Nanoporous silicon bioreactor
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsVicki I. Chin, Sangeeta N. Bhatia, Michael J. Sailor, Boyce E. Collins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention is a nanoporous silicon bioreactor for the maintenance of cells in culture in a differentiated state. Each cell or group of cells is grown in an individual macropore and is provided with nutrients by perfusion of the nanoporous silicon support with fluid. Bioreactors may be used to used to test compounds for biological activity, metabolism, toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity or to characterize novel or unknown comounds. Additionally, the bioreactors are sufficiently robust that they may be assembled into larger reactors to simulate organ function or be used for the production of biomolecules.
Claims30
An apparatus comprising
- a nanoporous silicon support comprising a plurality of macropores which support the viability of cells and
- at least one individual cell within one of said plurality of macro pores,
- wherein the support allows the cells to obtain nutrients and oxygen sufficient to maintain the viability of the cells wherein the nutrients are provided by culture medium.
A method for screening compounds for biological activity, toxicity comprising adding a compound to an apparatus which comprises:
- a nanoporous silicon support comprising a plurality of macropores which support the viability of cells,
- at least one individual cell within one of said plurality of macropores, and
- wherein the cells are provided with nutrients and oxygen sufficient to maintain the viability of the cells and the cells are monitored for changes in response to. addition of the compound.
A method for screening a compound for at least one activity under physiological conditions in a microarray comprising
- exposing cells in an apparatus which comprises a nanoporous silicon support comprising a plurality of macropores which support the viability of cells,
- at least one individual cell within one of said plurality of macropores, and
- wherein the support allows the cells to obtain nutrients and oxygen sufficient to maintain the viability of the cells exposed to a compound to be tested and screened for at least one effect of the compound on the cells.
A method for analysis of metabolism of a compound comprising
- exposing cells in an apparatus which comprises a nanoporous silicon support comprising a plurality of macropores which support the viability of cells,
- at least one individual cell within one of said plurality of macropores,
- wherein the support allows the cells to obtain nutrients and oxygen sufficient to maintain the viability of the cells exposed to a compound that may be metabolized by the cells,
- wherein the nutrients are provided by the culture medium, and
- wherein the metabolized compound is recovered from the culture medium for analysis.
A method for protein production comprising
- exposing cells in an apparatus which comprises a nanoporous silicon support comprising a plurality of macropores which support the viability of cells,
- at least one individual cell within one of said plurality of macropores,
- wherein the support allows the cells to obtain nutrients and oxygen sufficient to maintain the viability of the cells expressing protein,
- wherein the nutrients are provided by the culture medium, and
- wherein the expressed protein is recovered from the culture medium.
A method to provide hepatic support comprising
- exposing cells in an apparatus which comprises a nanoporous silicon support comprising a plurality of macropores which support the viability of cells,
- a plurality of hepatocytes within said plurality of macropores,
- wherein nutrients are provided by the blood or serum, and
- wherein the support allows passage of blood or serum to allow bidirectional mass transfer of large molecular weight proteins sufficient to allow the fluid to be processed by the hepatocytes.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.