Devices and Methods for Pharmacokinetic-Based Cell Culture System

• US 20080166794A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aaron Sin, Gregory T. Baxter, Michael Shuler, Robert Andrew Harrison, Scott Meyers
• Original Assignee: Aaron Sin, Gregory T. Baxter, Michael Shuler, Robert Andrew Harrison, Scott Meyers
• Inventors: Harrison, Robert Andrew, Shuler, Michael, Meyers, Scott, Baxter, Gregory T., Sin, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US11/925,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20080166794A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 435/288.7
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/16 Microfluidic devices; Capillary tubes integrated microfluidic structures B01L3/5027; microreactors B01J19/0093
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/44 Multiple separable units; Modules
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 35/08 Chemical, biochemical or biological means, e.g. plasma jet, co-culture
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/46 of cellular or enzymatic activity or functionality, e.g. cell viability
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0062 General methods for three-dimensional culture
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0671 Three-dimensional culture, tissue culture or organ culture; Encapsulated cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5008 for testing or evaluating the effect of chemical or biological compounds, e.g. drugs, cosmetics
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5067 Liver cells

Abstract

Devices, in vitro cell cultures, systems, and methods are provided for microscale cell culture analogous (CCA) device.

Claims

1. A pharmacokinetic-based microscale culture device, comprising:

a first microscale chamber containing a first type of cell under conditions where the first type of cell provides at least one pharmacokinetic parameter value comparable to a value obtained for the same type of cell in vivo, wherein the first chamber comprises a first inlet and a first outlet for flow of culture medium;

a second microscale chamber containing a second type of cell under conditions where the second type of cell provides at least one pharmacokinetic parameter value comparable to a value obtained for the same type of cell in vivo, wherein the second chamber comprises a second inlet and a second outlet for flow of culture medium;

and a microfluidic channel interconnecting the first and second chambers.

2. The culture device of claim 1, further comprising one or more additional microscale chambers containing an additional type of cell under conditions where the additional cell provides at least one pharmacokinetic parameter value comparable to a value obtained for the same type of cell in vivo, wherein the one or more additional chambers comprise an inlet and outlet for flow of culture medium.

3. The culture device of claim 1, further comprising culture medium.

4. The culture device of claim 3, wherein the culture medium flows through the chambers.

5. The culture device of claim 3, wherein the culture medium flows re-circulated through the chambers.

6. The culture device of claim 3, further comprising a pumping mechanism.

7. The culture device of claim 6, wherein the pumping mechanism is integrated in the device.

8. The culture device of claim 6, wherein the pumping mechanism is external to the device.

9. The culture device of claim 1, further comprising a debubbler located within the microfluidic channel.

10. The culture device of claim 1, further comprising a debubbler located externally to the device.

11. The culture device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the pharmacokinetic parameters is a measurement of interaction between cells, liquid residence time, liquid to cell ratio, metabolism by cells, or shear stress.

12. The culture device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor for obtaining signals from cultured cells.

13. The culture device of claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor is a biosensor.

14. The culture device of claim 12, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a waveguide.

15. The culture device of claim 1, wherein the device is microfabricated.

16. The culture device of claim 1, wherein the device is manufactured from a microfabricated master.

17. The culture device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the chambers provides for three-dimensional growth of cells.

18. The culture device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the chambers contains a plurality of cells.

19. The culture device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the chambers contains a tissue biopsy.

20. The culture device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the chambers contains a cross-section of a tissue.

21-178. -178. (canceled)