The present invention relates to a method for producing astrocytes comprising obtaining neural progenitor cells from stem cells so as to continuously produce astrocytes with high purity and same traits, followed by two steps of differentiating the neural progenitor cells into the astrocytes, and astrocytes produced therefrom. Since the method of preparing the astrocytes provided in the present invention enables not only production of the astrocytes with high purity and faster production of the astrocytes with same characteristics, but also rapid differentiation of the astrocytes using the neural progenitor cells when necessary, it can be widely used for effectively treating a patient with a disease which requires transplantation of the astrocytes.

A method of generating a population of cells useful for treating a brain disorder in a subject is disclosed. The method comprises contacting mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with at least one exogenous miRNA having a nucleic acid sequence at least 90% identical to a sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 15-19 and 27-35, thereby generating a population of cells and/or generating neurotrophic factors that may provide important signals to damaged tissues or locally residing stem cells. MSCs differentiated by miRs may also secrete miRs and deliver them to adjacent cells and therefore provide important signals to neighboring endogenous normal or malignant cells.

Embodiments disclosed here provide engineered modified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), artificially prostaglandin E2 (PGE.sub.2)-stimulated HSCs, compositions comprising these HSCs, methods of using these modified HSCs for treating autoimmune diseases and disorders and for suppressing the immune system. In particular, the engineered modified HSCs or PGE.sub.2-stimulated HSCs express the surface marker, programmed cell death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1).

The present invention provides a method for producing platelets that can improve at least one of the ability of megakaryocyte to produce platelets and the bioactivity of platelets produced even in high-density culture, for example. The method for producing platelets of the present invention includes a platelet producing step of producing platelets from megakaryocytes, wherein the platelet producing step is performed in the presence of at least one of glycine and cysteine.

The present invention refers to a reliable and reproducible industrialisation method for the elimination of air bubbles in the production of an engineered vascular tissue for in vitro testing of medical products for human use and veterinary products for animal use.

Multi-step methods for the in vitro production of enucleated red blood cells and the enucleated red blood cells thus prepared are provided. Such enucleated red blood cells may express fusion proteins comprising an antigen binding protein which allows the red blood cell to bind a toxin or an antigen of a pathogen. Also described herein are methods for neutralizing a toxin or pathogen in a subject by administering enucleated red blood cells that express any of the fusion proteins provided herein.

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

A borophosphate glass composition including B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5, and CaO, and optionally a source additive selected from: Li.sub.2O, Na.sub.2O, K.sub.2O, Al.sub.2O.sub.3, ZnO, MgO, Fe.sub.2O.sub.3/FeO, CuO/Cu.sub.2O, and mixtures thereof, as defined herein. Also disclosed are bioactive compositions or substrates including the disclosed borophosphate glass composition, and at least one live cell. Also disclosed are methods of inhibiting or increasing the relative amount of species containing boron, phosphorous, or both, being released into an aqueous solution from aborophosphate glass composition defined herein. Also disclosed is a method of proliferating cells on a bioactive substrate as defined herein. Also disclosed are related glass compositions that exclude one of B.sub.2O.sub.3, P.sub.2O.sub.5, and CaO.

The present invention relates in part to nucleic acids encoding proteins, nucleic acids containing non-canonical nucleotides, therapeutics comprising nucleic acids, methods, kits, and devices for inducing cells to express proteins, methods, kits, and devices for transfecting, gene editing, and reprogramming cells, and cells, organisms, and therapeutics produced using these methods, kits, and devices. Methods for inducing cells to express proteins and for reprogramming and gene-editing cells using RNA are disclosed. Methods for producing cells from patient samples, cells produced using these methods, and therapeutics comprising cells produced using these methods are also disclosed.

The present invention relates in part to nucleic acids encoding proteins, nucleic acids containing non-canonical nucleotides, therapeutics comprising nucleic acids, methods, kits, and devices for inducing cells to express proteins, methods, kits, and devices for transfecting, gene editing, and reprogramming cells, and cells, organisms, and therapeutics produced using these methods, kits, and devices. Methods for inducing cells to express proteins and for reprogramming and gene-editing cells using RNA are disclosed. Methods for producing cells from patient samples, cells produced using these methods, and therapeutics comprising cells produced using these methods are also disclosed.