The present invention relates to artificial antigen presenting cell (aAPC) scaffolds to provide cells with specific functional stimulation to obtain phenotypic and functional properties ideal to mediate tumor regression or viral clearance. In particular, the scaffolds of the present invention comprise antigens, such as peptide-MHC (pMHC) class I molecules, and specific combinations of cytokines and co-stimulatory molecules to allow effective expansion and functional stimulation of specific T cells.

A culture manufacturing method that includes: bringing adherent cells into contact with a dissolvable culture carrier that is larger than the size of the adherent cells and disposing the adherent cells on the surface of the dissolvable culture carrier, subjecting the adherent cells disposed on the surface of the dissolvable culture carrier to suspension culture in a culture medium, subjecting the dissolvable culture carrier to a modification treatment that modifies at least a portion of the surface in order to detach the adherent cells in the suspension culture from the surface of the dissolvable culture carrier, and, following the modification treatment, separating and harvesting the adherent cells from the modified dissolvable culture carrier that is larger than the size of the adherent cells on the basis of the size difference.

The invention relates to a microcarrier, comprising a continuous medium of a biocompatible polymer for culturing cells and having a three-dimensional scaffold architecture delineated peripherally by a continuous outer wall, in which spherical macropores are stacked to one another and interconnected by connecting pores. The continuous outer wall is formed with exposure pores at positions where it is in contact with the macropores, through which the interior of the microcarrier may be in fluid communication with the ambient culture medium. The microcarrier herein is produced by cast-molding and, therefore, has a continuous outer wall which provides additional mechanical strength while maintaining high porosity. The microcarrier thus produced is configured in the form of a basic geometrical body. The invention further relates to a cast-molding process for producing the microcarrier.

Polymers suitable for forming carbon nanotube-functionalized reverse thermal gel compositions, compositions including the polymers, and methods of forming and using the polymers and compositions are disclosed. The compositions have reverse thermal gelling properties and transform from a liquid/solution to a gel—e.g., near or below body temperature. The polymers and compositions can be injected into or proximate an area in need of treatment.

Disclosed is a 3D porous medium and a method of manufacture. The 3D porous medium includes (i) a support structure of transparent hydrogel particles or emulsion droplets, (ii) bacterial nutrient in open volumes between the transparent hydrogel particles, as well as within micropores in the transparent hydrogel particles, and (iii) bacterial cells within the open volumes in the support structure.

The present invention provides a method for producing a unilocular adipocyte including inducing differentiation into unilocular adipocytes of mesenchymal cells having differentiation potency into adipocytes by culturing the mesenchymal cells in suspension in a liquid medium composition capable of culturing cells or tissues in suspension, wherein the liquid medium composition contains a polymer compound having an anionic functional group that binds via a divalent metal cation to form a structure capable of suspending cells or tissues, and the method wherein the polymer compound is polysaccharide, preferably polysaccharide containing a glucuronic acid moiety, more preferably deacylated gellan gum, diutan gum or xanthan gum or a salt thereof.

The present invention relates to methods for reprogramming somatic cells into pluripotent stem cell-like cells. Such cells may express pluripotency inducing genes including Oct4, Nanog and Sox2 without introducing exogeneous genes, proteins, or chemicals. The discovery that the inhibition of mechanosensitive and stretch-activated ion channels in somatic cells specifically activates pluripotency inducing factor genes inspired the cell reprogramming culture methods in which somatic cells were incubated with the inhibitor, GsMTX4, against mechanosensitive and stretch-activated ion channels, cultured on the soft hydrogel surface, or treated with cholesterol depletion substance, methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MβCD). Described methods produce pluripotent stem cell-like cells and subsequently re-differentiated cells, which include adipocytes, osteocytes, neuronal cells. Methods may be combined to increase the efficiency of the somatic cell reprogramming A somatic cell reprogramming kit was also created with tissue culture dishes casted with hydrogel (dehydrated) and MβCD.

Methods for improved handling of isolated canine umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs), including methods for expansion of canine UC-MSCs, cryopreservation and improved post-thaw viability using adherent plates, as well as standardized methods and kits for characterizing isolated canine UC-MSCs in a cell population. Methods for improved detachment or dissociation of adherent cells and new dissociation reagents comprising nattokinase are also disclosed.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a porous scaffold for tissue engineering. It is another object of the present invention to provide a porous scaffold obtainable by the method as above described, and its use for tissue engineering, cell culture and cell delivery. The method of the invention comprises the steps consisting of: a) preparing an alkaline aqueous solution comprising an amount of at least one polysaccharide, an amount of a cross-linking agent and an amount of a porogen agent b) transforming the solution into a hydrogel by placing said solution at a temperature from about 4° C. to about 80° C. for a sufficient time to allow the cross-linking of said amount of polysaccharide and c) submerging said hydrogel into an aqueous solution d) washing the porous scaffold obtained at step c).

This invention relates to live cell constructs for producing milk in culture and compositions comprising a milk product produced by the live cell contracts, as well as methods for making a live cell construct for producing milk in culture, methods of producing milk in culture, and methods of producing a modified primary mammary epithelial cell or an immortalized mammary epithelial cell for use in a live cell construct and other methods of the present invention.