Methods of making cell carrier

• US 9,453,197 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Issued: 09/27/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Life Sciences Solutions USA LLC (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Yoon, Yosang, Rubinsztajn, Slawomir, Caraher, Joel Matthew, Balch, Gary Stephen, Susarla, Prameela
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Antonio Galisteo
• Application Number:
  US13/287,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20130034669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 427/569, 427/570
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/04 using rollers or endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/10 by electric discharge treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/14 by plasma treatment plasma tubes per se H01J
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/20 Material Coatings immunocoatings C12M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/30 Synthetic polymers thermoreactive polymers, e.g. PNIPAm, C12N2539/10
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2535/10 Patterned coating
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0068 General culture methods using substrates for specific animal cell type C12N5/06

Abstract

A method of making a carrier for growing cells, including providing a polymer film; embossing a patterned surface one or more sides of the polymer film with an embossing roller; generating a pattern of structured indentations on the polymer film; and discretizing the patterned polymer film into a plurality of portions. The embossing pattern generates relief features on the carrier surface. An alternative method of making a carrier is also provided, including extruding a polymer film; embossing a patterned surface on the polymer film with a roller; generating a pattern of structured indentations on the polymer film; imparting a surface treatment to the film; and discretizing the treated polymer film into a plurality of portions.

Claims

1. A method of making a carrier for growing cells, comprising:

a) providing a polymer film;

b) embossing on at least two sides of the polymer film with at least two embossing rollers comprising a patterned surface, wherein a first roller of the at least two rollers comprises a first plurality of protrusions, and wherein a second roller of the at least two rollers comprises a second plurality of protrusions;

c) generating a first pattern of structured indentations on a first side and second pattern of structured indentations on a second side opposing the first side of the at least two sides of the polymer film, wherein the first pattern is different than the second pattern and wherein the first roller of the at least two rollers comprises a plurality of protrusions of a first shape, and wherein the second roller of the at least two rollers comprises a plurality of protrusions of a second shape; and

d) discretizing the patterned polymer film into a plurality of portions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising imparting a surface treatment selected from one or more of corona discharge treatment, gas plasma treatment, chemical functionalization or coating.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising imparting a coating of a thermoresponsive agent, a pH responsive agent, or a combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising imparting a coating of collagen, vitronectin, fibronectin, or laminin.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising imparting a coating of cytophilic material.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising heating of the film to soften the film before embossing.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein heating is performed using an IR heater, a quartz heater, a flame, or a combination thereof.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising cooling of the embossed film.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein cooling is performed by blowing air or other gases, using water bath, using chilled rollers or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the embossing roller comprises a hard metal, silicone, teflon or rubber.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the metal is selected from nickel, copper, steel, stainless steel, or combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pattern is oriented differently than the second pattern.

13. A method of making a carrier for growing cells, comprising:

a) providing a polymer film;

b) embossing on at least two sides of the polymer film with at least two embossing rollers comprising a patterned surface, wherein a first roller of the at least two rollers comprises a first plurality of indentations, and wherein the second roller of the at least two rollers comprises a second plurality of indentations;

c) generating a first pattern of relief features on a first side and second pattern of relief features on a second side opposing the first side of the at least two sides of the polymer film, wherein the first pattern is different than the second pattern and wherein the relief features generated on the first side of the polymer film comprise protrusions of a first shape, and wherein the relief features generated on the second side of the polymer film comprise protrusions of a second shape; and

d) discretizing the patterned polymer film into a plurality of portions.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising imparting a surface treatment selected from one or more of corona discharge treatment, gas plasma treatment, chemical functionalization or coating.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising imparting a coating of a thermoresponsive agent, a pH responsive agent, or a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising imparting a coating of collagen, vitronectin, fibronectin, or laminin.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising imparting a coating of cytophilic material.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising heating of the film to soften the film before embossing.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein heating is performed using an IR heater, a quartz heater, a flame, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 13, further comprising cooling of the embossed film.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein cooling is performed by blowing air or other gases, using water bath, using chilled rollers or combinations thereof.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the embossing roller comprises a hard metal, silicone, teflon or rubber.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the metal is selected from nickel, copper, steel, stainless steel, or combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the relief features generated on the first side of the polymer film comprise extending protrusions, wherein each extending protrusion extends along a respective axis such that the extending protrusions on the first side are parallel to one another, and wherein the relief features generated on the second side of the polymer film comprise extending protrusions oriented orthogonally relative to extending protrusions on the first side.

25. The method of claim 13, wherein the relief features generated on the first side of the polymer film and the second side of the polymer film comprise protrusions having rotational symmetry about an axis orthogonal to a plane of the carrier.

26. The method of claim 13, wherein the relief features generated on the first side of the polymer film and the second side of the polymer film comprise profiled post protrusions that narrow as they extend away from the surface of the polymer.

27. The method of claim 13, wherein the relief features generated on the first side of the polymer film and the second side of the polymer film comprise domed protrusions.

28. The method of claim 13, wherein the relief features generated on the first side of the polymer film and the second side of the polymer film comprise cylindrical post protrusions.

29. The method of claim 13, wherein the relief features generated on the first side of the polymer film comprise protrusions oriented along a first axis, and wherein the relief features generated on the second side of the polymer film comprise protrusions oriented along a second axis.