; and a cell spheroid obtained by the method.

Dynamic polymer surfaces are provided that include alternating micropatterns of adhesive domains and environmental stimuli-responsive repulsive domains, where application of a select environmental stimulus activates polymer structures of the repulsive domains to change conformation with respect to the adhesive domains. The dynamic polymer surfaces are useful for sorting, screening, and enriching target particles (such as cells) in a sample and for culturing and harvesting cells. Products, such as cell culture systems, including the dynamic polymer surfaces are also provided.

Thin parylene C membranes having smooth front sides and ultrathin regions (e.g., 0.01 μm to 5 μm thick) interspersed with thicker regions are disclosed. The back sides of the membranes can be rough compared with the smooth front sides. The membranes can be used in vitro to grow monolayers of cells in a laboratory or in vivo as surgically implantable growth layers, such as to replace the Bruch's membrane in the eye. The thin regions of parylene are semipermeable to allow for proteins in serum to pass through, and the thick regions give mechanical support for handling by a surgeon. The smooth front side allows for monolayer cell growth, and the rough back side helps prevents cells from attaching there.