Method of making enhanced cell growth surface

• US 20080003663A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Gagnon, Paul E., LaChance, Oliva V., Wang, Hongming, Shen, Zhong-he, Bryhan, Marie D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,497,126 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/287.1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/14 by plasma treatment plasma tubes per se H01J
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/142 of profiled articles, e.g. hollow or tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/30 Synthetic polymers thermoreactive polymers, e.g. PNIPAm, C12N2539/10
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0068 General culture methods using substrates for specific animal cell type C12N5/06

Abstract

A method of producing an improved cell growth surface and cell attachment surface. According to the present invention, a polymer article is molded at temperature in excess of 550° F. at the injection tip. After allowing the part to cool, a stream of plasma comprised of activated gaseous species generated by a microwave source is imparted on the article. This stream is directed at the surface of a polymer substrate in a controlled fashion such that the surface is imparted with attributes for cell adhesion superior to those of untreated polymer or polymer treated by other methods.

Claims

1. A method for creating a polymer article having a working surface upon which cells can be cultured comprising the steps of:

a) molding a polymer article at a molding temperature at the injection tip of greater than 550°

F., and

b) subjecting said working surface of said article to a gaseous stream that has been energized by microwave energy.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said polymer is a polyacrylate, a polymethylacrylate, a polycarbonate, a polystyrene, a polysulphone, a polyhydroxy acid, a polyanhydride, a polyorthoester, a polypropylene, a polyphosphazene, a polyphosphate, a polyester, a nylon or mixtures thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said polymer is polystyrene.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the working surface includes at least a portion of a flask, a dish, a flat plate, a well plate, a bottle, a container, a pipette, a tube, a medical device, a filter device, a membrane, a slide, or a medical implant.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the working surface includes at least a portion of a flask, a roller bottle, or a multiwell plate.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaseous stream is activated argon, nitrogen, oxygen, nitrous oxide, ammonia, carbon dioxide, helium or hydrogen.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the gaseous stream is activated nitrous oxide.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the molding temperature is greater than 600°

F.

9. A polymer article produced by the method of claim 1.