Compositions of Ascorbic Acid and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP-4) for Cell Growth and Uses Related Thereto

Abstract

This disclosure relates to compositions comprising ascorbic acid and bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) for growing cells and making tissues. In certain embodiments, this disclosure relates to methods of creating cardio-mimetic tissues (CMTs) by culturing the cells in the presence of ascorbic acid and bone morphogenetic protein 4 and optionally inserting into cells a muscle specific microRNA or related nucleobase polymer and under conditions such that a cardio-mimetic tissue is formed that is capable of spontaneously contracting.

1 . A non-naturally occurring nucleobase polymer comprising or consisting essentially of a nucleotide sequence selected from: 1-134 or variant thereof. 
     
     
         2 . The non-naturally occurring nucleobase polymer of  claim 1  which is non-naturally occurring because it contains at least one sugar modification, phosphate modification, nucleotide base modification.