Apparatus
OwnerJessica Pinheiro De Lucena-Thomas, Marianne Ellis +1inventors
InventorsJessica Pinheiro De Lucena-Thomas, Marianne Ellis, Kimberley Luetchford
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of expanding organoids includes: i) dissociating organoids into single cells and encapsulating the cells in gel beads; ii) culturing the encapsulated cells in an incubator under static conditions; iii) transferring the encapsulated cells to a fluidised bed bioreactor of a cell expansion apparatus, with a pump providing about 0.1 mm/s to about 5 mm/s superficial flow velocity in the bioreactor, to form organoids; and iv) retrieving the gel beads from the fluidised bed bioreactor for harvesting of the organoids. A cell expansion apparatus is also disclosed.
Claims24
A method of expanding organoids, the method comprising:
- i) dissociating organoids into single cells and encapsulating the cells in gel beads;
- ii) culturing the encapsulated cells in an incubator under static conditions;
- iii) transferring the encapsulated cells to a fluidised bed bioreactor of a cell expansion apparatus, with a pump providing about 0.1 mm/s to about 5 mm/s superficial flow velocity in the bioreactor, to form organoids;
- and
- iv) retrieving the gel beads from the fluidised bed bioreactor for harvesting of the organoids.
10-11. (canceled)
A cell expansion apparatus comprising:
- i) a fluidised bed bioreactor having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a flow distributor proximal to the fluid inlet and a minimum volume of 50 ml;
- and
- ii) a reservoir in fluid communication with a pump and a gas exchange unit;
- wherein the gas exchange unit is in fluid communication with the fluid inlet or the fluid outlet of the fluidised bed bioreactor, and
- wherein the fluid outlet of the fluidised bed bioreactor is in fluid communication with the reservoir.
The cell expansion apparatus of claim 14, wherein the fluid communication between the fluid outlet of the fluidised bed bioreactor and the reservoir comprises one or more sensors selected from the group consisting of an oxygen sensor, a pH sensor, a pressure sensor, a metabolite sensor, and combinations thereof.
(canceled)
22-23. (canceled)
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.