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US 8,506,950 B2Granted
Degradable microcapsules
AssigneesETH Zurich, Swissgenetics
InventorsChristian Kemmer, David Fluri, Ulrich Witschi, Wilfried Weber, Martin Fussenegger
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AssigneesETH Zurich, Swissgenetics
InventorsChristian Kemmer, David Fluri, Ulrich Witschi, Wilfried Weber, Martin Fussenegger
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to microcapsules consisting of a polymer degradable by a polypeptide comprising a drug or other compound of interest and a genetically engineered cell expressing said polypeptide in response to a triggering compound, and to methods of directed release of the compound of interest. The preferred polymer is optionally modified cellulose sulfate/poly-diallyl-dimethyl-ammonium chloride. Such microcapsules are non-toxic, do not elicit an immunological response and have an extended half-life time in mammals. The expression system for cellulase is, for example, based on TET and doxycycline, or E.REX and erythromycin. In another example, expression of cellulase is triggered by luteinizing hormone, which can be used for artificial insemination with microcapsules carrying sperm.
A semipermeable microcapsule comprising a polymer or polymer mixture degradable by a polypeptide, wherein the microcapsule further comprises a genetically engineered cell expressing a luteinizing hormone receptor and expressing said polypeptide in response to luteinizing hormone activation of said luteinizing hormone receptor, wherein the genetically engineered cell comprises an expression vector encoding said polypeptide, the vector being operably linked to an inducible promoter responsive to a signaling compound activated by said luteinizing hormone activation of said luteinizing hormone receptor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.