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Assignees
Member
West Virginia UniversityWest Virginia University is a public R1 research institution offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs across science, engineering, business, creative arts, and media. The university emphasizes experiential learning, research, and innovation, with notable strengths in academic program development, research excellence, community engagement, and a commitment to affordability, career readiness, and student success. WVU supports a vibrant campus environment, industry partnerships, and impactful scholarship, preparing students for careers through hands-on education, research, and applied learning.
West Virginia University is a public R1 research institution offering diverse undergraduate and graduate programs across science, engineering, business, creative arts, and media. The university emphasizes experiential learning, research, and innovation, with notable strengths in academic program development, research excellence, community engagement, and a commitment to affordability, career readiness, and student success. WVU supports a vibrant campus environment, industry partnerships, and impactful scholarship, preparing students for careers through hands-on education, research, and applied learning.
Publication Number
US-11565251-B2
Publication Date
2023-01-31
Expiration Date
Abstract
A microfluidic device is useful for modelling drug transmission across the vasculature and vascular barriers. The device includes a frame, a fluid-permeable lumen configured to carry a fluid through the frame in a first direction, a first chamber surrounding the lumen, and a second chamber surrounding the first fluid-permeable chamber. At least one surface of the first chamber is configured for deposition of a first population of endothelial cells. An outer surface of the second chamber is configured for deposition a second population of cells. The second chamber is configured to carry a fluid through the frame in a second direction. The fluid-permeable lumen is configured to allow the fluid to permeate through a wall of the lumen into the first chamber, and the first chamber and the second chamber are in fluid communication with each other.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a microfluidic device that includes a frame, a fluid-permeable lumen, and a fluid-permeable surface extending parallel to the lumen. An outer surface of the lumen and a first surface of the fluid-permeable surface define a first chamber, and a porous barrier layer connects the fluid-permeable surface to the frame.
A bottom layer having a channel is removably connected to the frame to define a second chamber, and the top layer and bottom layer are removably connected to the frame. Fluid permeates from the fluid-permeable lumen into the first chamber and across the fluid-permeable surface and porous barrier layer into the second chamber, maintaining fluid communication between the chambers.
The device is configured for modeling drug transmission in a tissue, organ, or system. In at least one configuration, the first chamber supports deposition or growth of a first population of cells, and the second chamber supports deposition of a second population of cells, enabling drug permeation and drug uptake by the second cell population to be modeled.
Claims Coverage
The partial content contains two independent claims. The inventive features center on a multi-layer microfluidic structure defining fluid-connected chambers and a drug transmission modeling device with cell-deposition chambers and fluid permeation from a lumen wall.
Multi-layer microfluidic structure defining fluid-connected chambers
A microfluidic device comprising a frame, a fluid-permeable lumen, a fluid-permeable surface extending parallel to the lumen, a porous barrier layer connecting the fluid permeable surface to the frame, a top layer removably connected to the frame, and a bottom layer having a channel removably connected to the frame, wherein an outer surface of the lumen and a first surface of the fluid-permeable surface define a first chamber and a second surface of the fluid-permeable surface and the channel in the bottom layer define a second chamber.
Drug transmission modeling device with lumen permeation into a first chamber
A microfluidic device for modeling drug transmission in a tissue, organ, or system comprising a frame, a fluid-permeable lumen configured to carry a fluid through the frame in a first direction, a first chamber surrounding the lumen, at least one surface of the first chamber configured for deposition of a first population of cells, and a second chamber surrounding the first fluid-permeable chamber, wherein an inner surface of the second chamber is configured for deposition of a second population of cells and the second chamber is configured to carry a fluid through the frame in a second direction, and wherein the fluid-permeable lumen is configured to allow the fluid to permeate through a wall of the lumen into the first chamber and the first chamber and the second chamber are in fluid communication with each other.
Across the independent claims, the coverage is directed to microfluidic devices that define a first and a second chamber using a fluid-permeable lumen and a fluid-permeable surface, connected by a porous barrier and/or via permeation through the lumen wall, with removably connected layers and surfaces configured for deposition of first and second cell populations to model drug transmission and drug uptake.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
Modeling blood-tissue barriers, including a blood-brain barrier model and a blood-tumor barrier model.
Modeling drug transmission in a tissue, organ, or system.
High-throughput drug screening using sequential exposure or parallel simultaneous exposure.
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