The invention provides a method of producing a connective tissue graft suitable for correcting a connective tissue defect, comprising determining the size and shape of a tissue defect, obtaining a fat tissue from a patient modelled to fit the size and shape of the tissue defect, contacting the fat tissue with one or more connective tissue specific growth or differentiation factors; and kits for such a method.

There are provided compositions and methods for lyophilization and/or storage of live vaccine strains of Francisella tularensis. More specifically, there are provided lyophilization media and uses thereof for the preparation and long-term storage of Francisella tularensis vaccines.

A cell culture medium comprising adenosine triphosphate; a carrier protein; cholesterol, linoleic acid, and lipoic acid; glutathione; at least one nucleotide salvage pathway precursor base; phosphoethanolamine; selenium; transferrin; triiodothyronine; all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) and vitamin C; zinc, magnesium, and copper; an agent that increases intracellular cAMP; epidermal growth factor (EGF); hydrocortisone; insulin; and charcoal stripped fetal bovine serum, wherein said cell culture medium is substantially free, if not entirely free, of vitamin D, androgenic hormones, androgenic ligands, estrogenic hormones, estrogenic ligands, and/or androgenic receptors.

Provided is a method of preparing a hydrogel composition including a uniform content of calcium phosphate, wherein a hydrogel composition prepared by the method has a uniform content of calcium phosphate, and thus may be used to quantify phosphates contained in the hydrogel composition. Provided is an in-vitro 3D osteoporosis model including a calcium phosphate hydrogel composition, wherein osteoblasts and osteoclasts may be three-dimensionally co-cultured inside a biogel, such that the osteoporosis model may be fabricated according to an intended use or clinical stage. Further, the model contains a calcium phosphate hydrogel with a uniform content of phosphate and thus enables quantification of calcium phosphate through measurement of phosphates, and therefore, the model may be used to screen candidate compounds for an osteoporosis drug and may effectively predict therapeutic effects of the drug on osteoporosis.

Provided is a method of serum-free culturing corneal limbal stromal stem cells and inducing them to differentiate and form spheres. Also provide is a medium combination for inducing corneal limbal stromal stem cells to form spheres or differentiate into corneal limbal stromal cells in vitro. The serum-free medium combination used herein can provide sufficient nutrients and a good environment required for cell growth and proliferation, can provide a stable in vitro expansion of corneal limbal stromal stem cells and can ensure that the expanded corneal limbal stromal stem cells keep their stemness and specificity. In addition, a system for inducing them to differentiate into corneal limbal stromal cells is successfully built. It can be used in experimental studies of corneal limbal stromal stem cells, cell therapy of corneal lesions and transplant for corneal injury.

Described herein are cells, cell culture methods, and cell culture media compositions useful for producing and maintaining iPSC-derided 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.

This disclosure relates to methods of preserving cells for space exploration, methods of culturing cells, and cell growth media. In certain embodiments, methods comprise contacting cells, such as stem cells, induced pluripotent cells, progenitor cells, and cardiac associated cells, with a cell growth medium disclosed herein providing replicated cells. In certain embodiments, methods comprise preserving and culturing cells in outer space comprising; a) freezing cells providing frozen cells; b) transporting the frozen cells to outer space; c) thawing the cells providing thawed cells; and d) culturing the thawed cells with a growth medium disclosed herein.

A method of generating MSCs which secrete neurotrophic factors (NTFs) comprising incubating a population of undifferentiated mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a differentiating medium comprising basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), heregulin and cAMP.

A method for expanding a population of γδ T-cells is provided in which isolated activated Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) are cultured in a medium comprising transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) under conditions in which the production of effector γδ T-cells having therapeutic activity against malignant disease is favored. The use of TGF-β in the production of effector cells in particular Vγ9Vδ2 T-cells is also described and claimed.

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for expansion of stem cells, such as mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), that improve translational success of the cells in the treatment of various conditions. The subject invention utilizes cell self-aggregation as a non-genetic means to enhance their therapeutic potency in a microcarrier bioreactor. In one embodiment of the method cells are cultured in a container or vessel in the presence of thermally responsive microcarriers (TRMs) wherein cells adhere to the surface of the TRMs. After a period of time the cell culture temperature is reduced so that the cells detach from the TRMs. The detached cells are allowed to form 3D aggregates. The 3D aggregates can be collected and treated to dissociate the cells. Dissociated cells can then be used for transplantation in methods of treatment or for in vitro characterization and study.