Two-dimensional microcarriers for anchorage dependent cells

Abstract

Two-dimensional microcarriers for culture of anchorage dependent cells are formed having two opposed and parallel anchorage surfaces and a thickness so thin that cells attach only to the surfaces and not between the surfaces. Preferably, each of the surfaces is less than about 500 microns in each of its two dimensions, the thickness is not more than about 35 microns, the microcarriers have a shape resulting from the orthogonal or oblique intersection of two parallel planes separated by a distance of not more than 35 microns with a solid cylinder and the microcarriers are made from a hydrophobic polymeric material such as polystyrene, polycarbonate or polyterephthalate. The microcarriers can be microdisks having a density of between 0.90 and 1.10 g/cm.sup.3. The anchorage surfaces may be treated to enable cell attachment by applying a thin metallic deposit such as a titanium deposit or by electrical corona discharge. The microcarriers may be transparent to light waves and capable of withstanding sterilization. To form the microcarriers, the surfaces of a thin film of the polymeric material having a thickness of not more than about 35 microns are treated to be suitable for cell attachment, and the film is cut such as with a laser or by punching to provide the microcarriers.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.