Microfabricated polymeric vessel mimetics
First Claim
1. A microfabricated oxygen permeable membrane comprising a base member having a cell culture support surface with solid oxygen-permeable pillars formed thereon that mimic microvasculature in a three-dimensional cell culture, the pillars having respective top surfaces and side surfaces that are oxygen permeable and through which oxygen can diffuse three-dimensionally between and around the pillars, the pillars having a height of greater than 1 μ
- m and less than 1 mm to form blood vessel mimetics that mimic the three-dimensional structure of the microvasculature, the base member and the pillars comprising an oxygen-permeable material, the base member including a bottom surface opposite the cell culture support surface and configured to be exposed to oxygen such that oxygen can diffuse from the bottom surface through the oxygen-permeable material toward the cell culture support surface and three-dimensionally through the pillars toward the top surfaces and side surfaces of the pillars, the base member including a barrier between the pillars that reduces oxygen diffusion through the cell culture surface to preferentially direct oxygen flow diffusing through the membrane into and through the pillars.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to embodiments of microstructured membranes, methods of fabricating microstructured membranes, bioreactors housing microstructured membranes, and methods of using bioreactors and microstructured membranes. In some embodiments, the present disclosure allows culturing of cellular tissues in an environment which more accurately resembles a native environment. In some more specific embodiments, the present disclosure allows culturing of tumor cells on a membrane having a microfabricated pattern which mimics a native vasculature system.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A microfabricated oxygen permeable membrane comprising a base member having a cell culture support surface with solid oxygen-permeable pillars formed thereon that mimic microvasculature in a three-dimensional cell culture, the pillars having respective top surfaces and side surfaces that are oxygen permeable and through which oxygen can diffuse three-dimensionally between and around the pillars, the pillars having a height of greater than 1 μ
- m and less than 1 mm to form blood vessel mimetics that mimic the three-dimensional structure of the microvasculature, the base member and the pillars comprising an oxygen-permeable material, the base member including a bottom surface opposite the cell culture support surface and configured to be exposed to oxygen such that oxygen can diffuse from the bottom surface through the oxygen-permeable material toward the cell culture support surface and three-dimensionally through the pillars toward the top surfaces and side surfaces of the pillars, the base member including a barrier between the pillars that reduces oxygen diffusion through the cell culture surface to preferentially direct oxygen flow diffusing through the membrane into and through the pillars.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A microfabricated oxygen permeable membrane comprising an oxygen-permeable material, the membrane having a hydrophilic cell culture support surface forming an array of solid oxygen permeable pillars that mimic microvasculature in a three-dimensional cell culture, the membrane having a bottom surface opposite the cell culture support surface and configured to be exposed to oxygen such that oxygen can diffuse through the oxygen-permeable material from the bottom surface toward the cell culture support surface, and three-dimensionally through the pillars toward respective top surfaces and side surfaces of the pillars, the pillars having a height of greater than 1 μ
- m and less than 1 mm that mimic the three-dimensional structure of the microvasculature.
- View Dependent Claims (33)
Specification