The invention is directed to a modified polysaccharide hydrogel, comprising a low molecular weight alginate with a specific M/G ratio. The modified polysaccharide is modified with a specific peptide, preferably comprising a cell-adhesion peptide. The modified polysaccharide hydrogel may be used as a hydrogel for the growth of cultured meat preferably as a sacrificial biopolymer.

Methods are described for preparing auditory progenitor cells from gingival mesenchymal cells, for uses such as restoring hearing in hearing impaired individuals. In one aspect, a method of treating hearing loss associated with loss of sensory neurons in a human subject is provided, the method comprising the steps of: a. obtaining a population of gingival mesenchymal stem cells (GMSCs); b. optionally expanding the population of GMSCs in vitro; c. encapsulating the population of GMSCs in an elastic three-dimensional scaffold; d. exposing the encapsulated population of GMSCs to a composition comprising one or more growth factors; e. allowing co a sufficient period for the population of GMSCs to differentiate towards auditory progenitor cells; f. optionally retrieving the auditory progenitor cells from the scaffold; and g. introducing the auditory progenitor cells into the inner ear of the subject.

A method for producing at least one microneedle containing a vaccine for transdermal delivery of the vaccine to a patient includes preparing microparticles or nanoparticles of encapsulated vaccine by preparing a solution comprising a vaccine antigen and a biocompatible polymer matrix; and spray drying the solution to form the microparticles or nanoparticles. The method includes the further steps of preparing a film composition including at least one pre-polymer solution; preparing a suspension comprising the microparticles or nanoparticles and the film composition; loading the suspension into a 3D printer; printing, via the 3D printer, at least one microneedle made from the suspension; and, converting the pre-polymer solution into a cross-linked biopolymer by exposing the at least one microneedle to UV light. Also disclosed are microneedles containing a vaccine for transdermal delivery.

The present disclosure discloses a preparation method and use of a crosslinked hydrogel for muscle stem cell culture, and belongs to the technical field of biological food materials. Chitosan, alginate, dextran and Ca.sup.2+ are crosslinked through physical crosslinking to form a double-network hydrogel with a high mechanical strength, the hydrogel is coated with heparin and collagen through dip coating, such that the hydrogel can immobilize growth factors and adhere to cells. Meanwhile, extracted primary muscle stem cells are inoculated onto the hydrogel and cultured in a growth medium (79% of DMEM, 10% of FBS and 1% of double antibodies) for 24 h. The cells are cultured in an incubator with a differential medium (97% of DMEM, 2% of horse serum and 1% of double antibodies) for 7 d. The hydrogel can enhance the absorption to nutrient substances by the muscle stem cells and facilitate growth of the muscle stem cells. The double-network hydrogel has the potential to be a scaffold for growth of muscle stem cells for cultured meat from stem cells.

Described is a crosslinked hydrogel for muscle stem cell culture and a preparation method and use thereof. The preparation method includes: dissolving collagen to prepare a solution and adding alginate and heparan sulfate proteoglycan and uniformly mixing with the collagen solution; adding ε-PL and TGase into the solution, uniformly stirring, and putting a slurry into a mold for crosslinking to obtain the hydrogel. The hydrogel is prepared by linking the collagen, the polylysine, and the heparan sulfate proteoglycan using the TGase to form covalent crosslinking, and forming a compact three-dimensional “egg box” network structure through a physical electrostatic interaction between the polylysine and the alginate.

A microcapsule which is used in tissue regeneration, which may be specifically directed to the damaged tissues, and which forms an extracellular matrix-like structure at a certain point and thus allows cell proliferation.

The present invention relates to a composition comprising a 3D printed hydrogel, wherein at least two different populations of cells are embedded in the 3D printed hydrogel. The different populations of cells can produce one or more products. The 3D printed hydrogel can be lyophilized and rehydrated, and the cells can continue to produce the product. Also disclosed are methods of producing a product, and methods of producing a 3D printed hydrogel comprising different populations of cells.

The present disclosure discloses a crosslinked hydrogel for muscle stem cell culture and a preparation method and use thereof, and belongs to the technical field of biological food materials. The preparation method includes: dissolving collagen to prepare a solution and adding a certain amount of alginate and heparan sulfate proteoglycan for being uniformly mixed with the collagen solution; and adding ε-PL and TGase into the solution, uniformly stirring, and putting a slurry into a mold for crosslinking to obtain the hydrogel. The hydrogel is prepared by linking the collagen, the polylysine and the heparan sulfate proteoglycan using the TGase to form covalent crosslinking, and forming a compact three-dimensional “egg box” network structure through a physical electrostatic interaction between the polylysine and the alginate. The hydrogel can enhance the absorption to nutrient substances by the muscle stem cells and facilitate the growth of the muscle stem cells. The double-network crosslinked hydrogel has the potential to be a scaffold for the growth of muscle stem cells for cultured meat from stem cells.

Disclosed is a device for the culture of cells, which device is able to support and/or maintain the cells within an environment which mimics one or more in vivo environmental condition(s). Using these devices, cells can be cultured or maintained under conditions which ensure that the cells behave and respond substantially as they would in vivo. Further, the cells can be stimulated or exposed to exogenous agents (drugs and the like) and any response determined to be one which is indicative of an in vivo response.

The present disclosure relates to implantable constructs designed to deliver antigenic therapeutic reagents to a subject while providing protection from host immune responses. In certain aspects, the constructs are designed to degrade over time or upon a particular signal, thereby providing control of the length of time the therapeutic agent is delivered to the subject.