Device including altered microorganisms, and methods and systems of use

• US 20110027181A1
• Filed: 05/28/2010
• Published: 02/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Zartman, Jeremiah James, Amodei, Dario G., Somogyi, Christopher, Bershteyn, Anna, Eckhoff, Philip A., Bao, Xiaoyan Robert, Kim, Lily Yvonne, Bethke, Brett, Gustafson, Kyle B., Lieberman, Erez, Esvelt, Kevin Michael, Kaminsky, William Michael, Moitra, Ankur, Bangera, Mahalaxmi Gita, Tegreene, Clarence T., Jung, Edward K.Y., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Kare, Jordin T., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,734,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/6901 Conjugates being cells, cell fragments, viruses, ghosts, red blood cells or viral vectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/258 Genetic materials, DNA, RNA, genes, vectors, e.g. plasmids
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/16 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L31/047 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 43/00 Drugs for specific purposes, not provided for in groups A61P1/00-A61P41/00
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/30 Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Abstract

Devices, methods, and systems are described for administration to at least one biological tissue of at least one device including at least one altered microorganism. In an embodiment, the altered microorganism includes at least one nucleic acid construct encoding at least one therapeutic agent.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

at least one semi-permeable barrier substantially enclosing at least one auxotrophic microorganism, the at least one auxotrophic microorganism including at least one nucleic acid construct encoding at least one therapeutic agent, the barrier defining an interior region and exterior region; and

wherein the device includes at least one metabolite required by the at least one auxotrophic microorganism.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one metabolite required by the at least one auxotrophic microorganism resides on the surface of the semi-permeable barrier.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one metabolite required by the at least one auxotrophic microorganism is located in a compartment configured to dispense the at least one metabolite to the interior region of the at least one semi-permeable barrier.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one metabolite required by the at least one auxotrophic microorganism is embedded in the at least one semi-permeable barrier.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one metabolite required by the at least one auxotrophic microorganism is released as at least a portion of the at least one semi-permeable barrier degrades.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the metabolite includes at least one energy source, nutrient, or other metabolic pathway requirement.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one semi-permeable barrier is structured to facilitate egress of the at least one therapeutic agent or other biological or chemical material.

13. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one tissue-anchoring component.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the at least one tissue-anchoring component includes at least one latch, hook or tether.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the device includes an implantable device.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxotrophic microorganism includes at least one population of auxotrophic microorganisms.

25. The device of claim 1, wherein the bone barrier includes a bone cage.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the diatom barrier includes a diatom cage.

28. The device of claim 1, wherein the semi-permeable barrier includes at least one component configured to selectively limit access between the interior and the exterior of the barrier.

38. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor.

39. The device of claim 38, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to sense at least one biological cell or material.

40. The device of claim 38, wherein the at least one sensor is located in the interior of the semi-permeable barrier.

41. The device of claim 38, wherein the at least one sensor is located exterior to the semi-permeable barrier.

42. The device of claim 38, wherein the at least one sensor includes an optical density sensor.

43. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one pump configured to dispense at least one of a therapeutic agent, an auxotrophic microorganism, or another cell or material.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein the at least one pump includes at least one osmotic pump.

45. The device of claim 1, wherein the semi-permeable barrier is configured to actively or passively transfer at least a portion of the at least one therapeutic agent to the exterior of the barrier.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein the semi-permeable barrier is configured to actively or passively transfer at least a portion of the at least one therapeutic agent based on at least one chemical gradient.

49. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one semi-permeable barrier includes at least one of an emulsion, lipid, dispersion, or micelle.

50. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one semi-permeable barrier includes one or more cells.

51. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one semi-permeable barrier includes one or more cell junctions.

53. The device of claim 1, wherein the semi-permeable barrier is at least one of expandable, compressible, rigid, or pliable.

54. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one detection material.

55. The device of claim 54, wherein the at least one detection material includes at least one of a contrast agent, or electronic identification device.

56. The device of claim 55, wherein the at least one electronic identification device includes at least one radio frequency identification device.

59. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one transmitter.

60. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one receiver.

61. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one circuit.

67. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxotrophic microorganism includes at least one inducible genetic element configured to initiate death of the at least one auxotrophic microorganism.

70. The device of claim 67, wherein the at least one inducible genetic element includes at least one of a nuclease gene or lysise gene E.

71. The device of claim 67, wherein the at least one inducible genetic element includes at least one of extracellular death factor, mazF, or mazEF.

72. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one semi-permeable barrier includes at least one inducible agent configured to initiate death of the at least one auxotrophic microorganism.

73. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxotrophic microorganism includes at least one of a prokaryote or eukaryote.

74. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxotrophic microorganism includes at least one of bacteria, fungi, or protozoa.

75. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one auxotrophic microorganism includes at least one of a cell derived from a multicellular organism.

76. The device of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is configured to be implanted into at least one biological tissue or organ of a subject.

78. The device of claim 76, wherein the subject includes at least one of a vertebrate or invertebrate.

79. The device of claim 76, wherein the subject includes at least one of a mammal, bird, fish, reptile, or amphibian.

80. The device of claim 76, wherein the subject includes a human.

81. The device of claim 76, wherein the subject includes a plant.

82. The device of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is configured to be implanted in at least one body cavity of a subject.

83. The device of claim 82, wherein the at least one body cavity includes at least one of an otic cavity, oral cavity, vaginal cavity, anal cavity, nasal cavity, esophagus, or eyelid.

84. The device of claim 82, wherein the at least one body cavity includes the gastrointestinal tract of a subject.

95. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one therapeutic agent includes one or more vaccines.

96. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one nucleic acid construct includes at least one regulatory element.

97. The device of claim 96, wherein the at least one regulatory element includes at least one of a promoter, enhancer, or repressor.

98. The device of claim 96, wherein the at least one regulatory element is regulated by at least one inducer.

99. The device of claim 98, wherein the at least one inducer includes at least one quorum-sensing molecule.

104. The device of claim 1, further comprising one or more gears.

107. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least two semi-permeable barriers, wherein the at least two semi-permeable barriers include different pore sizes.

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