The present invention generally relates to a medium composition and method for culturing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), in which the medium comprises an epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) peptide, particularly a truncated EpCAM polypeptide containing the extracellular domain (EpEX). It significantly enhances cell proliferation and multipotency of the MSCs.

A genetically-modified bacterium, for example of the class Actinobacteria, and the use of such a bacterium in the bioconversion of a steroidal substrate into a steroidal product of interest. A method of converting a steroidal substrate into a steroidal product of interest, wherein the method comprises: inoculating culture medium with genetically-modified bacteria according to any of Claims 1 to 28 and growing the bacterial culture until a target OD.sub.600 is reached; adding a steroidal substrate to the bacterial culture when the target OD.sub.600 is reached; culturing the bacterial culture so that the steroidal substrate is converted to the steroidal product of interest; and extracting and/or purifying the steroidal product of interest from the bacterial culture.

Albumin-supplemented and xenogeneic product-free cell culture media, cell culture media supplements, and cell culture media kits for the support of primary culture of normal non-hematopoietic cells of mesodermal origin suitable for both research and clinical applications.

The current invention relates to a method of differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into a human stem-cell derived population of cardiomyocytes. The method comprises the use of specific combination of steps and compounds to induce and/or promote differentiation. The method also comprises steps directed to further maturation of the cardiomyocytes obtained with the method of the invention. Also provided are kits for use in a method of differentiation as well as cell populations obtainable with the method disclosed.

Methods of culturing microalgae in acetate toxicity conditions to induce the uptake of acetate, control contamination, increase the metabolic rate, increase the respiration rate, increase the accumulation of lipids, and decreasing the accumulation of protein are disclosed. Embodiments include methods of controlling the internal microalgae cell acetate concentration by manipulating the culture pH and residual acetate concentration.

A transfection reagent composition comprising: 30-60 MOL % of an cationic lipid, or pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof; 10-60 MOL % structural lipid; a sterol and 0.1 to about 10 MOL % of a stabilizing agent is provided. The reagent is particularly adapted for neuron and related cell types. A method of manufacturing LNP including nucleic acid for selective uptake into either neurons or astrocytes or neural progenitor cells is also provided.

The present application provides a method for an assisted reproductive technology comprising using a medium comprising a low caprylic acid-containing albumin; a medium for said method; and an agent for use in said medium.

Described herein are cells, cell culture methods, and cell culture media compositions useful for producing and maintaining iPSC-derived cell lines that are of higher purity and maintain cell type integrity better than current iPSC-derived cell lines. Also disclosed are methods of using the described cells and media, such as therapeutic methods of use for the described cells. The described cells include iPSC-derived mesodermal precursor cells (MPC), which itself may differentiate into at least four different cell types. When cultured under appropriate conditions, the mesodermal precursor cells can be used to produce hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), smooth muscle cells (SMC), or unlimited functional endothelial cells (UFEC). One characteristic that makes the described cells desirable is that they can be maintained in culture for a number of days, or passages, without changing phenotype through differentiation.

The present invention concerns a method of generating a population of skeletal muscle derived human muscle precursor cells. For this purpose, a specialized FBS-free cell growth medium is used. The invention further concerns a composition comprising such a population of hMPCs for use as a medicament, especially in the treatment of skeletal muscle dysfunction.

Disclosed herein are methods for generating SC-β cells using chemically defined, completely serum free media, and isolated populations of SC-β cells for use in various applications, such as cell therapy.