US 10,711,242 B2Granted

Apparatus and methods for controlling cellular development

AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University

InventorsKarl Deisseroth, Albrecht Stroh, M. Bret Schneider, Raag D. Airan

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Abstract

According to one aspect and example, a method for facilitating cellular interactions in biological tissue provides controllable activation of a selected type of stem cell among a plurality of cell types present in the tissue. The method includes various steps including the introduction of a microbial opsin into a region of the tissue that includes a selected type of stem cell, by expressing the microbial opsin in the stem cell. A light source is then introduced near the stem cell, and the light source is used to controllably activate the light source to direct pulses of illumination from the light source to the selected type of stem cell, for selectively controlling the growth and development of the stem cell in a manner that is independent of the growth and development of the other types of cells.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method for selectively controlling growth and development of a mammalian stem cell in vivo or in a tissue in vitro, the method comprising:

a) genetically modifying a selected type of stem cell to express a microbial opsin;
b) stimulating the genetically modified stem cell with a light-based activation signal, wherein the light-based activation signal is generated by a system comprising:
i) a light source;
ii) a pulse generator that is configured to send signals to and control the light source;
iii) a signal receiver that is configured to receive response signals from the genetically modified stem cell;
and
iv) a computer that is configured to modulate signals sent by the pulse generator based on the response signals;
c) receiving one or more response signals from the genetically modified stem cell;
and
d) modulating the light-based activation signal based on the response signals, thereby selectively controlling growth and development of the genetically modified stem cell.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/997,140Filed 17 Jun 2009 · us provisional application
Priority: 17 Jun 2008
Published: US 2011/0159562 A130 Jun 2011
Granted: 14 Jul 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

C12N 5/0606
Embryonic cells ; Embryoid bodies: pluripotent embryonic cells, e.g. embryonic stem cells [ES]
A61N 5/0601
Using light: apparatus for use inside the body
C12M 21/02
Bioreactors or fermenters specially adapted for specific uses: photobioreactors
C12N 5/0619
Cells of the nervous system: neurons