A multi-scaffold system for large scale cultivation of cells
AssigneeAleph Farms Ltd.
InventorsNeta Lavon, Sagit Shalel Levanon, Nadav Tal
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is in the field of large-scale production of cultured cells, providing systems comprising a plurality of scaffolds arranged optionally in a multi-layer configuration and methods of use thereof for production of cells and/or tissue cultures for a variety of uses, including the production of cultured food products, particularly cultured meat.
Claims36
A cultivation system for cell and/or tissue cultivation comprising:
- at least one cell culture bioreactor comprising:
- a first surface comprising an inlet port, a second surface comprising an outlet port, and at least one bioreactor wall, wherein the at least one bioreactor wall is extending from the first surface towards the second surface and is defining an internal chamber configured to accommodate therein at least one scaffold unit;
- an inlet manifold fluidly coupled to the inlet port and an outlet manifold fluidly coupled to the outlet port, wherein each manifold comprises openings positioned therealong configured to direct a flow of a liquid;
- and
- at least one scaffold unit comprising a plurality of scaffolds, wherein each scaffold is separated from its neighboring scaffolds to form spaces therebetween enabling liquid flow, wherein at least part of each scaffold comprises cells and/or tissue.
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A method for producing at least one scaffold unit comprising a plurality of scaffolds comprising cultured cells and/or tissues, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. providing at least one scaffold unit comprising a plurality of scaffolds, wherein each scaffold is separated from its neighboring scaffolds to form spaces therebetween enabling liquid flow, wherein each scaffold is porous;
- b. seeding cells on at least part of a surface of each scaffold of the plurality of scaffolds or within each scaffold of the plurality of scaffolds;
- c. optionally placing the scaffold unit under conditions enabling adherence of the seeded cells thereto, until said cells are at least partially covering at least one surface of each of the scaffolds, or until the cells are covering at least a part of the pores and/or channels of each of the scaffolds;
- d. placing the scaffold unit in a cell culture bioreactor comprising an inlet manifold and an outlet manifold, wherein each manifold comprises a plurality of openings configured to direct a flow of a liquid therethrough, wherein the manifolds are connected to at least one pump configured to control the flow rate of said liquid;
- e. operating the at least one pump to deliver the liquid from the inlet manifold, along said spaces between neighboring scaffolds of at least one scaffold unit, and into the outlet manifold;
- and
- f. cultivating the cells on and/or within the plurality of scaffolds,
- thereby producing a plurality of scaffolds comprising cultured cells and/or tissues.
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A bioreactor configured to deliver a liquid to a plurality of scaffolds, the bioreactor comprising:
- (a) at least one bioreactor wall defining an internal chamber and is extending between a bottom surface and an upper surface, in parallel to a vertical axis;
- (b) at least one main tube, positioned along the vertical axis, and is extending perpendicularly from the upper surface;
- (c) a plurality of cultivation trays disposed within the internal chamber, wherein said plurality of cultivation trays extends radially from at least one supportive element directly or indirectly attached to the main tube, wherein each cultivation tray is configured to support at least one scaffold and is further configured to enable a liquid to flow along and/or through each scaffold;
- and
- (d) at least one mixing apparatus attached to the main tube, wherein the mixing apparatus is configured to circulate the liquid within the bioreactor,
- wherein the bioreactor is configured to deliver the liquid to a plurality of scaffolds disposed therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.