Synthetic cellular support systems in the form of engineered extracellular matrices are provided. The cellular support system may include a three-dimensional scaffold structure comprising at least one void. At least one suspended fibril spans across the at least one void in the three-dimensional scaffold structure. The suspended fibril comprises at least one extracellular matrix protein, such as fibronectin, and at least one glycan, such as a hyaluronic acid. The suspended fibril is capable of supporting cells and promoting three-dimensional cellular growth. In various aspects, a plurality of suspended fibrils may span the void to form a three-dimensional suspended fibrillar network.

A synthetic tissue-graft scaffold (10) includes one or more nominally identical scaffold cages (12) that are configured to facilitate regrowth of tissue of an organism in and around the scaffold cages. Each scaffold cage comprises a volumetric enclosure (14) bounded by a perforated wall structure (30) that has an interior surface (32) and an exterior surface (34). A first annular inlet (22) and second annular inlet (24) positioned at opposite ends of the enclosure form, respectively, a first conjoining surface (54) and a second conjoining surface (56) that are configured so that confronting conjoining surfaces form complementary surfaces to each other. A perforated platform (60) is bounded by the interior surface of the enclosure and provides passageways (62) within the interior chamber. Corridors (40) extend through the perforated wall structure and communicate with the passageways to enable migration of material within and out of the cage.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a cell culture substratum which has excellent resistance to liquid culture media and low cytotoxicity, can achieve a high cell adhesion ratio and a high viability of cultured cells, has excellent thermal stability, and is less likely to absorbs ultraviolet ray. A cell culture substratum which is provided with a substrate made from an inorganic material and has multiple concavo-convex structures on a culturing surface thereof, wherein, when the concavo-convex structures are measured with an atomic force microscope in accordance with JISB0601 and JISR1683 (measured area: a 1 μm-square, cut-off value of a low-pass contour curve filter: 1 nm, cut-off value of a high-pass contour curve filter: 170 nm), the average of the lengths of contour curve elements of the concavo-convex structures is 1 to 170 nm as measured in at least one direction (when a curve showing long-wavelength components that are blocked by the high-pass contour curve filter is converted to a straight line by the least square method, the average line is a line that is parallel with the straight line and indicates a height cumulative relative frequency distribution in the contour curve of 50%).

The process of making a mineralized mycelium scaffolding requires obtaining a scaffold of fungal biopolymer having a network of interconnected mycelia cells, functionalizing the biopolymer to create precursor sites and thereafter mineralizing the scaffold with one of silicates, apatites and carbonates. The mineralized mycelium scaffolding may be used for medical applications in place of mineralized collagen membranes and collagen/hydroxyapatite composite scaffolds.

A modular synthetic tissue-graft scaffold (10) includes one or more nominally identical scaffold cages (12) configured to facilitate regrowth of tissue of an organism in and around the scaffold cages. Each scaffold cage comprises a volumetric enclosure (18) bounded by a perforated wall structure (40). A recess (24) formed at one end of the volumetric enclosure defines an inner stepped coupling surface. An annular raised portion (26) positioned at the other end of the volumetric enclosure forms an outwardly projecting stepped seating surface sized to form a complementary matable surface to the inner stepped coupling surface for whenever an inner stepped coupling surface of another one of the cages is placed on the outer stepped seating surface of the scaffold cage. Corridors (46) extending through the perforated wall structure and communicating with passageways (54) within the volumetric enclosure enable migration of material within and out of the scaffold cage.

Bone grafts and constructs including stem cells are provided. Example bone grafts include osteogenic stem cells seeded on a scaffold of osteoconductive cortico-cancellous chips and/or osteoinductive demineralized bone. Example constructs include extracellular matrix on a synthetic scaffold, in which the ECM is secreted from MSCs seeded onto the synthetic scaffold. Also provided are methods of making the present bone grafts and scaffolds. Further provided are methods of promoting bone healing and treating wound healing, by administering the present bone grafts and constructs to a mammal in need thereof Also provided are kits that include the present bone grafts and/or constructs, or components thereof.

The invention relates to the fields of biomaterials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. More specifically, it relates to biomaterial substrates having precise surface properties and the use thereof to investigate cell-material interactions. Provided is a cell culture system having a biomaterial substrate which has at least a first linear surface gradient oriented orthogonally to a second linear surface gradient, wherein the first gradient and the second gradient are selected from the group consisting of stiffness (S), (aligned) topography (T) and wettability (W). Also provided is a cell screening platform having a combination of at least two, preferably at least three, more preferably four distinct cell culture systems.

The subject invention concerns materials and methods for culture of cell aggregates. The subject invention utilizes three-dimensional (3-D) inserts comprising micro-channels having selected dimensions. The inserts are provided in or on tissue culture plates that can be supported on a programmable rocking platform/station, thereby providing for a hydrodynamic environment that promotes 3-D aggregation of cells cultured on the plates. The supporting rocker is programmed to provide motion that generates hydrodynamic conditions that support 3-D cell aggregation and long-term culture. The subject invention also concerns an apparatus comprising a tissue culture vessel that comprises a 3-D insert of the present invention, and a programmable rocking platform/station that can provide motion to the vessel provided thereon, thereby generating hydrodynamic conditions and wave motion that support 3-D cell aggregation and cell culture. The subject invention also concerns methods for growing 3-D aggregates of cells.

Solid, porous, glass-based substrate for storage and delivery of useful microorganisms are described. Materials include one or more microorganisms lyophilized on the substrate, e.g., in the form of a lyophilized biofilm. The materials can be utilized for long-term storage, transport, and deployment of one or more microorganisms, such as consortium of microorganisms at a remediation site.

Bone grafts and constructs including stem cells are provided. Example bone grafts include osteogenic stem cells seeded on a scaffold of osteoconductive cortico-cancellous chips and/or osteoinductive demineralized bone. Example constructs include extracellular matrix on a synthetic scaffold, in which the ECM is secreted from MSCs seeded onto the synthetic scaffold. Also provided are methods of making the present bone grafts and scaffolds. Further provided are methods of promoting bone healing and treating wound healing, by administering the present bone grafts and constructs to a mammal in need thereof. Also provided are kits that include the present bone grafts and/or constructs, or components thereof.