# US 11,027,045 B2 · Synthetic niche matrices for stem cell culture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,027,045 B2 - Document ID: US11027045B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/755,011 - Filed: 2016-08-31 - Published: 2020-02-13 - Granted: 2021-06-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-09-04 - Assignees: Politecnico Di Milano; Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche; Fondazione Cariplo - Applicants: Politecnico Di Milano; Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche; Fondazione Cariplo - Inventors: Manuela Teresa Raimondi; Giulio Cerullo; Roberto Osellame; Andrea Remuzzi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11027045B2 ## CPC - A61L 27/3834: {Cells able to produce different cell types, e.g. hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, marrow stromal cells, embryonic stem cells} - A61L 27/50: Materials characterised by their function or physical properties {, e.g. injectable or lubricating compositions, shape-memory materials, surface modified materials} - A61L 27/56: Porous materials, {e.g. foams or sponges} - C12N 5/0068: {General culture methods using substrates (for specific animal cell type C12N5/06)} - C12N 5/0606: {Pluripotent embryonic cells, e.g. embryonic stem cells [ES] (embryonic germ cells C12N5/0611, induced pluripotent stem cells C12N5/0696)} - C12N 5/0663: {Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSC)} - A61L 2400/18: Modification of implant surfaces in order to improve biocompatibility, cell growth, fixation of biomolecules, e.g. plasma treatment - C12N 2533/30: Synthetic polymers - C12N 2535/00: Supports or coatings for cell culture characterised by topography - A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K) - C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a supermatrix of synthetic niches comprising at least two matrices of niches wherein each matrix comprises n×m niches and wherein the distance (d) between a matrix and the other is greater than zero and wherein in each matrix every synthetic niche has one or more walls in common with the others synthetic niches of the matrix. A support for the culture of cells that includes at least one supermatrix and the use of said supermatrix or support for the in vitro culture of cells, in particular stem cells, or for the in vivo implant in a subject in order to promote tissue or organ regeneration through cell repopulation are also within the scope of the present invention. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A supermatrix of synthetic niches comprising at least a first and a second matrix of synthetic niches, wherein each matrix comprises n×m synthetic niches, wherein n and m, the same or different from each other, independently have a value ≥1, provided that one of m or n is ≥2 and with a maximum value of m and n which allows to maintain a structure of a single synthetic niche intact such that shrinking or contraction of the synthetic niche does not cause a disruption or detachment of a niche matrix, and wherein a distance (d) between each synthetic niche matrix and another is greater than zero and wherein in each matrix every synthetic niche has one or more walls in common with at least one other synthetic niche of the matrix. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1, wherein said maximum value for n and m is 100. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1, wherein m and n have the same value. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1 wherein the height of the supermatrix of synthetic niches is comprised between about 30 and about 100 μm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1, comprising or made of a resin. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1, wherein the walls of one or more of said synthetic niches are covered with molecules providing a signal inducing maintenance of cell pluripotency and/or with molecules facilitating adhesion of cells to the niche. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A multi-well culture plate in which the bottom of said multi-well culture plate is covered by one or more supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An in vivo implant comprising a supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The in vivo implant of claim 8, further comprising a cell or a cell population. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The in vivo implant of claim 9, wherein the cell or cell population comprises cells derived from or isolated from a patient. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The in vivo implant of claim 9, wherein the cell or cell population comprises cultured cells. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1, wherein the shrinking is caused mechanical stress or deformation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The in vivo implant of claim 9, wherein the cell or cell population comprises a stem cell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The in vivo implant of claim 13, wherein the stem cell is a multipotent or a pluripotent stem cell, or an embryonic stem cell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 5) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 5, wherein the resin comprises a photopolymerizable resin. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 15, wherein the photopolymerizable resin comprises an organic/inorganic hybrid photosensitive material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 16, wherein the organic/inorganic hybrid photosensitive material comprises an ultra-low shrinkage hybrid photosensitive material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 15, wherein the photopolymerizable resin comprises meth-acrylol oxypropyl trimethoxy silane or zirconium propoxide. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1, wherein the each niche is coated with a hyaluron-based or a gelatin-based hydrogel. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1, 7) The multi-well culture plate of claim 7, wherein the bottom of said multi-well culture plate is coated with perfluoropolyether before covering by one or more supermatrix of synthetic niches of claim 1.