The Rogosin Institute

Cornell University

Opticol Corporation

Other

The Rogo Institute

Optical Corp.

Albert L Rubin

Barry H Smith

Kanti Jain

Kurt Stenzel

Shirin Asina

Teruo Miyata

Daniel M Levine

Thomas S Parker

Bruce R Gordon

Stuart D Saal

Kurt H Stenzel

Michael W Dunn

Barry Scott Smith

Lawrence Gazda

Bryan Conn

Sanford R Simon

Benjamin H Travis

The invention relates to the stem cells, embryonic stem cells in particular. It has been found that, when these stem cells are entrapped such that their proliferation is inhibited, they produce material which inhibits the proliferation of other, non-entrapped cells, including stem cells and neoplastic and/or hyperproliferative, but otherwise normal cells. It has also been found that entrapped cancer cells will produce material which inhibits the proliferation of stem cells. Further, it has been found that the entrapment of the stem cells inhibits their differentiation and thus the entrapment process can serve as a long-term storage device for maintaining the undifferentiated state of at least a portion of the entrapped cells.

Entrapped stem cells and uses thereof

Biological agents such as secretory cells are encapsulated in a hydrophilic gel made of agarose or collagen-agarose and gelatin sponge-agarose combinations. In a preferred embodiment, semi-solid beads are formed from a suspension containing collagen, agarose and secretory cells such as pancreatic islets, the collagen is polymerized to form solid, agarose-collagen beads and the solid beads are coated with agarose. Coating is preferably by rolling the solid beads in about 5-10% agarose, contacting the rolled beads with mineral oil and washing oil from the beads. Beads containing secretory cells can be transplanted into a mammal to treat a condition caused by impaired secretory cell function.

Preparation of agarose coated, solid agarose beads containing secretory cells

The invention relates to a method for evaluating a pancreas as a source of therapeutically useful islets. A scoring system is set forth whereby 5 criteria are listed. If three criteria are positive, then the pancreas is a suitable source of therapeutically useful islets.

Scoring method for determining pancreas suitability for islet isolation

Compositions of matter are described which contain restricted cancer cells. When so restricted, the cells produce an unexpectedly high amount of material which suppresses cancer cell proliferation. The phenomenon crosses cancer type and species lines. Processes for making these compositions, and their use, are also described.

Beads containing restricted cancer cells producing material suppressing cancer cell proliferation

Preparation of agarose coated, solid agarose-collagen beads containing secretory cells

Cancer cell-inhibiting culture medium produced by culturing restricted entrapped cancer cells

Cancer-cell proliferation-suppressing material produced by cancer cells restricted by entrapment

Agarose coated agarose beads containing cancer cells which produce cancer-cell proliferation-suppressing material

A material for suppressing proliferation of cancer cells is produced by entrapping cancer cells in a selectively-permeable structure such as a bead, and culturing the entrapped cells in a culture medium. Entrapment restricts growth of the cancel cells during culturing and causes the cells to produce in the culture medium a material having a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd as measured by filtration that suppresses proliferation of cancer cells. The material is separated from the culture medium by filtering the medium through a filter that separates material having a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd from material having a molecular weight of less than 30 kd. The structure that entraps the cells may contain 10,000 to 500,000 cells. The material or the structure containing the entrapped cells that produce the material can be administered to a subject to suppress cancer cell proliferation.

A material for suppressing proliferation of cancer cells is produced by entrapping cancer cells in a selectively-permeable structure such as a bead, and culturing the entrapped cells in a culture medium. Entrapment restricts growth of the cancel cells during culturing and causes the cells to produce in the culture medium a material having a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd that suppresses proliferation of cancer cells. The material is separated from the culture medium by filtering the medium through a filter that separates material having a molecular weight of at least about 30 kd from material having a molecular weight of less than 30 kd. The structure that entraps the cells may contain 10,000 to 500,000 cells.

Implantable beads which contain agarose and optionally collagen, and are coated with agarose have incorporated within cells which produce diffusible biological products. The beads may be used as implants to modulate a recipient's immune response. The beads may also be used in an in vitro context to encourage specific types of cells to grow, to produce desirable products in culture, or to suppress growth of certain cells. The implants may also suppress growth of certain cells following administration to a subject. Cancer cells such as renal cancer cells when restricted by being entrapped in the beads produce more of a material that suppresses cancer cell proliferation.

Agarose coated agarose beads containing cancer cells that produce

Treatment and prophylaxis of endotoxin caused toxicity is disclosed. This is accomplished by administering phospholipid containing compositions to the subject. The compositions are protein and peptide free, and may contain triglycerides, or other polar or neutral lipids.

Methods and compositions useful in prophylaxis and therapy of endotoxin

Preparation of agarose coated, solid agarose-collagen beads containing

Protein and peptide free compositions are described, which are useful in treating endotoxemia. The compositions contain a phospholipid and a neutral lipid, preferably phosphatidylcholine and triglyceride.

Protein and peptide free, neutral lipid and phospholipid containing

Compositions useful in prophylaxis and therapy of endotoxin related

Growing community of inventors

Englewood, NJ, United States of America

Albert L Rubin