Methods for in vivo and in vitro use of graphene and other two-dimensional materials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017296706-A1
Application number	US-201615099304-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2016
Priority date	Apr 14, 2016
Publication date	Oct 19, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Two-dimensional materials, particularly graphene-based materials, having a plurality of apertures thereon can be formed into enclosures for various substances and introduced to an environment, particularly a biological environment (in vivo or in vitro). One or more selected substances can be released into the environment, one or more selected substances from the environment can enter the enclosure, one or more selected substances from the environment can be prevented from entering the enclosure, one or more selected substances can be retained within the enclosure, or combinations thereof. The enclosure can for example allow a sense-response paradigm to be realized. The enclosure can for example provide immunoisolation for materials, such as living cells, retained therein.

First claim

1 . A device comprising a first enclosure and a second enclosure,
wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure are in direct fluid communication with one another, wherein the enclosures independently comprise a perforated two-dimensional material encapsulating a compartment, or a portion thereof, with at least one substance, and wherein the first enclosure and/or second enclosure allows release of the substance to an environment external to the device via passage across the perforated two-dimensional material.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure are connected by microfluidic channels.

3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure are in direct fluid contact via microfluidic channels.

4 . The device of claim 1 , comprising more than two enclosures, wherein each enclosure is in direct fluid contact with at least one other enclosure.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein fluids and/or the substance pass between the first enclosure and the second enclosure.

6 . The device of claim 5 , wherein the fluids and/or the substance pass between the first enclosure and the second enclosure via osmosis, applied electric potential, concentration gradients, diffusion, piston-induced transport, triggered movement, or a combination thereof.

7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising an osmotic pump that promotes passage of fluids and/or the substance between the first enclosure and the second enclosure.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the substances in the first enclosure are released into an environment external to the device at a different rate and/or at different relative concentration than substances in the second enclosure.

9 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first enclosure is in direct fluid communication with an environment external to the device, wherein the second enclosure is in direct fluid communication with the first enclosure, and wherein the second enclosure is not in direct fluid communication with the environment external to the device.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein each enclosure comprises a single compartment that does not contain sub-compartments.

11 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the first enclosure and second enclosure independently comprise two or more sub-compartments, wherein at least one sub-compartment is in direct fluid communication with an environment external to the device.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein each sub-compartment comprises a perforated two-dimensional material.

13 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the substance is selected from the group consisting of atoms, ions, molecules, macromolecules, viruses, particles, pharmaceuticals, drugs, medicaments, therapeutics, small molecules, and combinations thereof.

14 . (canceled)

15 . A method of releasing a substance comprising exposing a device to an environment to thereby release into the environment at least one substance enclosed in the device,
wherein the device comprises a first enclosure and a second enclosure, wherein the enclosures independently comprise a perforated two-dimensional material encapsulating independent compartments, or portions thereof, with the substance.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first enclosure and the second enclosure are in direct fluid communication with one another.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the environment is a biological environment.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the substance is a pharmaceutical.

19 . (canceled)

20 . (canceled)

21 . An artificial liver comprising a first enclosure and a second enclosure in direct fluid contact with one another, wherein the enclosures independently comprise a perforated two-dimensional material encapsulating a compartment, or a portion thereof, with at least one substance,
wherein the first enclosure and/or second enclosure allows release of the substance to an environment external to the device via passage across the perforated two-dimensional material.

22 . An device comprising a first enclosure and a second enclosure, wherein the enclosures independently comprise a perforated two-dimensional material encapsulating independent compartments, or portions thereof, and
a means for moving substances and/or fluids between the first enclosure and the second enclosure.

23 . The device of claim 22 , wherein the means comprises osmosis, applied electric potential, concentration gradients, diffusion, piston-induced transport, triggered movement, or a combination thereof.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Simon Sarah M
• Swett Jacob L

Classifications

• A61L31/024 Primary

  Carbon; Graphite · CPC title

• A61L31/16

  Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L31/047 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A61K47/02

  Inorganic compounds · CPC title

• A61K9/0004

  Osmotic delivery systems; Sustained release driven by osmosis, thermal energy or gas · CPC title

• A61K9/0009

  involving or responsive to electricity, magnetism or acoustic waves; Galenical aspects of sonophoresis, iontophoresis, electroporation or electroosmosis · CPC title