Vanderbilt University

Mikhail M Dikov

Ales Prokop

Jeffrey M Davidson

Elena E Tchekneva

Veronika Kadkina

Dina Polosukhina

Phillip Williams

Embodiments of the invention include methods and apparatuses relating to animal specimen collection and animal specimen collection stations. In an embodiment, multiple chambers each contain a single animal, and wells on a removable floor on each of the chambers may collect animal specimens. The wells may be dimensioned with a depth and width such that the animals may not disturb, contact, or contaminate specimens contained within a well.

Collection station for accelerated collection of specimens from laboratory animals

The present invention provides a convenient polymeric film or microparticulate vehicle to deliver protein factors into appropriate body sites to induce appropriate therapeutic effects. It also improves the existing methodologies for immunoisolation of non-human pancreatic islets (via microencapsulation) to protects them from the immunologically-different host. This invention demonstrates how vascularization and angiogenesis can be induced by means of addition of proper angiogenic factors. The angiogenesis is sustained over a long period of time, depending on the release characteristics of the polymeric matrix. Three-dimensional polymeric structures (mesh or perforated tubing and film) are used as resident materials for microcapsules bearing islets. Blood capillaries are generated outside the capsules and penetrate through the implant openings to ingrow into the vicinity of capsules/islets.

Polymeric encapsulation system promoting angiogenesis

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Brentwood, TN, United States of America

Mikhail M Dikov