Hydrogel compositions comprising encapsulated cells and methods of use thereof
AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsJae-Won Shin, Angelo S. Mao, Stefanie Utech, David A. Weitz, David J. Mooney, Oktay Uzun
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides injectable compositions comprising cells encapsulated in hydrogel capsules and methods of preparing these compositions. The present invention also provides methods for using these compositions to promote hematopoiesis and to treat or prevent cardiovascular and immunological disorders in a subject.
Claims14
A composition comprising a plurality of hydrogel capsules, wherein at least 90% of the hydrogel capsules in the composition comprise a cell and a layer consisting of hydrogel encapsulating the cell;
- wherein at least 70% of the hydrogel capsules encapsulate a single cell;
- wherein the layer consisting of hydrogel encapsulating the cell has a thickness of less than 20 microns;
- wherein the hydrogel comprises an alginate polymer comprising a plurality of polymer chains cross-linked to each other using Ca2+;
- and
- wherein the diameter of the hydrogel capsules is 50 microns or less.
A composition comprising a plurality of hydrogel capsules, wherein
- at least 90% of the hydrogel capsules in the composition comprise a cell and a layer consisting of hydrogel encapsulating the cell;
- wherein at least 70% of the hydrogel capsules comprise a single cell;
- wherein the layer consisting of hydrogel encapsulating said cell has a thickness of less than 10 microns;
- wherein the hydrogel comprises an alginate polymer comprising a plurality of polymer chains cross-linked to each other using Ca2+;
- and
- wherein the diameter of the hydrogel capsules is 50 microns or less.
A method of preparing a composition comprising a plurality of hydrogel capsules, the method comprising:
- a) contacting a cell with a moiety capable of adhering to a cell and comprising a cross-linking catalyst, wherein the cross-linking catalyst is Ca2+;
- and
- b) contacting the cell and the moiety with an alginate polymer comprising a plurality of polymer chains;
- wherein the cross-linking catalyst catalyzes a reaction that cross-links the plurality of polymer chains, thereby forming a composition comprising a plurality of hydrogel capsules, wherein at least 90% of the hydrogel capsules in the composition comprise a cell and a layer consisting of hydrogel encapsulating the cell;
- wherein at least 70% of the hydrogel capsules encapsulate a single cell;
- wherein the layer consisting of hydrogel encapsulating the cell has a thickness of less than 20 microns;
- and
- wherein the diameter of the hydrogel capsules is 50 microns or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.