Embodiments of the disclosure encompass methods and compositions related to the ability of RNA to enhance therapeutic activity of fibroblasts. In some embodiments, administration of double stranded RNA is performed through providing polyinosinicpolycytidylic acid (poly (I:C)) or a derivative thereof at a concentration sufficient to induce therapeutic properties and/or to augment therapeutic properties onto said fibroblasts. In one embodiment, enhanced therapeutic activity comprises augmentation of fibroblast migratory activity; efficacy for angiogenesis; efficacy for immune modulation; differentiation ability; production of one or more trophic factors; and/or the ability to resist apoptosis.

The presently disclosed subject matter relates generally to the delivery of electrical stimuli via cell-penetrating nanoelectrodes. Such electrical stimuli leads to differentiation of cells, including but not limited to adipose derived stem cells, to neural lineage, specifically to neural cells.

A device for isolating, retaining, separating and/or purifying mesenchymal stem cells from a heterogeneous population of cells. The device includes at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a housing, and at least one surface located in the housing, the surface having an affinity for mesenchymal stem cells, wherein the surface is in communication with the inlet and the outlet, and the at least one surface includes at least two portions facing each other, and separated by a distance ranging from 1 mm to 1 cm.

There is described a method of promoting the attachment, survival and/or proliferation of a stem cell in culture, the method comprising culturing a stem cell on a positively-charged support surface. There are also provided a cell composition prepared according to the method of the invention.

The present disclosure provides a substrate for cell culture. Systems comprising the substrate, and methods for using and manufacturing the substrate are also disclosed herein.

The present invention provides a method for producing parasympathetic neurons from neural crest cells or autonomic neural progenitor cells derived therefrom, comprising a step of culturing the neural crest cells or autonomic neural progenitor cells derived therefrom in the presence of a cAMP production promoter, a BDNF signaling pathway activator, a GDNF signaling pathway activator, an NGF signaling pathway activator, an NT-3 signaling pathway activator, vitamin C, a protein kinase C activator, and a retinoic acid receptor agonist.

The present invention provides a method for proliferating neural progenitor cells and a composition for treating neurological diseases, the composition including a proliferated neural progenitor cell. When a fetal neural progenitor cell is cultured under a hypoxia condition and/or in a medium containing tocoperol, tocoperol acetate, or a mixture thereof, the improved cell proliferation rates of the fetal neural progenitor cell are confirmed. In addition, considering an effect of the neural progenitor cell on preventing differentiation thereof into neurons at the time of proliferation, the present disclosure may contribute to mass production of neural stem cells, and accordingly, the proliferated neural progenitor cell is expected to be utilized in the treatment of a neurological disease.

A pharmaceutical composition includes a silicified cell or fraction thereof, a cationic layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the silicified cell or fraction thereof, and an immunomodulatory moiety bound to at least a portion of the cationic layer. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical composition includes a silicified cell or fraction thereof, a cationic layer disposed on at least a portion of the surface of the silicified cell or fraction thereof, an anionic layer disposed on at least a portion of the cationic layer, and an immunomodulatory moiety bound to at least a portion of the anionic layer.

Disclosed are a medium for differentiating neural stem cells into oligodendrocyte precursors and a method for preparing oligodendrocyte precursors by using the medium. The medium does not contain exogenous factors, and can avoid the contamination of exogenous factors and differentiate oligodendrocyte precursors.

A cell culture article includes a substrate having a polymer coating that is conducive to colony passaging of cells cultured on the coating. Example polymer coatings are formed from polygalacturonic acid (PGA), alginate, or combinations thereof. Cells cultured on the polymer coating can be separated from the substrate as a colony or layer of cells by exposing the polymer coating to (i) a chelating agent, (ii) a proteinase-free enzyme, or (iii) a chelating agent and a proteinase-free enzyme.