The present invention relates to a biomaterial comprising adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), a ceramic material and an extracellular matrix. In particular, the biomaterial according the present invention secretes osteoprotegerin (OPG), and comprises insulin-like growth factor (IGF1) and stromal cell-derived factor 1-alpha (SDF-1). The present invention also relates to methods for producing the biomaterial and uses thereof.

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.

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.

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 m-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%).

A cellular support system comprises a three-dimensional scaffold structure comprising at least one void. At least one suspended protein bridge spans across the at least one void in the three-dimensional scaffold structure. The suspended protein bridge is capable of supporting cells and promotes three-dimensional cellular growth. In certain aspects, the protein in the suspended protein bridge is an extracellular matrix protein, such as collagens, laminins, fibronectins, and combinations thereof. Such a cellular support system supports thriving cell cultures in three-dimensions emulating cell growth in vivo in an extracellular matrix, including promoting cell remodeling. Methods for making such cellular support systems are also provided.

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. In one embodiment, one or more micro-channels are provided in a 3-D insert that can be provided in or placed within the tissue culture plate. Cells are placed in the micro-channels of the inserts in the tissue culture plates that comprise a suitable cell growth medium for the particular type of cell. The supporting rocker is programmed to provide motion that generates hydrodynamic conditions that support 3-D cell aggregation and long-term culture. Aggregated cells can be harvested and isolated from the micro-channels of the 3-D inserts in the tissue culture plate at suitable times. 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. Methods of the invention comprise culturing cells in a micro-channel of a 3-D insert of the invention provided in or as part of a tissue culture vessel or the well of a tissue culture vessel.

A pharmaceutical active ingredient for cell differentiation to alleviate cell and cell-related deficiencies in mammals comprising porous silica containing a releasable agent capable of contributing to a cell environment conducive for stem cell differentiation in co-implanted stem cells and/or in endogenous stem cells.

The present invention relates to a biomaterial comprising adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), a ceramic material and an extracellular matrix. In particular, the biomaterial according the present invention secretes osteoprotegerin (OPG), and comprises insulin-like growth factor (IGF1) and stromal cell-derived factor 1-alpha (SDF-1). The present invention also relates to methods for producing the biomaterial and uses thereof.

A composition includes porous silica particles to carry a cell fate modulating factor therein. A method for modulating cell fate includes treating various cells with the composition. The cell fate modulating factor is delivered to a stable target receptor, toxicity to subject cells for delivery may be reduced, a fate of the subject cells can be controlled through sustained release of at least 99 wt. % of the cell fate modulating factor.

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.