Algae-containing beads comprising a microorganism such as unicellular microalgae, an insoluble carbon source such as char, water, and a crosslinked organic matrix. The beads can further contain clay, such as kaolin.

Methods of improving the in vivo survival of mesencymal stem cells are described. The method comprising the steps of: a) selecting, from a heterogeneous group of MSCs, MSCs having high expression of NG2; b) expanding the MSCs selected in step a); c) attaching the MSCs expanded in step b) to a scaffold; and d) implanting the scaffold with the MSCs in a mammal.

A bioactive filamentary structure includes a sheath coated with a mixture of synthetic bone graft particles and a polymer solution forming a scaffold structure. In forming such a structure, synthetic bone graft particles and a polymer solution are applied around a filamentary structure. A polymer is precipitated from the polymer solution such that the synthetic bone graft particles and the polymer coat the filamentary structure and the polymer is adhered to the synthetic bone graft particles to retain the graft particles.

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 are methods of controlling disassociation of cells from a carrier, compositions, and methods of collecting cells. The methods of controlling disassociation of cells from a carrier may include contacting a polymeric carrier with one or more digesting agents to disassociate at least a portion of a plurality of cells from the polymeric carrier. The polymeric carrier may be crosslinked with a crosslinker including at least one of a redox sensitive moiety, a UV light sensitive moiety, a pH sensitive moiety, and a temperature sensitive moiety.

In one aspect, methods of promoting bone growth are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of promoting bone growth described herein comprises promoting cell differentiation or phenotype progression in a population of bone cells by providing a citrate-presenting composition to the population of bone cells. In some embodiments, the citrate-presenting composition is provided to the bone cells at a first stage of cell development selected to obtain a first cell differentiation or phenotype progression. Additionally, in some cases, a second citrate-presenting composition is further provided to the bone cells at a second stage of cell development selected to obtain a second cell differentiation or phenotype progression.

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.

Described herein are methods, compositions, and kits for forming engineered in vitro biomimetic, three-dimensional, tubular organoid structures by directed differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells within tubular channels formed in a hydrogel.

A bioactive filamentary structure includes a sheath coated with a mixture of synthetic bone graft particles and a polymer solution forming a scaffold structure. In forming such a structure, synthetic bone graft particles and a polymer solution are applied around a filamentary structure. A polymer is precipitated from the polymer solution such that the synthetic bone graft particles and the polymer coat the filamentary structure and the polymer is adhered to the synthetic bone graft particles to retain the graft particles.

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%).