A method of preparing an isolated serum fraction of platelet rich fibrin, cell cultures comprising said serum fraction and its use as a cell culture additive. The invention also relates to increasing proliferation rate of chondrocytes, to the treatment of articular or joint diseases and to increasing the proliferation rate of mesenchymal stem cells. The isolated serum fraction of platelet rich fibrin (PRF), is prepared by providing platelet rich plasma (PRP) without the addition of an anticoagulant; clotting the PRP to obtain a coagel of PRF; and separating the coagel to isolate the serum fraction which comprises an activated platelet releasate; and further provides for the isolated serum fraction obtained by such method, and its medical use.

The present invention relates to use of hydrogel based on RGD-conjugated alginate with and without addition of nanocellulose and/or fibrin as a novel bioink for 3D Bioprinting of human skin, particularly dermis. RGD-conjugated alginate provides adhesion sites for the human fibroblasts which result in cell adhesion and stretching which contribute to upregulation of genes producing Collagen I. In this invention, RGD-conjugated alginate is used as one of the components of the bioink for 3D bioprinting. Another innovation described herewith is use of coaxial needle when 3D bioprinting with alginate and RGD-modified alginate bioinks. A coaxial needle makes it possible to crosslink the bioink upon 3D bioprinting operation and thus achieve high printing fidelity which is required for high cell viability, proliferation and production of extracellular matrix. In this invention, the novel RGD-modified alginate bioink together with human fibroblasts is 3D bioprinted and the resulting construct shows high cell viability, high cell proliferation, high degree of stretching of fibroblasts and high productivity of Collagen I. The cell bioink construct biofabricated with this invention is ideal for testing cosmetics and active ingredients of skin care products particularly those used for skin regeneration. It is also ideal to be used as skin grafts for skin repair for patients with damaged or burned skin.

Disclosed is a method for producing a cell aggregate having bile canaliculi, including a contact step of bringing cells including hepatocytes into contact with heparin in an aqueous medium and a culture step of culturing the cells brought in contact with the heparin to form the cell aggregate.

A device for measuring a tension of a sheet-like tissue containing cardiomyocytes includes a first gel adapter holder having a frame member and a first gel holding member protruding toward a part of an inside face of the frame member for fixing one end of a film-like gel; and a second gel adapter holder having a second gel holding member for fixing the other end of the gel and a connection member connected to the second gel holding member. A kit includes the tension measuring device; a substrate having a pair of gel molding protruding members fitted along the inside face of the frame member; and a gel forming lid body having a face parallel to a gel contact face of the substrate so as to form an upper face of the gel. Further, a system for measuring the tension includes the tension measuring device.

A method of making a cardiac construct is carried out by depositing a mixture comprising live mammalian cardiac cells (e.g., individual cells, organoids, or spheroids), fibrinogen, gelatin, and water on a support to form an intermediate cardiac construct; optionally co-depositing a structural support material (e.g., polycaprolactone) with the mixture in a configuration that supports the intermediate construct; and then contacting thrombin to the construct in an amount effective to cross-link the fibrinogen and produce a cardiac construct comprised of live cardiac cells that together spontaneously beat in a fibrin hydrogel. Constructs made and methods of using the same are also described.

The invention relates to culturing brain endothelial cells, and optionally astrocytes and neurons in a fluidic device under conditions whereby the cells mimic the structure and function of the blood brain barrier. Culture of such cells in a microfluidic device, whether alone or in combination with other cells, drives maturation and/or differentiation further than existing systems.

Provided are a system and method to culture human cardiac muscle tissues in a bioreactor comprising a plurality of culture wells arranged linearly between two carbon electrodes that are exposed within each well; and two horizontal parallel flexible pillars extending from each well wherein the pillars in each well are configured to suspend an engineered tissue. Also provided is method for diagnosing myocarditis in a subject by analyzing human cardiac muscle tissues cultured in the bioreactor in the presence of blood serum or antibodies from the subject.

A method of manufacturing a multilayered cell sheet of neural crest stem cells (NCSCs), includes: (1) isolating and culturing NCSCs from peripheral nerves; (2) embedding the cultured NCSCs in a hydrogel; (3) culturing the hydrogel comprising the NCSCs embedded therein under stressed culture conditions in which a physical support is applied; and (4) culturing the resulting hydrogel of step (3) under non-stressed culture conditions in which a physical support is removed.

A mammalian in vitro system for culturing an embryo includes a collagen or fibrin matrix and endometrial and/or stromal cells. The in vitro platforms and methods according to embodiments of the invention allow for in vitro embryonic development (including implantation) prior to transfer of the embryo complex in vivo for further development.

The invention relates to the technical filed of tissue engineering and 3D printing, particularly relates to an artificial tissue progenitor and a method for preparing the same. In particular, the invention relates to an artificial tissue progenitor comprising a solid support and a plurality of microcapsules, wherein at least one microcapsule is attached to the solid support, and the microcapsule comprises a cell and a biocompatible material encapsulating the cell, to a method for preparing the artificial tissue progenitor, to a kit and a package useful for preparing the artificial tissue progenitor, to an artificial tissue obtained by culturing the artificial tissue progenitor, such as an artificial lumen, to a lumen implant or a lumen model containing the artificial tissue progenitor or the artificial lumen, to use of the artificial tissue progenitor in the manufacture of an artificial tissue, a lumen implant or a lumen model, and to use of the artificial tissue in the manufacture of a lumen implant or lumen model.