Devices for cell separation
Inventors
Ling, Jian • Wellinghoff, Stephen T. • CANTÚ, Carlos MartÍn • FERNANDEZ, Angelica
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12539515-B2
Publication Date
2026-02-03
Expiration Date
Abstract
Devices and methods suitable for cell separation. The devices herein include non-random voids interconnected through non-random pores and/or non-random solid geometrical structures optionally connected through solid non-random interconnecting elements. Such devices are preferably suitable for affinity-based cell isolation techniques which rely upon binding interactions.
Core Innovation
A method separates one or more targeted cells from a plurality of cells by supplying a device comprising biocompatible polymer material having a plurality of voids and a plurality of pore openings between the voids, including a surface area for cell separation. The device is characterized by tightly controlled dimensional uniformity, where 90% or more of the voids have a selected void volume (V) that does not vary by more than +/-10.0%, and 90% or more of the pore openings have a value of d that does not vary by more than +/-10.0%.
The method provides a surface coating on the voids so that the surface coating provides for cell binding. A plurality of cells is passed in a fluid through the device to provide a fluid output, and one or more selected cells are captured either on the coated surface of the device or from the plurality of cells in the fluid output.
Dependent refinements describe specific device and coating options and emphasize performance thresholds for capture. The coating may include substituted or unsubstituted poly(p-xylylene), β-casein, or polydopamine, and capture efficiency is specified as >50% for either capturing selected cells on the coated surface or capturing the selected cells in the fluid output.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a cell-separation method with 5 inventive features: a biocompatible polymer device with controlled void and pore geometry, a cell-binding surface coating, passing cells through the device to provide a fluid output, capturing selected cells on the coated surface or in the fluid output, and >50% capture thresholds in the capture modes described in dependent claims.
Tightly uniform void and pore geometry in a biocompatible polymer device
Supplying a device comprising biocompatible polymer material having a plurality of voids with a diameter D and a plurality of pore openings between the voids having a diameter d, where 90% or more of the voids have a selected void volume (V) that does not vary by more than +/-10.0% and 90% or more of the pore openings have a value of d that does not vary by more than +/-10.0%.
Cell-binding surface coating on voids
Providing a surface coating on the voids wherein the surface coating provides for cell binding.
Passing cells through the device to generate a fluid output and capturing selected cells
Passing a plurality of cells in a fluid through said device to provide a fluid output and capturing one or more selected cells from said plurality of cells on the coated surface of said device; or capturing the one or more selected cells from the plurality of cells in said fluid output.
Capture efficiency threshold for on-coated-surface capture
Capturing one or more selected cells from said plurality of cells on the coated surface of said device with capture of more than 50%.
Capture efficiency threshold for fluid-output capture
Capturing the one or more selected cells from the plurality of cells in said fluid output with capture of more than 50%.
Overall, the claim set centers on a tightly uniform biocompatible polymer device defined by void volume uniformity and pore-opening diameter uniformity, combined with a cell-binding surface coating and a fluid-passing capture step that allows capture either on the coated surface or from the fluid output, with >50% capture thresholds specified for each capture mode.
Stated Advantages
Provides for cell binding on the coated surface of a biocompatible polymer device having voids and pore openings with tightly controlled uniformity.
Captures one or more selected cells either on the coated surface or from the fluid output, with capture of more than 50% for the selected cells in the respective capture mode(s).
Documented Applications
Separating one or more targeted cells from a plurality of cells using an affinity-based capture approach that can support capturing selected cells either on the coated surface or in the fluid output.
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