128results about How to "Maintain their viability" patented technology

A method of increasing the growth of stem cells by mixing the stem cells with a growth medium that has been conditioned by an incubation with placental tissue. The method increases the expansion of the stem cell population.

Provided are a system and methods for selectively inducing expansion of a population of T cells in the absence of exogenous growth factors, such as lymphokines, and accessory cells for research purposes. The cell based expansion system and methods permit the long-term growth of CTLs, preferably human CTLs. In addition, T cell proliferation can be induced without the need for antigen, thus providing an expanded T cell population that is polyclonal with respect to antigen reactivity. Further provided are methods for using the system and methods to screen and identify antigens related to specific diseases or conditions, tumors, autoimmune disorders, or an infectious disease or pathogen, and to identify target molecule for research purposes, or for developing a vaccine based thereon.

The present invention is organ and tissue preservation solutions that provide improved viability of an organ such as a heart or lung, or portion of the organ, for storage and transplantation. In particular, a solution contains trehalose, magnesium sulfate, calcium chloride, heparin, dextran, nitroglycerin, adenosine, L-arginine, allopurinol, reduced glutathione, db-cylic AMP and potassium phosphate.

PCT No. PCT / US97 / 09300 Sec. 371 Date Feb. 10, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date Feb. 10, 1999 PCT Filed Jun. 10, 1997 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 56893 PCT Pub. Date Dec. 17, 1998The object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus for treating membrane containing material with electrical fields and with an added treating substance. With the method, a plurality of electrodes (121-128) are arrayed around the material to be treated and are connected to outputs of an electrode selection apparatus (110). Inputs of the electrode selection apparatus are connected to outputs of an agile pulse sequence generator. A treating substance is added to the membrane-containing material. Electrical pulses are applied to the electrode selection apparatus and are routed through the electrode selection apparatus in a predetermined, computer-controlled sequence to selected electrodes in the array of electrodes, whereby the membrane containing material is treated with the added treating substance and with electrical fields of sequentially varying directions. The routing of applied pulses through the electrode selection apparatus (110) to selected electrodes (121-128) can be done in an enormous number of ways.

New applications for the use of distinguishable particulate labels available in a variety of hues and sized in the submicron range are described. These applications include profiling of cellular components, obtaining secretion patterns, identifying a multiplicity of components in chromatographic or electrophoretic techniques and identification of desired immunoglobulin secreting cells.

Methods and kits for the isolation of organisms. Such methods and kits are particularly useful for concentrating and recovering viable organisms from food material. The recovered organisms are of sufficient number and purity to allow detection using a biochip device.

A method for treating cells and / or nuclear transfer units and / or stem cells in culture with such compounds, individually or in combinations, is described. The method results in a globally hypomethylated genome and a restoration of cell differentiation and / or developmental potential, or potentiality. In addition, a method for the in vitro production of reprogrammed cells which have had differentiation potential (totipotential, pluripotential, or multipotential) restored by demethylating the genome is described.

Provided are a system and methods for selectively inducing expansion of a population of T cells in the absence of exogenous growth factors, such as lymphokines, and accessory cells for research purposes. The cell based expansion system and methods permit the long-term growth of CTLs, preferably human CTLs. In addition, T cell proliferation can be induced without the need for antigen, thus providing an expanded T cell population that is polyclonal with respect to antigen reactivity. Further provided are methods for using the system and methods to screen and identify antigens related to specific diseases or conditions, tumors, autoimmune disorders, or an infectious disease or pathogen, and to identify target molecule for research purposes, or for developing a vaccine based thereon.

Sperm in semen are sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting into gender-enriched populations enriched in X-chromosome or Y-chromosome bearing sperm by use of a fluorescent quantitative DNA-binding vital stain.

New applications for the use of distinguishable particulate labels available in a variety of hues and sized in the submicron range are described. These applications include profiling of cellular components, obtaining secretion patterns, identifying a multiplicity of components in chromatographic or electrophoretic techniques and identification of desired immunoglobulin secreting cells.

This invention is a transportable organ preservation system that substantially increases the time during which the organ can be maintained viable for successful implantation into a human recipient. A chilled oxygenated nutrient solution is pumped through the vascular bed of the organ after excision of the organ from the donor and during transport. The device of the present invention uses flexible permeable tubing to oxygenate the perfusion fluid while the CO2 produced by the organ diffuses out of the perfusion fluid. One pressurized two liter “C” cylinder that contains 255 liters of oxygen at standard temperature and pressure can supply oxygen for up to 34 hours of perfusion time. The device uses a simple electric pump driven by a storage battery to circulate the perfusion fluid through the organ being transported. The vessel containing the organ to be transported is held at 4° C. by coolant blocks.

The present invention provides compositions and methods for tissue repair using a cytocompatible self-gelling cross-linked hydrogel. The composition comprises a biocompatible mixture of chitosan, bifunctional dialdehyde, and hydroxylated polymer, which can be used to immobilize or encapsulate viable cells, or bioactive substances. The method includes the process of mixing bioactive substances, live cells, and / or extracellular matrix components with a cross-linking solution comprising a bifunctional aldehyde-treated hydroxylated polymer such as hydroxyethyl cellulose. The cross-linking solution is then mixed homogenously with a neutral isotonic chitosan solution. The chitosan becomes cross-linked by the bifunctional aldehyde, while the cells are protected from potentially nocive effects of the aldehyde cross-linker by the hydroxylated polymer. The injectable solution retains cell viability and bioactivity, and immobilizes cells at the site of injection or delivery. Depending on the particular application, mixtures of chitosan and bifunctional dialdehyde may be employed. The injectable solution also liberates bioactive substances with controlled release kinetics from the site of injection.

A device for repositioning tissue includes a hand held main body having a housing which defines a chamber for holding tissue. The chamber is connected to a negative pressure source to create a vacuum in the chamber. A flexible cannula is affixed to the main body, and includes a distal end and a proximate end, with openings through the thickness of the walls of each. The cannula defines a hollow lumen which is in communication with the distal end opening and the proximate end opening and the tissue holding chamber. The distal end of the cannula may be positioned in proximity to a patient's body to receive tissue therefrom through the distal end opening and to transport the tissue through the lumen and proximate end opening to the tissue holding chamber in response to the vacuum created in the tissue holding chamber.

Formulations and methods for treating wounds utilizing these formulations are disclosed. The formulations accelerate wound healing by providing a unique serum-free cellular nutrient medium that supports wound healing of mammalian skin in the absence of protein growth factors. The protein-free composition contains physiological levels of a retinoid compound. This retinoid-containing composition enhances epidermal wound healing of both normal acute and chronic wounds by stimulating the growth of the adult epidermal keratinocytes without the need of any protein growth factors. The wound healing active composition may be used in combination with a topical wound gel preparation including both proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous biopolymers and hydrogels.

Extracorporeal cell-based therapeutic devices and delivery systems are disclosed which provide a method for therapeutic delivery of biologically active molecules produced by living cells in response to a dynamic physiologic environment. One embodiment includes long hollow fibers in which a layer of cells are grown within the intraluminal volume or within a double hollow-filled chamber. Another embodiment includes a wafer or a series of wafers providing a substrate onto which cells are grown. The wafer(s) are inserted into a device. A device may deliver a pre-selected molecule, for example, a hormone, into a mammal's systemic circulation and / or may deliver a member of different cell products. The device is adapted to secure viable cells which produce and secrete the pre-selected molecule into blood or fluid. The invention also provides a minimally invasive method for percutaneously introducing into a preselected blood vessel or body cavity the device of the invention.

A preservation method for biological material having cell membranes includes microinjecting the cells with sugar; preparing the cells for storage; storing the biological material; and recovering the stored biological material from storage. The invention also features a method of culturing a cell in vitro using a hypertonic medium. Carbohydrate sugars such as trehalose, sucrose, fructose, dextran, and raffinose, may be used as bio-protective agents or in the culture medium.

A composition is disclosed comprising virus in a formulation comprising a polyhydroxy hydrocarbon buffered to maintain a pH in a range from about 7 to about 8.5 at a temperature in the range from about 2° C. to 27° C. Methods for concentrating and purifying virus preparations are also disclosed.

Provided are a system and methods for selectively inducing expansion of a population of T cells in the absence of exogenous growth factors, such as lymphokines, and accessory cells for research purposes. The cell based expansion system and methods permit the long-term growth of CTLs, preferably human CTLs. In addition, T cell proliferation can be induced without the need for antigen, thus providing an expanded T cell population that is polyclonal with respect to antigen reactivity. Further provided are methods for using the system and methods to screen and identify antigens related to specific diseases or conditions, tumors, autoimmune disorders, or an infectious disease or pathogen, and to identify target molecule for research purposes, or for developing a vaccine based thereon.

Methods and kits for the isolation of organisms. Such methods and kits are particularly useful for concentrating and recovering viable organisms from food material. The recovered organisms are of sufficient number and purity to allow detection using a biochip device.

Acellular amnion derived therapeutic compositions are described having a number of various compositional embodiments. An acellular amnion derived therapeutic composition has essentially no live or active amniotic cells. The amniotic cells may be destroyed, and the cells and cell debris may be removed from the acellular amnion derived therapeutic composition. An acellular amnion derived therapeutic composition may comprise micronized placental tissue particles, and / or amniotic fluid. An acellular amnion derived therapeutic composition may be a dispersion of micronized amniotic membrane combined with a fluid, such as plasma, saline, amniotic fluid, combinations thereof and the like. An acellular amnion derived therapeutic composition may be combined with a matrix component to form a composite. An acellular amnion derived therapeutic composition may be used in conjunction with a composition comprising viable cells, such as stem cells.

The present invention features novel methods for the cryopreservation of mammalian cell that combine the advantages of the slow-freezing and vitrification approaches while avoiding their shortcomings. Generally, the methods include the use of a capillary tube made of a thermally conductive wall material and a thin wall such that the ratio of the thermal conductivity of the wall material to the wall thickness is at least 1,000-500,000. The solution is then exposed to temperatures equal to or less than −80° C. and the vitrification solution containing the mammalian cells is cooled at a rate equal to or greater than 30,000-100,000,000° C. / minute. The exposure of the capillary tube with a thermally conductive and thin wall allows for vitrification of the solution in the absence of ice formation. Cryoprotectants can also be added to the vitrification solution to further prevent ice formation.

Compositions and methods for inducing cell membrane wounding, cell permeabilization and cell killing are provided. The composition comprises a polyvalent agent that binds to a highly expressed cell surface antigen present on the surface of a cell. Preferably, the cell surface antigen is associated with the cytoskeleton of the cell. A preferred polyvalent agent is an IgM, and enhanced cell wounding and killing can be provided by the addition of a crosslinking agent. At sublethal concentrations in vivo, the cell wounding antibodies permeabilize cells and dramatically enhance response to chemotherapeutic agents, even in patients refractory to the chemotherapeutic agents.

The present invention describes devices, solutions, and methods for the ex-vivo assessment, resuscitation, triage, and maintenance of human candidate cadaveric hearts.

Embodiments provide swallowable devices, preparations and methods for delivering viable cells (VC) into the GI tract including GI wall tissue or other tissue site. Particular embodiments provide a swallowable device such as a capsule for delivering VC into an intestinal wall or other site. The VC can be contained within a tissue-penetrating shell disposed in the capsule that protects the VC as they pass through the GI tract until they are inserted into GI tract tissue or other location. The shell desirably has shape, size and material consistency to be contained in a swallowable capsule, delivered from the capsule into solid tissue by the application of force on the shell and biodegrade within the solid tissue to release the VC into the tissue. Within the shell or other structure the VC can be maintained in a viability-sustaining gel that preserves the viability of the VC for selected time periods.

A seat cushion for use in a wheel chair includes a foam pad contoured to the anatomy of a user positioned thereon and has an indentation in the middle thereof, which receives and drains incontinence fluid from the user. The foam pad encloses an air channel between the indentation and at least one side of the foam pad. A fan housed inside the pad pushes air through the air channel, into the indentation and onto the user. Alternatively, the seat cushion may house an air conditioner to circulate cooled air to the skin of the user.

Extracorporeal cell-based therapeutic devices and delivery systems are disclosed which provide a method for therapeutic delivery of biologically active molecules produced by living cells in response to a dynamic physiologic environment. One embodiment includes long hollow fibers in which a layer of cells are grown within the intraluminal volume or within a double hollow-filled chamber. Another embodiment includes a wafer or a series of wafers providing a substrate onto which cells are grown. The wafer(s) are inserted into a device. A device may deliver a pre-selected molecule, for example, a hormone, into a mammal's systemic circulation and / or may deliver a member of different cell products. The device is adapted to secure viable cells which produce and secrete the pre-selected molecule into blood or fluid. The invention also provides a minimally invasive method for percutaneously introducing into a preselected blood vessel or body cavity the device of the invention.

A method for treating cells and / or nuclear transfer units and / or stem cells in culture with such compounds, individually or in combinations, is described. The method results in a globally hypomethylated genome and a restoration of cell differentiation and / or developmental potential, or potentiality. In addition, a method for the in vitro production of reprogrammed cells which have had differentiation potential (totipotential, pluripotential, or multipotential) restored by demethylating the genome is described.