Described is a method of forming a mineralized material by co-culturing epithelial cell, such as ameloblast, and mesenchymal cell, such as osteoblast or odontoblast, in a mineral-stimulating medium. Also described is a matrix seeded with epithelial cells and mesenchymal cells and infused with a mineral-stimulating medium capable of forming a mineralized material in the matrix. Methods of manufacturing such compositions and methods of treating mineralization-related conditions are also described.

The present invention relates to a cellular composite comprising a 3D (three dimensional) cell growth material within which a population of chondrocytes is distributed, and which has a surface that is coated with a population of osteoblasts. The invention also relates to a method of producing said cellular composite and composites produced by the method of the invention. Further the invention relates to an in vitro model for studying healthy or diseased articular cartilage, as well as uses of the composite as an in vitro model. Finally, the invention relates to a method of screening an agent for the treatment or prevention of articular cartilage disease.

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.

The present invention relates to a method for in vitro expansion of erythroid cells. The method includes subjecting erythroid cells to 3-dimensional packed cell culture using a porous structure. The use of the composition according to the present invention enables in vitro expansion of erythroid cells in the most efficient manner.

Human progenitor T cells that are able to successfully engraft a murine thymus and differentiate into mature human T and NK cells are described. The human progenitor T cells have the phenotype CD34+CD7+CD 1aCD5 or CD34+CD7+CD1aCD5+ and are derived from human hematopoietic stem cells, embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells by coculture with cells expressing a Notch receptor ligand (OP9-DL1 or OP9-DL4). Such cells are useful in a variety of applications including immune reconstitution, the treatment of immunodeficiencies and as carriers for genes used in gene therapy.

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.

Methods of differentiating a mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) to a first non-MSC cell fate, the method comprising contacting the MSC with extracellular vesicles (EVs), matrix-bound vesicles (MBVs) or a combination thereof are provided. Methods of producing artificial tissue by culturing MSCs with two sets of vesicles each comprising EVs, MBVs or both that differentiate MSCs to two different non-MSC cell fates, methods of culturing with reduced growth factors and method of differentiating an MSC to a muscle cell fate are also provided.

Disclosed herein are various bioreactor devices that mimic the mammalian joint. The bioreactor device can include a series of bioreactor chambers that contain different components of the joint, such as bone, cartilage, synovium, nerve and ligament. At least two different nutrient fluid circulation systems connect subsets of the bioreactor chambers to differentially supply nutrient fluids at concentrations optimized for the tissue that the fluid nourishes. For example, relatively hypoxic fluid can be supplied to synovium and cartilage to mimic oxygenation in the joint compartment, but normoxic fluid can be supplied to the bone and other components that have an arterial supply that provides higher oxygen concentrations. One or more or all of the bioreactor chambers can be supplied with separate inlets through which perturbation agents (such as drugs or other agents) can be introduced to model the effect of the perturbations on different components of the system. In some cases, the system can include a well plate having a plurality of wells and a bioreactor situated in each well of the well plate.