High throughput cell-based assays fabricated with integrated silicon and cell culture technologies
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a membrane, the membrane comprising;
a first side;
a second, opposing side;
a plurality of pores spanning the membrane from the first side to the second side;
a cell adhesive material layer positioned on the first side of the membrane, with the second side of the membrane remaining essentially free of the cell adhesive material; and
cells positioned on the second side of the membrane and attached to the cell adhesive material layer through the pores,wherein the membrane comprises primarily inorganic material, andwherein at least about 50% of the pores are positioned less than about 25 microns from a nearest, adjacent pore and the apparatus is configured for cell culturing and/or performing a cell assay.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to articles and methods involving porous materials (e.g., membranes) which may interact with species, such as biological molecules, cells, etc., whereby the species may adhere to or become immobilized with respect to a surface of the porous material or an adhesion layer coating the porous surface. The porous material may be capable of attaching species with control over the positioning and spatial distribution of the species across the surface of the material. Such articles and methods may be useful in, for example, biological assays, biological sensors, or in the culturing of biological cells.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a membrane, the membrane comprising; a first side; a second, opposing side; a plurality of pores spanning the membrane from the first side to the second side; a cell adhesive material layer positioned on the first side of the membrane, with the second side of the membrane remaining essentially free of the cell adhesive material; and cells positioned on the second side of the membrane and attached to the cell adhesive material layer through the pores, wherein the membrane comprises primarily inorganic material, and wherein at least about 50% of the pores are positioned less than about 25 microns from a nearest, adjacent pore and the apparatus is configured for cell culturing and/or performing a cell assay. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An article for cell culturing and/or cell assay, comprising:
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a membrane having a first side and a second, opposing side; a plurality of pores spanning the membrane from the first side to the second side; a cell adhesive material layer positioned on the first side of the membrane such that the cell adhesive material layer is exposed through the pores to an environment in contact with the second, opposing side and occludes at least some of the plurality of pores; and cells positioned on the second side of the membrane and attached to the cell adhesive material layer, wherein each attached cell is associated with a single pore, such that a spatial distribution of the cells on the membrane is directed by a spatial distribution of the pores.
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Specification