Micro blood vessels and tissue ducts
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsAndré A. Adams, Michael Daniele, Frances S. Ligler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fiber includes one or more layers of polymer surrounding a central lumen, and living animal cells disposed within the lumen and/or within at least one of the one or more layers, wherein the fiber has an outer diameter of between 5 and 8000 microns and wherein each individual layer of polymer has a thickness of between 0.1 and 250 microns. Also disclosed are model tissues including such fibers, and method of making such fibers. The fibers can serve as synthetic blood vessels, ducts, or nerves.
Claims19
A model tissue comprising:
- a fiber comprising one or more layers of polymer surrounding a hollow central lumen with an inner polymer surface nearest the lumen;
- a hydrogel matrix serving as three-dimensional scaffold and at least partially surrounding the fiber;
- an inlet port and an outlet port at opposing ends of the fiber and operable to direct fluid through the lumen;
- and
- living animal cells disposed in the model tissue and comprising at least endothelial cells adhered to the inner polymer surface and in intimate contact with the lumen, and optionally a second cell type within the one or more layers of polymer and/or the three-dimensional scaffold,
- wherein the fiber remains intact during a condition of fluid flow through the lumen sufficient for the fiber to serve as physiological model of a blood vessel, and the fiber has an outer diameter of between 5 and 8000 microns and wherein each individual layer of polymer has a thickness of between 0.1 and 250 microns.
A model tissue comprising:
- a fiber comprising:
- at least two concentric layers of polymer surrounding a central lumen, and
- living animal cells disposed within at least one of the at least two concentric layers of polymer and comprising at least endothelial cells adhered to the inner polymer surface and in intimate contact with the lumen, and optionally within the lumen,
- wherein at least two different animal cells are disposed in different layers of polymer and/or lumen, and an inlet port and an outlet port at opposing ends of the fiber and operable to direct fluid through the lumen;
- wherein the fiber remains intact during a condition of fluid flow through the lumen sufficient for the fiber to serve as physiological model of a blood vessel, and the fiber has an outer diameter of between 5 and 8000 microns and wherein each individual layer of polymer has a thickness of between 0.1 and 250 microns, and
- wherein the fiber is at least partially surrounded by a hydrogel matrix serving as a three-dimensional scaffold for cells, the hydrogel matrix being distinct from that of an outer-most of the at least two concentric layers of polymer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.