Method of delivering oxygen to cells by electrolyzing water

• US 6,368,592 B1
• Filed: 07/16/1999
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Colton, Clark K., Swette, Larry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Naff, David M.
• Application Number:
  US09/356,079
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 435/325, 435/382, 435/383, 435/289.1, 435/297.1, 424/93.7, 424/423
• US Class Current: 424/93.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/022 Artificial gland structures using bioreactors hemodialysis A61M1/16; hemofiltration A61M1/34; other extracorporeal blood treatment A61M1/36
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 33/00 Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/08 Flask, bottle or test tube
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/12 Well or multiwell plates C12M25/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/24 Gas permeable parts
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 29/04 Filters; Permeable or porous membranes or plates, e.g. dialysis

Abstract

Oxygen is supplied to cells in vitro or in vivo by generating oxygen with an oxygen generator that electrolyzes water to oxygen and hydrogen. Oxygen can be generated substantially without generating free hydrogen using a multilayer electrolyzer sheet having a proton exchange membrane sandwiched by an anode layer and a cathode layer. The oxygen generator may be used to supply oxygen to cells contained by a culture plate, a culture flask, a microtiter plate or an extracorporeal circuit, or to cells in an encapsulating chamber for implanting in the body such as an immunoisolation chamber bounded by a semipermeable barrier layer that allows selected components to enter and leave the chamber. A bioactive molecule may be present with the cells. Oxygen can be delivered in situ to cells within the body such as by implanting the oxygen generator in proximity to cell-containing microcapsules in an intraperitoneal space, or by implanting a system containing the oxygen generator in proximity to an immunoisolation chamber containing cells.

Claims

1. A method of delivering oxygen to a cell containment space, comprising:

selecting a cell container defining a cell containment space for containing cells in vitro, wherein the cell container comprises a semipermeable barrier layer bounding at least a portion of the cell containment space;

selecting an oxygen generator in communication with the containment space in proximity to the semipermeable barrier layer for generating oxygen from a fluid and delivering oxygen to the cell container, wherein the oxygen generator comprises an anode and a cathode, the anode and the cathode sandwiching a proton exchange membrane, the anode electrolyzes water to oxygen and hydrogen ions; and

the cathode receives the hydrogen ions generated by the anode,

wherein the proton exchange membrane transports the hydrogen ions from the anode to the cathode and oxygen is generated substantially without the generation of free hydrogen;

initiating a chemical reaction comprising the electrochemical conversion of water in said fluid to oxygen; and

permitting said oxygen to diffuse to said cell containment space.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said oxygen is generated in situ in the body of an organism and delivered in the body.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxygen generator is positioned in proximity to cells in said cell container.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said cells are encapsulated.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising at least one bioactive molecule in said cell container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the oxygen generator is in communication with an energy source.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of recharging the energy source.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said cell containment space of said cell container comprises a cell culture plate.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein said cell containment space of said cell container comprises a tissue culture flask or cell culture flask.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein said cell containment space of said cell container comprises a multi-well plate.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein said oxygen generator is provided within or as an integral part of said cell container in an extracorporeal circuit device.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein said oxygen generator is located at a distance from said cells in said cell containment space and oxygen is transferred from said oxygen generator through a tube attached to said oxygen generator to said cells in said cell containment space.

13. The method according to claim 1 wherein said oxygen is generated outside the body of an organism and delivered to cells within the body of an organism.

14. The method according to claim 1 wherein said oxygen is generated in vitro for delivery of oxygen to cells contained in an extracorporeal circuit.

15. The method according to claim 1 wherein said oxygen is generated in vitro for delivery of oxygen to cells within the body of an organism.