Multigel tumor-on-a-chip system
Inventors
Nieh, Mu-Ping • Rad, Armin Tahmasbi • Amin, Reza • Daneshmandi, Leila
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12227726-B2
Publication Date
2025-02-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
Described herein are apparati and methods for growing cells in a manner that mimics the native three-dimensional environment. Cell cultures grown in the apparatus can be screened for inhibition by specific chemotherapeutics or other drugs.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a biomimetic microfluidic device for culturing cells, having a plurality of separate growing chambers, each growing chamber suited for providing a microenvironment for culturing a population of tumor cells. A free flow space is connected to a top portion of each growing chamber and is configured to mimic an area of a blood vessel positioned directly adjacent to a tumor, and the free flow space pumps nutrients to each population of tumor cells.
The device further includes one or more flow chambers comprising an inlet for receiving cell culture media and an outlet for releasing cell culture media. The one or more flow chambers are directly connected to the free flow space and are in fluid communication with each growing chamber through the free flow space, so that each growing chamber receives nutrients from the free flow space.
In layered constructions, the device can be formed as a plurality of layers with at least some hydrophilic materials and an adhesive layer disposed therebetween, forming a plurality of separate growing chambers. The configuration of the growing chambers and the flow regions can be constrained by an N-shaped geometry or a linear geometry, and at least one of the flow chambers and the free flow space can be configured to provide laminar flow.
Claims Coverage
The document includes three independent claims covering a biomimetic microfluidic device for culturing tumor cells with a blood-vessel-mimicking free flow space and connected inlet/outlet flow chambers, a layered multi-chamber version with hydrophilic and adhesive-layer construction plus geometry and flow refinements, and a kit for comparative evaluation of therapies for a tumor that includes the device and preparatory materials for forming the tumor-cell population. The core inventive structure is the plurality of separate growing chambers with a free flow space configured to mimic an adjacent blood vessel, connected to inlet/outlet flow chambers for fluid communication with each growing chamber.
Blood-vessel-mimicking free flow space connected to top portion of each growing chamber
A free flow space connected to a top portion of each growing chamber, configured to mimic an area of a blood vessel positioned directly adjacent to a tumor, pumping nutrients to each population of tumor cells.
Separate tumor-cell growing chambers with microenvironment per population
A plurality of separate growing chambers, each growing chamber suited for providing a microenvironment for culturing a population of tumor cells.
Inlet/outlet flow chambers directly connected to the free flow space for fluid communication
One or more flow chambers comprising an inlet for receiving cell culture media and an outlet for releasing cell culture media, wherein the one or more flow chambers are directly connected to the free flow space and are in fluid communication with each growing chamber through the free flow space.
Layered hydrophilic materials with adhesive layer forming multiple growing chambers
A plurality of layers with at least some of the layers comprising hydrophilic materials with at least one adhesive layer disposed therebetween, formed into the plurality of layers is a plurality of separate growing chambers, each growing chamber suited for providing a microenvironment for culturing a population of tumor cells.
Adhesive-layer cutouts for fluid communication
Adhesive layers with cutouts that enable fluid communication.
N-shaped or linear geometry of multiple growing chambers
Multiple separate growing chambers arranged in either an N-shaped geometry or a linear geometry.
Laminar flow in at least one of flow chamber and free flow space
At least one of its flow chambers and the free flow space provide laminar flow.
Kit for comparative evaluation of therapies with the biomimetic device and preparatory materials
A kit comprising a biomimetic microfluidic device having a plurality of separate growing chambers, a free flow space connected to a top portion of each growing chamber configured to mimic an area of a blood vessel positioned directly adjacent to a tumor, and one or more flow chambers with an inlet and an outlet directly connected to the free flow space and in fluid communication with each growing chamber through the free flow space, and an amount of preparatory materials for preparation of the population of tumor cells.
Preparatory materials for preparation of a population of tumor cells
An amount of preparatory materials for preparation of the population of tumor cells.
Diagnostic imaging adaptation for therapy evaluation
The kit includes a biomimetic microfluidic device configured to perform diagnostic imaging using a diagnostic imaging device.
Extraction of at least part of tumor-cell population for external evaluation
The kit includes a biomimetic microfluidic device configured to extract at least part of a tumor cell population for external evaluation.
Non-transitory machine-readable instructions for determining concentrations per chamber and outputting therapy information
The kit further includes machine-readable instructions that determine the concentrations of materials introduced into each of the growing chambers and output content information for determining a therapy.
Overall claim coverage centers on a microfluidic culturing platform with separate tumor-cell growing chambers supplied via a free flow space that mimics an adjacent blood vessel, connected to inlet/outlet flow chambers for cell culture media transport. Dependent refinements and the layered construction address adhesive-layer features, possible chamber-array geometries, and laminar flow, while the kit claim adds preparatory materials and additional kit functionalities including diagnostic imaging, external evaluation via extraction, and machine-readable instructions for concentration determination and therapy-related output.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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