Neuro-stem cell stimulation and growth enhancement with implantable nanodevice

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10926079-B2
Application number	US-201916573533-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2019
Priority date	Nov 13, 2017
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A nanodevice includes an array of metal nanorods formed on a substrate. An electropolymerized electrical conductor is formed over tops of a portion of the nanorods to form a reservoir between the electropolymerized conductor and the substrate. The electropolymerized conductor includes pores that open or close responsively to electrical signals applied to the nanorods. A cell loading region is disposed in proximity of the reservoir, and the cell loading region is configured to receive stem cells. A neurotrophic dispensing material is loaded in the reservoir to be dispersed in accordance with open pores to affect growth of the stem cells when in vivo.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A nanodevice, comprising:
an array of metal nanorods formed on a substrate, the array of metal nanorods being grouped into a first region and a second region;
the first region including first nanorods such that upon activation of the first nanorods an electric field consistent with promoting stem cell growth is achieved; and
the second region including second nanorods configured to activate an electropolymerized electrical conductor formed over tops of the second nanorods to form a reservoir between the electropolymerized electrical conductor and the substrate, the electropolymerized electrical conductor including pores that open or close responsively to electrical signals applied to the second nanorods to release a growth factor.

2. The nanodevice as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electropolymerized electrical conductor includes electrically conductive polymers selected from the group consisting of polypyrrole, polyanilines, poly(thiophene), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(p-phenylene sulfide), poly(p-phenylene vinylene), poly(acetylene) and a combination thereof.

3. The nanodevice as recited in claim 1 , wherein the substrate includes a semiconductor material and further comprises a control circuit formed in the substrate to control activation of the first and second nanorods.

4. The nanodevice as recited in claim 1 , wherein the growth factor includes a neurotrophin.

5. The nanodevice as recited in claim 4 , wherein the neurotrophin is selected from the group consisting of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), neurotrophin-4 (NT-4) and nerve growth factor (NGF).

6. The nanodevice as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electrical signals on the second nanorods are pulsed to control an amount of the growth factor released.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Holmes Steven J
• Lin Qinghuang
• Kinser Emily R
• Marchack Nathan P
• Yu Roy R

Classifications

• A61K38/185 Primary

  Nerve growth factor [NGF]; Brain derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]; Ciliary neurotrophic factor [CNTF]; Glial derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]; Neurotrophins, e.g. NT-3 · CPC title

• A61N1/375

  Constructional arrangements, e.g. casings · CPC title

• A61L2400/12

  Nanosized materials, e.g. nanofibres, nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes; Nanostructured surfaces · CPC title

• A61B2562/028

  Microscale sensors, e.g. electromechanical sensors [MEMS] · CPC title

• A61B5/4839

  combined with drug delivery · CPC title