Method and system for cell and tissue cultivation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9303257-B2
Application number	US-201013131152-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 1, 2010
Priority date	Jul 1, 2010
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A cell cultivating platform includes a substrate having a surface, at least one actuator moveable relative to the substrate, and a deformable material layer positioned above at least a portion of the supporting surface and the at least one actuator. The deformable material layer positioned opposite the substrate surface includes a biocompatible supportive surface suitable for supporting cultivated cells. The supportive surface deforms or otherwise deflects in response to activation of the at least one actuator, effectively releasing at least a portion of the cultured cells from the supportive surface. Suitable actuators include piezoelectric actuators that can be selectively energized according to one or more patterns to facilitate separation of cells from the supportive surface. Such activation cycles can be repeated.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cell cultivation platform comprising:
a substrate having a surface;
a plurality of actuators positioned relative to the surface of the substrate and configured to include at least two conformations, wherein a first subset of the plurality of actuators are in a normally contracted position and a second subset of the plurality of actuators are in a normally extended position;
a deformable material layer at least partially covering the surface of the substrate and the plurality of actuators, wherein the deformable material layer is in direct contact with at least a portion of the surface of the substrate and at least a portion of each of the plurality of actuators, wherein the deformable material layer is a biocompatible supportive surface configured to deform in response to a change in conformation of the plurality of actuators, wherein the deformation displaces one or more cells of a cultured tissue sample relative to the biocompatible supportive surface, wherein the deformation that displaces the one or more cells results from an extension of the first subset of the plurality of actuators and a contraction of the second subset of the plurality of actuators; and
a controller configured to control the plurality of actuators such that the first subset of the plurality of actuators extends in unison while the second subset of the plurality of actuators contracts in unison.

2. The cell cultivation platform of claim 1 , wherein at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators is a piezoelectric actuator.

3. The cell cultivation platform of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actuators are piezoelectric actuators comprising Gallium orthophosphate (GaPO 4 ).

4. The cell cultivation platform of claim 1 , wherein at least one actuator in the plurality of actuators has a diameter between about 100 nanometers (nm) and about 5 millimeters (mm).

5. The cell cultivation platform of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actuators are spaced apart to define an interval between actuators between about 10 micrometers (μm) and about 5 millimeters (mm).

6. The cell cultivation platform of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of actuators are arranged on the surface of the substrate as an array.

7. The cell cultivation platform of claim 6 , wherein the array comprises at least one row.

8. The cell cultivation platform of claim 6 , wherein the array comprises a lattice.

9. The cell cultivation platform of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises glass.

10. The cell cultivation platform of claim 9 , wherein the substrate is contoured according to a portion of a cell processing chamber.

11. The cell cultivation platform of claim 1 , wherein the deformable material layer is polyurethane.

12. The cell cultivation platform of claim 11 , wherein the deformable material layer is formed as a coating covering at least a portion of the surface of the substrate and the plurality of actuators.

13. The cell cultivation platform of claim 12 , wherein a thickness of the deformable material layer above the surface of the substrate is sufficient to cover the at least one actuator, while allowing substantial deformation of the biocompatible supportive surface in response to activation of the plurality of actuators.

14. The cell cultivation platform of claim 1 , wherein the substrate has an interdigitation portion around at least a portion of an edge configured for interlocking engagement with a corresponding interdigitation portion of a container wall.

15. The cell cultivation platform of claim 14 , wherein the container wall is fitted with the corresponding interdigitation portion.

16. The cell cultivation platform of claim 1 , further comprising at least one electrical lead in electrical communication with the plurality of actuators.

17. The cell cultivation platform of claim 16 , further comprising:
an energy source in electrical communication with the plurality of actuators through the at least one electrical lead; and
at least one switch coupled between the plurality of actuators and the energy source.

18. The cell cultivation platform of claim 17 , wherein the controller is in communication with the at least one switch, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the at least one switch according to a peel protocol.

19. A cell culture chamber comprising the cell cultivation platform according to claim 1 .

20. A cell cultivation platform comprising:
means for supporting cultured cells along at least a portion of a supportive surface relative to a cell culture chamber, wherein the supportive surface is in direct contact with a substrate and a plurality of actuators, wherein a first subset of the plurality of actuators are in a normally contracted position and a second subset of the plurality of actuators are in a normally extended position;
means for supplying energy to activate the plurality of actuators positioned between the substrate and the supportive surface;
wherein, responsive to activation, the plurality of actuators are configured to deform at least a portion of the supportive surface, wherein the deformation displaces one or more cells of a cultured tissue sample relative to the supportive surface, and wherein the deformation that displaces the one or more cells results from an extension of the first subset of the plurality of actuators and a contraction of the second subset of the plurality of actuators; and
means for controlling the plurality of actuators such that the first subset of the plurality of actuators extends in unison while the second subset of the plurality of actuators contracts in unison.

Assignees

• Fukui Toshimi
• Toki Motoyuki
• Empire Technology Dev Llc

Inventors

• Fukui Toshimi
• Toki Motoyuki

Classifications

• C12N11/00

  Carrier-bound or immobilised enzymes; Carrier-bound or immobilised microbial cells; Preparation thereof · CPC title

• C12M23/04

  Flat or tray type, drawers (C12M23/10, C12M23/12, C12M23/16 take precedence) · CPC title

• C12M33/00

  Means for introduction, transport, positioning, extraction, harvesting, peeling or sampling of biological material in or from the apparatus (chemical or physical laboratory apparatus in general B01L, devices for taking cell samples A61B10/0045, withdrawing or distributing predetermined quantities of fluid B01L99/00) · CPC title

• C12N13/00 Primary

  Treatment of microorganisms or enzymes with electrical or wave energy, e.g. magnetism, sonic waves · CPC title

• C12M23/20

  Material Coatings (immunocoatings C12M25/00) · CPC title