In various aspects, the invention provides culture platforms, cell media, and methods of differentiating pluripotent cells into hematopoietic cells. In certain aspects, the invention further provides pluripotent stem cell-derived hematopoietic cells generated using the culture media and methods disclosed herein. The pluripotent stem cell-derived definitive HE cells produced by methods provided herein are capable of differentiating into hematopoietic lineage cells comprising T cell progenitors and T cells, in addition to NK cell progenitors, NK cells, NKT cells, or B cells.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide protecting, preserving, and even repairing biological cells during in vitro processing. A uniform environment such as a protective layer with exogeneous lipids may be formed around biological cells which may interact with the plasma membranes of the cells.