Micro-Organospheres, including Patient-Derived Micro-Organospheres (PMOSs), apparatuses and methods of making them, and apparatuses and methods of using them. Also described herein are methods and systems for screening a patient using these Patient-Derived Micro-Organospheres, including personalized therapies.

A transport medium for a microorganism is provided. The transport medium includes at least one chaotropic substance, at least one acid, at least one buffer, at least one chelating agent, and at least one detergent. The transport medium is able to inactivate bacteria and viruses at the time of sample collection, stabilize and preserve microbial nucleic acids at ambient temperature for extended periods of time.

Disclosed herein are compositions and methods related to differentiation of stem cells into pancreatic islet cells. In some aspects, the methods provided herein relate to generation of pancreatic β cell, α cell, δ cells, and EC cells in vitro. In some aspects, the disclosure provides pharmaceutical compositions including the cells generated according to the methods disclosed herein, as well as methods of treatment making use thereof.

The invention provides a thermosensitive peptide hydrogel, which comprises water, a polyether/polyol polymer and a peptide molecule. The peptide molecule has a structure represented by the following chemical formula (1). Chemical Structure (1): ##STR00001##

The invention provides tissue culture system for primary cells (e.g. normal mammalian primary epithelial progenitors). This system includes: a) a serum-free, chemically defined cell culture media; and, b) methods for isolation and in vitro long-term propagation of primary cells (e.g. primary epithelial cells). Primary cells so isolated and cultured can be kept undifferentiated and proliferate for many weeks (>15 weeks) or population doubling (>35 PD) without senescence, or any detectable genetic alterations. Upon changing media/culture conditions, these cells can be induced to differentiate. The invention also provides methods to transform normal primary cells so cultured into “cancer stem cells.” The genetically defined cancer stem cell tumor model mimics the behavior of the disease closely, e.g., the cells are invasive, hormone responsive and metastatic when injected into mice. The tumor cells express genes that are specific to cancer stem cells identified in patient samples.

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.

An enzyme responsive shape memory polymer formed from a glassy, cross-linked shape memory polymer that incorporates ester bonds that are responsive to the present of an enzyme. PCL-based polyurethanes (featuring simple alternation of PCL diol and lysine-based diisocyanate) are degradable by Amano lipase PS. A non-degradable thermoplastic elastomer may be dual electrospun with a polycaprolactone based TPU with the fixing phase compressed so that the composite is ready for enzymatically triggered contraction. Alternatively, the elastomer may be a PCL copolymer-based polyurethane amorphous elastomer that is both degradable and elastomeric and put into compression so that upon enzymatic degradation of the elastomeric phase the scaffold expands.

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.

A transfection reagent composition comprising: 30-60 MOL. % of a cationic lipid, or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof; 10-60 MOL % of a structural lipid; 10-20 MOL % of a triglyceride; and 0.1 to about 10 MOL. % of a stabilizing agent, is provided. The transfection agent is effective in transfecting cells, particularly neurons, with siRNA, mRNA and plasmid nucleic acid, Sand maintaining viability of the cells as well as activity of the delivered nucleic acid.

The invention provides a substrate for producing cell aggregates provided with a spot(s) comprising a copolymer containing recurring units derived from monomers represented by the following formulae (I) and (II):

##STR00001##

wherein U.sup.a1, U.sup.a2, R.sup.a1, R.sup.a2 and R.sup.b are as defined herein, on a substrate having an ability to inhibit adhesion of cells, wherein a completion time of forming cell aggregates after seeding cells is within 20 hours.