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US 7,172,866 B2Granted
Methods and gel compositions for encapsulating living cells and organic molecules
AssigneeBiocept, Inc.
InventorsSoonkap Hahn, Roberto Fagnani, Xiaofan Dong, Carl F. Edman, Pavel Tsinberg
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Abstract
A method for encapsulating biologics within a hydrogel by using an aqueous solution of an isocyanate-functional hydrogel prepolymer which is mixed with an amount of biologics and an aqueous solution containing a dithiol crosslinking agent under physiological pH conditions. An additional bidentate crosslinking agent may be included. The product of such method may be a bioreactor or an assay device having a plurality or different biologics encapsulated at predetermined locations in a substrate.
Claims11
A bioassay comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a microarray which comprises a substrate having a plurality of discrete spots of a stabilized hydrogel composition bound thereto which composition is the reaction product of a prepolymer of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or a copolymer thereof having isocyanate end groups, and a thio-functional crossliniking agent, which results in thio-urethane groups wherein said stabilized hydrogel composition further includes biologics encapsulated therewithin which remain bioactive;
- (b) contacting the microarray with an analyte solution, and
- (c) detecting the interactions of the microarray with the analyte solution.
A microarray which comprises:
- a substrate, and
- a plurality of discrete spots of a hydrogel biologic composition attached to said substrate, which hydrogel biologic composition comprises:
- (a) the reaction product of a prepolymer of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, or a copolymer thereof having isocyanate end groups, and a thio-functional crossliniking agent, which results in thio-urethane groups and provides a stabilized hydrogel, and
- (b) a biologic which is encapsulated within said stabilized hydrogel and which remains bioactive.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.