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AssigneePresident and Fellows of Harvard College
InventorsKevin Kit Parker, Adam W. Feinberg, George M. Whitesides, Sergey S. Shevkoplyas, Alexander Feigel
Estimating the term…
A free-standing thin film is fabricated from a structure comprising a base layer coated with a sacrificial polymer layer, which is in turn coated with a flexible polymer layer. Cells are then seeded onto the flexible polymer layer and cultured to form a tissue. The flexible polymer layer is then released from the base layer to produce a free-standing thin film comprising the tissue on the flexible polymer layer. In one embodiment, the cells are myocytes, which can be actuated to propel or displace the free-standing film. In another embodiment, the free-standing film is used to treat injured human tissue.
(canceled)
The method of claim 37, wherein the base layer has an elastic modulus greater than 1 MPA.
The method of claim 37, wherein the base layer is a glass cover slip.
The method of claim 37, wherein the sacrificial polymer layer comprises poly (N-Isopropylacrylamide).
The method of claim 37, wherein the flexible polymer layer comprises polydimethylsiloxane.
(canceled)
The method of claim 37, wherein the muscle cells are cardiomyocytes.
The method of claim 37, wherein the sacrificial polymer layer is coated on the base layer via spin coating.
The method of claim 37, wherein the flexible polymer layer is coated on the sacrificial polymer layer via spin coating.
The method of claim 37, wherein the sacrificial polymer is non-cross-linked poly(N-Isoproylacrylamide), and wherein the flexible polymer is released by dropping the temperature to 32° C. or less, causing the sacrificial polymer to liquefy.
The method of claim 37, wherein the sacrificial polymer is crosslinked N-Isopopylacrylamide, and wherein the flexible polymer is released by dropping the temperature to 32° C. or less, causing the sacrificial polymer to become hydrophilic.
The method of claim 37, wherein the sacrificial polymer is an electrically actuated polymer, and wherein the flexible polymer is released by applying an electric potential to the sacrificial polymer.
The method of claim 37, wherein the sacrificial polymer is a degradable biopolymer, and wherein the flexible polymer is released by dissolving the sacrificial polymer.
The method of claim 37, further comprising supplying an engineered surface chemistry to the flexible polymer layer before seeding the cells on the flexible polymer layer.
The method of claim 37, wherein the cultured tissue has a thickness of 200 micrometers or less when the flexible polymer layer is released.
The method of claim 37, further comprising cutting the flexible polymer layer and tissue to produce a desired shape.
-36. (canceled)
A method for measuring the contractility of a muscle tissue, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.