Systems for screening pharmaceutical chemicals

• US 8,227,240 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2007
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): Beisner, William H
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOBBS, MICHAEL L
• Application Number:
  US11/774,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20080038812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 435/283.1, 435/287.1, 435/289.1, 435/297.5, 623/13.17, 623/13.18, 623/14.12, 623/16.11, 623/20.17
• US Class Current: 435/287.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/08 for producing artificial tissue or for ex-vivo cultivation of tissue prostheses A61F2/00, grafts A61L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/12 Well or multiwell plates C12M25/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 25/14 Scaffolds; Matrices in general C12N5/0068
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 41/48 Automatic or computerized control automatic analysis G01N35/00

Abstract

An apparatus for culturing a bio-artificial tissue including a multi-well plate and a scaffold is disclosed herein. Also disclosed is a tissue indentation system that includes a probe, an isometric force transducer, a computer and a computer-controlled motor. A tissue response system is provided and has a well including a scaffold with a bio-artificial tissue suspended on the scaffold and the tissue indentation system.

Claims

1. An apparatus for culturing a bio-artificial tissue, comprising:

a multi-well plate having a plurality of wells therein;

at least one of the wells including a scaffold formed of a non-porous material and without a fastener to facilitate tissue adhesion;

the scaffold having at least one elongate member with a cross-sectional diameter between about 100 μ

m and about 2.0 mm, and disposed within the well above and substantially parallel to the bottom of the well; and

further comprising at least one leg for supporting the scaffold above the bottom of the well.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is at least about 0.5 mm above the bottom of the well.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is at least about 1.0 mm above the bottom of the well.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is metal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is plastic.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the member is tubular.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the member has a cross-sectional diameter of about 1.0 mm.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is circular.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold includes two parallel, spaced apart members.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is triangular.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is supported by the side of the well.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scaffold is attached to the side of the well.

13. An apparatus for culturing a bio-artificial tissue, comprising:

a multi-well plate having a plurality of wells therein;

at least one of the wells including a scaffold formed of a non-porous material and without a fastener to facilitate tissue adhesion;

the scaffold having at least two parallel, spaced apart members, each positioned within the well and disposed above and substantially parallel to the bottom of the well; and

further comprising at least one leg for supporting the scaffold above the bottom of the well.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scaffold is at least about 0.5 mm above the bottom of the well.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scaffold is at least about 1.0 mm above the bottom of the well.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scaffold is metal.

17. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scaffold is plastic.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the members are tubular.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the members have cross-sectional diameters of about 1.0 mm.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scaffold is supported by the side of the well.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scaffold is attached to the side of the well.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scaffold supports tissue adhesion of the bio-artificial tissue and suspends the tissue above the bottom of the well.

22. An apparatus for culturing a bio-artificial tissue, comprising:

a multi-well plate having a plurality of wells therein;

at least one of the wells including a scaffold formed of a non-porous material and without a fastener to facilitate tissue adhesion;

the scaffold having at least one elongate member, and disposed within the well above and substantially parallel to the bottom of the well;

and further comprising at least one leg for supporting the scaffold above the bottom of the well.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the scaffold supports tissue adhesion of the bio-artificial tissue and suspends the tissue above the bottom of the well.