Devices, methods, and systems for assessing cell migration and related processes
AssigneeUniversity of Washington
InventorsNathan Belliveau, Julie Theriot, Matthew Footer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various implementations described herein relate to devices, systems, and methods for inducing and/or causing cellular migration and uses thereof. Implementations described herein can be used to cause a portion of a cell population to migrate in response to a differential stimulus. Implementations described herein can be used to isolate and characterize the portion of the cell population. Implementations described herein can be used for research, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes.
Claims20
A device, comprising:
- a first reservoir containing cell media;
- a second reservoir containing the cell media;
- a porous membrane disposed between the first reservoir and the second reservoir, the porous membrane comprising pores that are permeable to cells;
- and
- a stimulus generator configured to induce a differential stimulus between the first reservoir and the second reservoir across the porous membrane, the differential stimulus causing migration of at least a portion of the cells between the first reservoir and the second reservoir across the porous membrane.
A device, comprising:
- a substrate;
- a first layer disposed on the substrate, cells being disposed between the substrate and at least a portion of the first layer;
- a second layer disposed on the first layer, the first layer being disposed between the substrate and the second layer;
- and
- a stimulus generator configured to output a stimulus that causes at least a portion of the cells to migrate from the first layer to the second layer.
A method of collecting cells that migrate in response to a stimulus, the method comprising:
- receiving, in a reservoir, a sample comprising first cells and second cells, the first cells and the second cells having different responses to the stimulus;
- causing the first cells to migrate through a cell separator by exposing the first cells and the second cells to the stimulus;
- and
- outputting a volume comprising the first cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.