Phenotypic analysis of bioactive cells for application in regenerative medicine.

The following chapter outlines methodologies to phenotypically characterize primary cells for the use in tissue-engineered and regenerative medicine applications. Methods covered include analyzing cells using immunocytochemistry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and confocal microscopy of adherent and suspended cells, as well as combinations of formulated cell-biomaterial constructs.

Characterization of the human smooth muscle cell secretome for regenerative medicine.

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) play a central role in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of muscle tissue. Little is known about the early in vitro events that guide the assembly of 'bioartificial tissue' (constructs) and recapitulate the key aspects of smooth muscle differentiation and development before surgical implantation. Biomimetic approaches have been proposed that enable the identification of in vitro processes which allow standardized manufacturing, thus improving both product quality and the consistency of patient outcomes.