# US 11,896,653 B2 · Silicified cell replicas, methods of making, and methods of using

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- Number: US 11,896,653 B2
- Document ID: US11896653B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/647,245
- Filed: 2018-09-13
- Published: 2020-09-03
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-09-13
- Assignees: UNM Rainforest Innovations
- Applicants: UNM Rainforest Innovations
- Inventors: Rita E. Serda; C. Jeffrey Brinker; Jacob Ongudi Agola; Jimin Guo; Sarah Adams
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11896653B2

## CPC

- A61K 39/0011: {Cancer antigens}
- A61P 31/04: Antibacterial agents
- A61K 33/00: Medicinal preparations containing inorganic active ingredients
- A61K 35/13: Tumour cells, irrespective of tissue of origin (tumour vaccines A61K39/00)
- A61K 35/74: Bacteria (therapeutic use of a bacterial protein A61K38/00)
- A61K 39/39: characterised by the immunostimulating additives, e.g. chemical adjuvants
- A61P 35/00: Antineoplastic agents
- A61K 2039/55594: {from bacteria}
- A61K 2039/6006: {Cells}
- A61K: PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES (devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms A61J3/00; chemical aspects of, or use of materials for deodorisation of air, for disinfection or sterilisation, or for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles A61L; soap compositions C11D)
- A61P: SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS

## Abstract

A silicified cell replica includes a silicified cell or a silicified subcellular fragment. The silicified cell replica may be used to induce an immunological response, treat a bacterial infection, or treat a patient with cancer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
a silicified cell, a silicified cell-derived body, or a silicified vesicle; and
a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the cell is a silicified bacterial cell.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the cell is a silicified tumor cell.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the cell is part of a spheroid or organoid.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 1, wherein the silicified cell comprises surface-modified siloxane.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 5 wherein the surface-modified siloxane comprises a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) or danger-associated molecular molecule (DAMP) adhered to the surface.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 6 wherein the PAMP comprises lipopolysaccharide (LPS), monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), CpG, or PolyIC.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 5 wherein the surface-modified siloxane comprises a molecule that promotes internalization by antigen presenting cells.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 8 wherein the molecule that promotes internalization by antigen presenting cells comprises calreticulin or CD47.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 5 wherein the silicified cell is further modified with a secondary silane.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the secondary silane tailors the cell surface for binding to distinct targeting or activation molecules.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The pharmaceutical composition of claim 10 wherein the secondary silane comprises aminosilane or carboxysilane.

### Claim 13

A method of inducing an immune response against an antigen, the method comprising:
obtaining a cell that expresses the antigen;
silicifying the cell; and
administering to a subject a composition comprising:
the silicified cell; and
a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, the composition administered in an amount effective to induce the subject to produce an immune response directed against the antigen.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the silicified cell is a bacterium.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, wherein the silicified cell is a tumor cell.

### Claim 16

A method for treating a subject having, or at risk of having, a bacterial infection, the method comprising:
obtaining a bacterial cell that the subject is, or is at risk, of being infected by;
silicifying the bacterial cell; and
administering to the subject a composition comprising:
the silicified cell; and
a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, the composition administered in an amount effective to ameliorate at least one symptom or clinical sign of infection by the bacterial cell.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 wherein the bacterial cell is obtained from the subject.

### Claim 18

A method for treating a subject having, or at risk of having, a tumor, the method comprising:
obtaining a tumor cell that the subject has or is at risk of having;
silicifying the tumor cell; and
administering to the subject a composition comprising:
the silicified tumor cell; and
a pharmaceutically acceptable adjuvant, the composition administered in an amount effective to ameliorate at least one symptom or clinical sign of having the tumor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the tumor cell is obtained from the subject.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19 wherein the tumor cell is obtained from fluid from the subject's peritoneal cavity.