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US 7,371,400 B2Granted
Multilayer device for tissue engineering
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorsJeffrey T. Borenstein, Kevin R. King, Hidetomi Terai, Joseph P. Vacanti
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Abstract
The invention provides for translating two-dimensional microfabrication technology into the third dimension. Two-dimensional templates are fabricated using high-resolution molding processes. These templates are then bonded to form three-dimensional scaffold structures with closed lumens. The scaffolds can serve as the template for cell adhesion and growth by cells that are added to the scaffolds through the vessels, holes or pores. These scaffolds can be formed by layering techniques, to interconnect flat template sheets to build up a fully vascularized organ.
Claims50
A multilayer device for use in tissue engineering, comprising:
- (a) at least a first layer comprised of a polymer scaffold having a pattern of microchannels therein and
- (i) wherein the microchannels are suitable for the attachment and culturing of animal cells within the microchannels, and
- (ii) wherein the microchannels are connected for the circulation of fluid through the first layer, and
- (b) at least a second layer comprised of a polymer scaffold,
- wherein the first and second layers are joined or fastened together and the first layer is formed by forming a mold from a substrate material using a photoresist processing technique that includes:
- i) coating the substrate material with a photoresist;
- and ii) forming a pattern in the photoresist, and casting the first layer on the respective mold.
4 more elements
A multilayer device for use in tissue engineering, comprising:
- (a) at least a first layer comprised of a polymer scaffold having a pattern of microchannels therein and
- (i) wherein the microchannels are suitable for the attachment and culturing of animal cells within the microchannels,
- (ii) wherein the microchannels are connected for the circulation of fluid through the first layer, and
- (iii) wherein the at least a first layer is fabricated by forming a mold from a semiconductor substrate material using a photoresist processing technique that includes coating the semiconductor substrate material with a photoresist, and forming a pattern in the photoresist, and then casting the at least a first layer on the mold;
- and
- (b) at least a second layer comprised of a polymer scaffold, wherein the first and second layers are joined or fastened together.
3 more elements
A method of making a multilayer device, comprising the steps of:
- (a) fabricating at least a first layer comprised of a polymer scaffold suitable for attachment and culturing of animal cells and having a pattern of channels therein, wherein the at least a first layer is fabricated by forming a mold from a semiconductor substrate material using a photoresist processing technique that includes coating the semiconductor substrate material with a photoresist, and forming a pattern in the photoresist, and then casting the at least a first layer on the mold, and
- (i) wherein the channels are suitable for the attachment and culturing of animal cells within the channels,
- (ii) wherein the channels are connected for the circulation of fluid through the layer, and
- (iii) wherein at least one of the channels is about 30-200 microns in width;
- (b) obtaining at least a second layer for supporting animal cell growth wherein the second layer is comprised of a polymer scaffold suitable for attachment and culturing of animal cells;
- and
- (c) fastening together the first and second layers to form lumens of the channels.
4 more elements
A method of making a multilayer device comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining layers of a multilayer device, comprising:
- (i) at least a first layer comprised of a polymer scaffold having a pattern of microchannels therein, and
- (A) wherein the pattern of microchannels are suitable for the attachment and culturing of animal cells within the channels,
- (B) wherein the pattern of microchannels are connected for the circulation of fluid through the layer;
- and
- (C) wherein the first layer is formed by forming a first mold from a substrate material using a photoresist processing technique that includes coating the substrate material with a photoresist, and forming a pattern in the photoresist, and then casting an elastomer on the mold such that the pattern in the photoresist is transferred to the elastomer which acts as a second mold for the first layer, and
- (ii) at least a second layer, wherein the second layer is comprised of a polymer scaffold for attachment and culturing of animal cells;
- and
- (b) fastening the at least a first layer and the at least a second layer together.
6 more elements
A method of implanting a bioartificial organ into a recipient, comprising:
- (a) obtaining a multilayer device, comprising:
- (i) at least a first layer comprised of a polymer scaffold having a pattern of microchannels therein, and
- (A) wherein the microchannels are suitable for the attachment and culturing of animal cells within the channels,
- (B) wherein the microchannels are connected for the circulation of fluid through the layer, and
- (C) wherein the first layer is formed by forming a mold from a semiconductor substrate material using a photoresist processing technique that includes coating the semiconductor substrate material with a light sensitive photoresist, and forming a pattern in the photoresist by exposing the photoresist to short-wavelength light through a semi-transparent mask to create a microfluidic pattern in the photoresist, and then casting the first layer on the mold, and removing the first layer from the mold;
- and
- (ii) at least a second layer wherein the second layer is comprised of a polymer scaffold, the layers of the multilayer device being fastened together;
- and
- (b) implanting the multilayer device into the recipient, wherein the implanted multilayer device is a bioartificial organ.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.