Systems and methods for screening pharmaceutical chemicals

• US 8,071,381 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2008
• Issued: 12/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Washington University In St Louis
• Original Assignee: Washington University In St Louis
• Inventors: Elson, Elliot, McConnaughey, William B., Wakatsuki, Tetsuro
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, RUTH A
• Application Number:
  US12/268,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20090068701A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 424/400, 424/93.1, 424/93.7, 435/325, 435/395, 435/383, 435/391
• US Class Current: 435/383
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0005 Repeated or cyclic
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0016 Tensile or compressive
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0073 Fatigue
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2203/0282 Two dimensional, e.g. tapes, webs, sheets, strips, disks or membranes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/38 generated by electromagnetic means
• 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 33/502 for testing non-proliferative effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5044 involving specific cell types
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5061 Muscle cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5064 Endothelial cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5088 of vertebrates

Abstract

A method for obtaining a response of a tissue model system to an activator includes contacting a bio-artificial tissue model system with an activator and measuring cellular mechanical response thereto of at least one of contractile force and tissue stiffness. A method for obtaining a response of a tissue model system to an activator includes contacting a bio-artificial tissue model system with an activator and measuring cellular mechanical response thereto of at least one of contractile force and hysteresis.

Claims

1. A bio-artificial tissue comprising cells and extracellular matrix, the bio-artificial tissue formed on a scaffold support without a fastener to facilitate tissue adhesion, the scaffold support having at least one elongate member disposed within a well above and substantially parallel to the bottom of a well, wherein the bio-artificial tissue is suspended from the scaffold support with a space between the bio-artificial tissue and the bottom of the well.

2. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 1, wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of a muscle cell, a non-muscle cell, an endothelial cell, and a cardiac cell.

3. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 1, wherein the well is positioned within a multi-well plate.

4. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 3, wherein the multi-well plate comprises from 2 to 10,000 wells.

5. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 1, wherein the scaffold support is a wire frame.

6. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 5, wherein the wire is stainless steel wire.

7. The bio-artificial tissue of claim 1, wherein the scaffold support is triangular, rectangular or circular in shape.