California Institute of Technology

University of Southern California

Bo Lu

Yu-Chong Tai

Mark Salman Humayun

Amir Goldkorn

Tong Xu

Richard J Cote

Siyang Zheng

Henry K Lin

Thin parylene C membranes having smooth front sides and ultrathin regions (e.g., 0.01 &#x3bc;m to 5 &#x3bc;m thick) interspersed with thicker regions are disclosed. The back sides of the membranes can be rough compared with the smooth front sides. The membranes can be used in vitro to grow monolayers of cells in a laboratory or in vivo as surgically implantable growth layers, such as to replace the Bruch's membrane in the eye. The thin regions of parylene are semipermeable to allow for proteins in serum to pass through, and the thick regions give mechanical support for handling by a surgeon. The smooth front side allows for monolayer cell growth, and the rough back side helps prevents cells from attaching there.

Ultrathin parylene-C semipermeable membranes for biomedical applications

The present invention provides a method for diagnosing cancer, predicting a disease outcome or response to therapy in a patient sample. The method involves isolating a circulating tumor cell (CTC), for example, a viable CTC, from a sample using a parylene microfilter device comprising a membrane filter having or consisting of a parylene substrate, which has an array of holes with a predetermined shape and size; and detecting and quantifying telomerase activity in blood circulating tumor cells. The invention further provides methods of using cells live-captured in various applications.

Method for cancer detection, diagnosis and prognosis

The present invention provides methods for designing a filtration systems for capturing viable tumor cells, such as circulating tumor cells at high efficiency and high viability. The methods involve development of a set of 'key engineering design parameters' that are crucial to achieve high tumor cell viability. These important design parameters include the filter geometry design, fluid delivery method, transfilter pressure and total filtration time.

Methods and design of membrane filters

Thin parylene C membranes having smooth front sides and ultrathin regions (e.g., 0.01 &#x3bc;m to 5 &#x3bc;m thick) interspersed with thicker regions are disclosed. The back sides of the membranes can be rough compared with the smooth front sides. The membranes can be used in vitro to grow monolayers of cells in a laboratory or in vivo as surgically implantable growth layers, such as to replace the Bruch's membrane in the eye. The application further provides an implantable cage-like apparatus for culturing cells comprising the parylene membrane.

3-dimensional parylene scaffold cage

3-Dimensional parylene scaffold cage

Methods for cancer detection, diagnosis and prognosis

A microfiltration apparatus and method for separating cells, such as circulating tumor cells, from a sample using a microfiltration device having a top porous membrane and a bottom porous membrane. The porous membranes are formed from parylene and assembled using microfabrication techniques. The porous membranes are arranged so that the pores in the top membrane are offset from the pores in the bottom membrane.

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Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Bo Lu