Device for evaluating in vitro cell migration under flow conditions, and methods of use thereof
AssigneeCascade Life Sciences, Inc.
InventorSophia Khaldoyanidi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The current invention is directed towards a device that useful for studying cell migration. It is preferred that the device is configured to study stem cell, particularly hematopoetic stem/precursor cell homing. The device allows for detailed analysis of the various phases of the multiphase homing process. There are also provided herein, novel methods of using the device, including, but not limited to, dissection of the homing process under microenvironmental conditions mimicking healthy conditions, diseased conditions, inflammatory conditions, drug treatment conditions and experimental conditions.
Claims58
A device for parsing out a multi-phased biological event for characterization, analysis and manipulation the device comprising:
- (a) a housing further comprising:
- (i) a chamber;
- (ii) an inlet connected to the chamber for delivering a substance into the chamber;
- (iii) an outlet connected to the chamber for removing a substance from the chamber;
- (iv) at least one membrane, wherein the membrane is situated within the chamber of the housing such that at least two compartments are created by the relation of membrane surfaces with the chamber;
- (b) a delivery means;
- and
- (c) a receiving means, wherein a substance is delivered into the chamber of the housing via the inlet and constituents of the substance engage in various phases of a multi-phase biologic process.
The device of claim I wherein the membrane supports attached cell growth.
A method for analyzing the phases of HSPC homing comprising the steps of:
- (a) incubating a membrane of the invention device with an endothelial cell line;
- (b) inserting the membrane into the chamber of the invention device such that at least two compartments are formed within the chamber;
- (c) providing a microenvironment niche;
- (d) perfusing HSPCs into the chamber through the inlet of the device, across the membrane, and out of the chamber through the outlet;
- and
- (e) determining which cells are in the various phases of the multiple-phase homing for HSPCs.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.