In one aspect, provided is a composition (biomimetic composition) that includes a biomimetic in vitro model of an arteriolar vessel comprising: at least one of 1) human smooth muscle cells and 2) human pulmonary endothelial cells; wherein the vessel recapitulates one or more of the overall tubular geometry, morphometrics, extracellular matrix constituents, cellular morphology, cellular alignment, and functional heterotypic connections between the human smooth muscle cells and/or the human endothelial cells as compared to an in vivo arteriolar vessel. A microfluidics-based model platform of the pulmonary circulation is provided. Methods of use include measuring flow in biomimetic vessels, and to determine the resistance of these biomimetic vessels in the setting of a variety of experimental conditions that recapitulate the pathobiology of pulmonary hypertension.

The present invention relates to methods for obtaining induced smooth muscle cells (iSMCs), iSMCs, iSMCs for use in a method of treating a disease or disorder or for use in tissue engineering, and the use of skeletal muscle derived cells for obtaining iSMCs.

Methods and compositions for pre-conditioning, transduction and/or hypothermic preservation of vascular cells transduced with nucleic acid constructs for expressing pro-angiogenic factors are provided. Also provided are uses of such cells in therapy.

The microfluidic chip can comprise at least one multichamber flow assembly that can comprise a plurality of microchannels. The plurality of microchannels can comprise a first microchannel that includes: a first inlet; a first outlet; and a first chamber fluidly connected to the first inlet and the first outlet. The plurality of microchannels can comprise a second microchannel that includes: a second inlet; a second outlet; and a second chamber fluidly connected to the second inlet and the second outlet. The multichamber flow assembly can comprise a porous biocompatible membrane oriented along a longitudinal interface between the first microchannel and the second microchannel, wherein the porous biocompatible membrane is permeable for movement of biomolecules from the first chamber to the second chamber through the porous biocompatible membrane.

Provided are methods of isolating and culturing various cells in a living state including peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from peripheral blood, which use a cell membrane permeabilization method. The methods use a streptococcal hemolytic exotoxin, which binds to cholesterol present in a cell membrane so as to make a pore therein, thereby allowing an exogenous protein to be permeated into the cell, and is a technique of isolating and culturing desired cells in a living state by probing a specific intracellular protein and performing flow cytometry (FACS). According to the methods, various intracellular proteins that could not previously be isolated and cultured from a patient’s blood as well as various tissues may be targeted, and homogeneous cells may be obtained with high purity and high efficiency. Therefore, it is expected that the methods will highly contribute to many applications targeting a specific intracellular protein and research on mechanisms of various diseases and treatment thereof.

The present disclosure provides methods of bioengineering sphincters having autologous smooth muscle cells isolated from human internal anal sphincter and autologous enteric neurospheres (neural progenitor cells) isolated from human small intestine (jejunum). The isolated neural progenitor cells and smooth muscle cells are co -cultured using dual layered hydrogels and allowed to form circular, intrinsically innervated internal anal sphincter constructs. Such innervated internal anal sphincter constructs, bioengineered internal anal sphincter constructs are useful as additive implants in the treatment of fecal incontinence.

Systems, devices and methods are provided for fabricating anisotropic polymer materials. According to various embodiments, a fluidic device is employed to distribute a polymer solution and a flow-confining solution in order to generate a layered flow, where the layered flow is formed such that a polymer liquid sheet is sheathed on opposing sides by flow-confining liquid sheets. The fluidic device includes first and second fluid conduits, where the first fluid conduit receives the layered flow. The second fluid conduit has a reduced height relative to the first fluid conduit, such that the layered flow is constricted as it flows through the second fluid conduit. The constriction formed by the second flow conduit causes hydrodynamic focusing, reducing the thickness of the polymer liquid sheet, and inducing molecular alignment and anisotropy within the polymer liquid sheet as it is hardened and as strain is applied during extrusion of the sheet.

Described herein are cells, cell culture methods, and cell culture media compositions useful for producing and maintaining iPSC-derided cell lines that are of higher purity and maintain cell type integrity better than current iPSC-derived cell lines. Also disclosed are methods of using the described cells and media, such as therapeutic methods of use for the described cells. The described cells include iPSC-derived mesodermal precursor cells (MPC), which itself may differentiate into at least four different cell types. When cultured under appropriate conditions, the mesodermal precursor cells can be used to produce hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), mesenchymal stem cells (MSC), smooth muscle cells (SMC), or unlimited functional endothelial cells (UFEC). One characteristic that makes the described cells desirable is that they can be maintained in culture for a number of days, or passages, without changing phenotype through differentiation.

The present invention discloses an extracellular matrix comprising a modified polysaccharide consisting of repeating disaccharide units whereby in at least 11% of the disaccharide units one primary alcohol group is oxidized into a carboxylic acid.

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 α,ω-diphosphonoalkane, respectively. Also disclosed are coated, patterned hydrogels and constructs comprising the coated, patterned hydrogels.