Cell culture apparatus and culture methods using same
OwnerFrederic Zenhausern, Paul Wilmes +1inventors
InventorsFrederic Zenhausern, Paul Wilmes, Pranjul Shah
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Abstract
Cell culture apparatus for emulating gastrointestinal tract conditions and comprising at least two adjacent, microfluidic, cell cultivation channels separated by a permeable or semipermeable membrane, a first channel carrying gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells or tissues and a second channel carrying luminal and preferably mucosal microbiota, and wherein said second channel comprises one or more dwell chambers capable of providing a location for unattached luminal flora to reside away from any direct flow in said second channel, permits modelling of multiple sections of the gastrointestinal tract and control of retention times.
Claims17
A cell culture apparatus for emulating gastrointestinal tract conditions, comprising:
- a first layer, a set of first channels formed in the first layer, the set of first channels configured to support culture of gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells by providing laminar flow therein;
- a second layer, a set of second channels formed in the second layer, the set of second channels configured to support culture of luminal microbiota and mucosal cells by providing laminar flow therein;
- a set of dwell chambers, each of the set of dwell chambers in fluid communication with a corresponding second channel and structured to provide a location for unattached luminal microbiota to reside away from any direct flow in the second channel;
- an agitation mechanism disposed in each of the set of dwell chambers, the agitation mechanism comprising at least one of an impeller, a magnetic flea, rotary fins, or a stirring rod, the agitation mechanism configured to stir the media so as to promote growth of the unattached luminal flora within the dwell chamber;
- and
- a first membrane positioned between the each of the set of first channels and a corresponding second channel of the set of second channels, the first membrane comprising at least one of a permeable or semi-permeable membrane configured to prevent passage of cells thereacross.
A cell culture apparatus for emulating gastrointestinal tract conditions, comprising:
- at least two adjacent cell cultivation channels separated by a permeable or semipermeable membrane adapted to prevent passage of cells thereacross, at least two of said channels having a cross section for the majority of the length of said channel having two dimensions, and wherein at least one dimension of each of said cross sections does not exceed 1000 μm such that the channels provides laminar flow, each said channel being provided with at least one entrance port and at least one exit port to permit the passage of media through at least a portion of the channel having a cross sectional area of no more than 10 mm2, a first channel of said at least two channels being adaptable to support the culture of gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells and a second channel of said at least two channels being adaptable to support luminal mucosal cells and microbiota such that the gastrointestinal tract epithelial cells and the luminal mucosal cells adhere in their respective channels due to laminar flow therein, and wherein said second channel comprises one or more dwell chambers capable of providing a location for unattached luminal flora to reside away from any direct flow in said second channel,
- wherein each of the dwell chambers comprises an agitation mechanism comprising at least one of an impeller, a magnetic flea, rotary fins, or a stirring rod disposed in the dwell chamber, the agitation mechanism configured to stir the media so as to promote growth of the unattached luminal flora within the dwell chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.