Engineered tissue models based on three-dimensional (3D) scaffolds, also referred to herein as tissue-engineered 3D models, can be used as in vitro diagnostic and drug screening tools for predicting, preventing and/or treating cancer metastases.

A cell cultivation apparatus for cultivating microorganisms and growing cells at high density is provided. The apparatus includes a membrane comprising multiple surface features on a first side of the membrane for cell placement. The surface features comprising one or more compartments within which a cell can be located. The membrane includes a material that is at least partially permeable to gas. A second side of the membrane defines a gas region. The second side of the membrane is separated from the first side of the membrane by the membrane. The apparatus further includes a media region for receiving media. The compartments are configured to at least partially reduce media flow shear forces on one or more cells in the compartments. The surface features may be ridges, protrusions, fins, wells, and/or posts.

Biocompatible macroporous microcarriers, including microcarrier beads, microspheres, capsules, microsponges, hydrogels and other matrix forms, appropriate for use in a shaking flask or bioreactor to culture cells are described herein that can be used to create an edible structure for consumption or research investigation. Biocompatible, macroporous microcarriers can be dissolved or remain in the final product. Biocompatible macroporous microcarriers are formed by saccharides that are cross-linked via chemical induction with agitated cryo-gelation. Cross-linked macroporous, saccharide-microcarriers are coupled to adherence factors that enable cell binding. Finally, the cells are attached to the microcarrier for proliferation.

Mineralization occurs during weathering of silicate materials/rocks rich in CA+ and Mg+, particularly peridotite which composes Earth's upper mantle. The carbon mineralization mantle peridotite is the base activated carbon for nanostructured-carbon-base-material. The nanostructured-carbon-base-material using mantle peridotite carbon mineralization based activated carbon nanotubes is a new catalyst for batteries and fuel-cell use that doesn't use precious metal such as platinum and that performs as effectively as many well-known, expensive precious-metal catalysts. The nanostructured-carbon-base-material using mantle peridotite carbon mineralization based activated carbon nanotubes makes possible the creation of economical lithium-air batteries that could power electric vehicles. The carbon nanotubes have useful qualities such as slim, strong, lightweight, high electronic conductivity, has metallic/semiconductive properties that are useful in (1) electronics i.e. wiring, transistor; (2) material that reinforced resin/metal; (3) energy source i.e. catalysis support, ion adsorption, capacitors; (4) nanotechnology i.e. nanostructure; and (5) biotechnology i.e. cell cultivating, drug delivery system, biosensor.

The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating curvature-defined (C-D) or shape-defined (S-D) concave and convex polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) surfaces and a method of fabricating C-D or S-D convex and concave gel surfaces for use in cell and tissue culturing and in other surface and interface applications, and provides a method of using C-D or S-D convex and concave surfaces with varying curvatures to direct cell attachment, spreading, and migration.

A method for forming microcarriers includes forming liquid drops from a sol-gel solution; depositing the drops in the form of a liquid on a first, preferably hydrophobic support; deforming the drops deposited on the first support; solidifying the drops by gelling and drying, so as to form solid microcarriers; and extracting the solidified microcarriers from the first support.

The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling freeze-drying of a hydrogel wherein the method comprises adjusting the residual water content of the freeze-dried hydrogel, and to a freeze-dried hydrogel composition comprising nanoscale cellulose and a at least one biomolecule selected from an oligosaccharide or a disaccharide. The present disclosure further concerns the use of the freeze-dried hydrogel composition for cell culturing, a cell culturing scaffold as well as a process for manufacturing a reconstituted hydrogel.

The present invention relates to a low-serum medium composition for culturing Vero cells, and a method for culturing Vero cells and a method for producing a virus, both using the same.

3D native tissue-derived scaffolding materials are made in various formats, including but not limited to hydrogel, sponge, fibers, microspheres, and films, all of which function to better preserve natural extracellular matrix molecules and to recapitulate the natural tissue environment, thereby effectively guiding tissue regeneration. Tissue-derived scaffolds are prepared by incorporating a homogenized tissue-derived suspension into a polymeric solution of synthetic, natural, or hybrid polymers. Such tissue-derived scaffolds and scaffolding materials have a variety of utilities, including: the creation of 3D tissue models such as skin, bone, liver, pancreas, lung, and so on; facilitation of studies on cell-matrix interactions; and the fabrication of implantable scaffolding materials for guided tissue formation in vivo. The tissue-derived scaffolds and scaffolding materials also provide the opportunity to correlate the functions of extracellular matrix with tissue regeneration and cancer metastasis, for example.

The present application relates to microcarrier particles for cell culture, a method for preparing the particles, and a cell culture medium composition including the particles. According to the present application, a microcarrier having a high degree of uniformity in shape or form, having porosity, and advantageous for cell attachment and isolation of cultured cells is provided.