A three-dimensional cell growth containment article is described, which includes a molded body channelized by removal of sacrificial channelizing element(s) therefrom, so that the molded body contains one or more channel(s) therein, with a matrix material in at least one of such channel(s) that is supportive of three-dimensional cell growth in the matrix material. A method for making such articles is also described, in which a molded body is formed with one or more sacrificial channelizing element(s) therein, following which the sacrificial channelizing element(s) are removed. The three-dimensional cell growth containment articles of the present disclosure may be utilized in any applications in which there exists a need to reproducibly generate three-dimensional cellular structures, e.g., islet transplantation for diabetes treatment, transplantation of hormone secreting cells, cellular scaffolds for wound healing, and generation of tissue engineering structures to regain structural usefulness for orthopedic applications.

The invention relates to a cellular microcompartment comprising successively, organized around a lumen, at least one layer of pluripotent cells, an extracellular matrix layer and an outer hydrogel layer. The invention also relates to processes for preparing such cellular microcompartments.

The invention provides polymer scaffolds for cell-based tissue engineering.

This application provides constructs for use as complex cell systems of a desired shape and methods of preparing thereof. The constructs comprise cells contained within a biocompatible gel matrix deposited on a scaffold material optionally cut into defined patterns and impregnated with a crosslinking agent, wherein the biocompatible gel matrix crosslinks upon contact with the crosslinking agent on the scaffold. By stacking multiple alternating layers of the scaffold material cut into defined patterns and the biocompatible gel matrix deposited on the scaffold in defined patterns, complex 3D structures with features like embedded channels are be formed. These complex cell system constructs can be used as in vitro models of biological processes.

Described are three-dimensional, engineered, biological breast tissues, adipose tissues, and tumor models, including breast cancer models.

A hydrogel capsule comprising a stem cell core that has been induced to differentiate into a hematopoietic lineage cell, and methods for the production of hematopoietic lineage cells from stem cells encapsulated in a hydrogel.

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.

Biocompatible hydrogel compositions according to aspects of the present invention are provided wherein the biocompatible hydrogel composition is or includes a physical hydrogel, a chemical hydrogel or both a physical hydrogel and a chemical hydrogel, along with biocompatible hydrogel compositions encapsulating a therapeutic agent and methods of use thereof.

The invention features a hydrogel complex that can bind to and modulate a desired immune cell, e.g., T cell, population. In certain embodiments, the complex can be dissolved, and thus dissociated from its targeted cell, representing a safe and efficient approach for processing immune cells, e.g., T cells for clinical use. The invention also provides methods and apparatus for synthesizing hydrogel complexes, as well as methods of using the complexes to generate expanded immune cell, e.g., T cell, populations as part of adoptive immune cell, e.g., T cell, therapy systems.

A method is disclosed for coating and patterning hydrogels in order to modify surface properties. The method exploits the water content of the hydrogel and the hydrophobicity of the reaction solvent to create a thin oxide adhesion layer on the hydrogel surface. This oxide adhesion layer enables rapid transformation of the hydrophilic, cell non-adhesive hydrogel into either a highly hydrophobic or a cell-adhesive hydrogel by reaction with an alkylphosphonic acid or an ,-diphosphonoalkane, respectively. Also disclosed are coated, patterned hydrogels and constructs comprising the coated, patterned hydrogels.