411results about "Microcarriers" patented technology

A method and system to protect users against potentially fraudulent activities associated with spoof web sites are described. According to one aspect of the present invention, the URL of a document downloaded via a web browser client is compared to the URLs in a list of URLs for known spoof sites. If the URL for the downloaded document is found in the list of URLs for known spoof sites, a security indicator is displayed to the user to indicate to the user that the downloaded document is associated with a known spoof site. According to another aspect of the invention, a security server maintains a master black list and periodically communicates updates of the master black list to the local list of a client security application.

Cells grown on a microcarrier are separated from the microcarrier by enzymatically digesting the microcarrier. More specifically, chondrocytes may be grown on dextran microcarrier beadlets and then the beadlets digested using dextranase to separate the chondrocytes from the carrier. Cells can also be grown on chitosan microcarriers to be used for implantation. In addition, cells can be grown on polysaccharide polymers to be used as implant devices. Various polymers serve as scaffolds for cells to be used for implantation. The polymers can be used for cell culture as well as for preparing scaffolds useful for tissue replacement such as cartilage tissue.

Compositions and methods for the growth and expansion of mammalian cells in culture are provided. In particular, methods for the growth and expansion of postpartum-derived cells in vitro are provided using surfaces such as microcarrier beads.

A method of manipulating allogeneic cells for use in allogeneic cell therapy protocols is described. The method provides a composition of highly activated allogeneic T-cells which are infused into immunocompetent cancer patients to elicit a novel anti-tumor immune mechanism called the “Mirror Effect”. In contrast to current allogeneic cell therapy protocols where T-cells in the graft mediate the beneficial graft vs. tumor (GVT) and detrimental graft vs. host (GVH) effects, the allogeneic cells of the present invention stimulate host T-cells to mediate the “mirror” of these effects. The mirror of the GVT effect is the host vs. tumor (HVT) effect. The “mirror” of the GVH effect is the host vs. graft (HVG) effect. The effectiveness and widespread application of the anti-tumor GVT effect is limited by the severe toxicity of the GVH effect. In the present invention, the anti-tumor HVT effect occurs in conjunction with a non-toxic HVG rejection effect. The highly activated allogeneic cells of the invention can be used to stimulate host immunity in a complete HLA mis-matched setting in patients that have not had a prior bone marrow transplant or received chemotherapy and / or radiation conditioning regimens.

Modular aAPCs and methods of their manufacture and use are provided. The modular aAPCs are constructed from polymeric microparticles. The aAPCs include encapsulated cytokines and coupling agents which modularly couple functional elements including T cell receptor activators, co-stimulatory molecules and adhesion molecules to the particle. The ability of these aAPCs to release cytokines in a controlled manner, coupled with their modular nature and ease of ligand attachment, results in an ideal, tunable APC capable of stimulating and expanding primary T cells.

The present invention provides a culture method of cells and / or tissues including culturing cells and / or tissues in a suspended state by using a medium composition wherein indeterminate structures are formed in a liquid medium, the structures are uniformly dispersed in the solution and substantially retain the cells and / or tissues without substantially increasing the viscosity of the solution, thus affording an effect of preventing sedimentation thereof, and the like.

The present invention concerns metal oxide semiconductor nanoparticles with free radical scavenging activity, compositions comprising such nanoparticles, methods for their use, and methods for their production. In one aspect, the invention concerns a method for enhancing the survival or viability of transplanted cells, comprising administering an effective amount of metal oxide semiconductor nanoparticles to a target anatomical site of a subject before, during, or after administration of transplant cells to the subject. Preferably, the metal oxide nanoparticle is a cerium oxide (ceria) nanoparticle.

A biostable porous polyether or polycarbonate polyurethane implant is manufactured from diphenyl methane diisocyanate, difunctional polytetramethylene ether glycol or a polycarbonate polyol, a trimerisation catalyst, a chain extender, water, a cross-linking agent, a blowing and / or gelling catalyst and a surfactant. The porous biomaterial has isocyanurate linkages and avoid content in excess of 85%. The implant may be used as an occluder or a tissue bridge.

A method of cell expansion is provided. The method comprising culturing adherent cells from placenta or adipose tissue under three-dimensional culturing conditions, which support cell expansion.

The present invention relates to a method of culturing peripheral lymphoid organ cells on a three-dimensional scaffolding which is covered or surrounded with culture medium, under conditions effective to generate and maintain mature and functional lymphoid cells, where the three-dimensional scaffolding allows cells in the culture medium to have cell to cell contact in three dimensions. The present invention also provides methods of screening for vaccine candidates for efficacy in eliciting an immune response, identifying genes or proteins which are related to peripheral lymphoid organ cell formation or function, screening for drugs effecting peripheral lymphoid organ cell maturation, treating a patient for a disease condition using antigen-specific lymphoid cells, and effecting gene expression of peripheral lymphoid organ cells.

Tissue engineering holds enormous potential to replace or restore function to a wide range of tissues. However, the most successful applications have been limited to thin avascular tissues in which delivery of essential nutrients occurs primarily by diffusion. Pursuant to the present invention, a prevascularized, thick tissue construct is created having a network of capillaries with lumens capable of nutrient and origin delivery and forming anastamoses to host vasculature. A tissue transplantation strategy is comprised of (1) in vitro vascularization of a tisue construct, (2) transplantation of prevascularized tissue to wound bed of host where vessels of implantable tissue and host rapidly anastomose, and (3) host-directed remodeling and reorganization of the tissue and vascular network.

Methods for treating radiation or chemical injury are described that comprise administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of adherent stromal cells. Methods of preparing adherent stromal cells and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the cells are also described.

Methods for treating a subject suffering from a compromised endogenous hematopoietic system are described that comprise administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of adherent stromal cells. Methods of preparing adherent stromal cells and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the cells are also described.

We disclose a particle comprising a matrix coated thereon and having a positive charge, the particle being of a size to allow aggregation of primate or human stem cells attached thereto. The particle may comprise a substantially elongate, cylindrical or rod shaped particle having a longest dimension of between 50 μm and 400 μm, such as about 200 μm. It may have a cross sectional dimension of between 20 μm and 30 μm. The particle may comprise a substantially compact or spherical shaped particle having a size of between about 20 μm and about 120 μm, for example about 65 μm. We also disclose a method of propagating primate or human stem cells, the method comprising: providing first and second primate or human stem cells attached to first and second respective particles, allowing the first primate or human stem cell to contact the second primate or human stem cell to form an aggregate of cells and culturing the aggregate to propagate the primate or human stem cells for at least one passage. A method of propagating human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in long term suspension culture using microcarriers coated in Matrigel or hyaluronic acid is also disclosed. We also disclose a method for differentiating stem cells.

A biodegradable device for activating T-cells includes a biodegradable support and a binder attached to the biodegradable support, the binder having reactivity to one or more agents capable of binding to a T-cell surface antigen.

The invention is directed to substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, compositions comprising the substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, and to methods of creating such substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, as well as methods of use. The invention is further directed to antibodies, in particular, monoclonal antibodies, that bind to amnion-derived cells or, alternatively, to one or more amnion-derived cell surface protein markers. The invention is further directed to methods for producing the antibodies, methods for using the antibodies, and kits comprising the antibodies.

Ex-vivo prepared T-cells are harvested from cell culture conditions and formulated in medium suitable for infusion. The formulation is made by labeling the cells with one or more agents which have reactivity for T-cell surface moieties capable of delivery activation signals upon cross-linking and mixing the labeled cells with biodegradable nanospheres or microspheres coated with a material capable of cross-linking the agents attached to the T-cell surface moieties. Alternatively, the formulation may be made by mixing a population of T-cells with biodegradable nanospheres or microspheres coated with a first material and one or more second materials. The first material binds the second material and the second material has reactivity for surface moieties on the T-cells and the interaction of the second materials with the T-cells causes the activation of the T-cells. In either method, the mixture of T-cells and biodegradable spheres are suspended in a medium suitable for infusion, and the mixture is packaged in a container.

The present invention relates to compositions comprising stem cells and partially committed progenitor cells and to methods of controlling cell proliferation and differentiation, which can be used for expansion of stem cells and their subsequent differentiation. The present invention provides expanded population of essentially undifferentiated stem cells, which are useful in clinical procedures involving stem cell therapy, and a population derived thereof of which at least part of the cells are differentiated. The cells can be used per se, as a part of a cell-bearing composition comprising cross-linked hyaluronic acid-laminin gels or as a part of a composite implant for tissue regeneration.

There is described a method of promoting the attachment, survival and / or proliferation of a stem cell in culture, the method comprising culturing a stem cell on a positively-charged support surface. There are also provided a cell composition prepared according to the method of the invention.

T-cells are generated with enhanced immunostimulatory capabilities for use in self therapy treatment protocols, by utilizing a biodegradable device with a biodegradable support that has one or more agents that are reactive to T-cell surface moieties. The biodegradable devices are mixed with the T-cells sufficiently so that the one or more agents cross-link with the T-cells' surface moieties and deliver a signal to the T-cells to enhance immunostimulatory capabilities.

A method for determining the effect of a plurality of culture conditions on a cell, comprising the steps of: a) providing a first set of groups of cell units each comprising one or more cells, and exposing said groups to desired culture conditions; (b) pooling two or more of said groups to form at least one second pool; (c) subdividing the second pool to create a further set of groups of cell units; (d) exposing said further groups to desired culture conditions; (e) optionally, repeating steps (b)-(d) iteratively as required; and (f) optionally assessing the effect on a given cell unit of the culture conditions to which it has been exposed.

The present invention is directed to methods to differentiate pluripotent stem cells. In particular, the present invention is directed to methods and compositions to differentiate pluripotent stem cells into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage comprising culturing the pluripotent stem cells in medium comprising a sufficient amount of GDF-8 to cause the differentiation of the pluripotent stem cells into cells expressing markers characteristic of the definitive endoderm lineage.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for activation and expansion of T cells using a biocompatible solid substrate with tunable rigidity. Rigidity of a substrate is an important parameter that can be used to control the overall expansion and differentiation of T cells.