Brown University

University of Utah Research Foundation

Neurotech S.a.

Patrick A Tresco

Patrick Aebischer

Edward J Doherty

Mahendra S Rao

Margot Mayer-Proschel

John F Mills

Darin J Messina

Karin D Caldwell

Jennifer Neff

Frank T Gentile

David H Rein

Tyrone F Hazlett

Laura M Holland

Lars Wahlberg

Thomas Flanagan

A method for isolating human neuroepithelial precursor cells from human fetal tissue by culturing the human fetal cells in fibroblast growth factor and chick embryo extract and immunodepleting from the cultured human fetal cells any cells expressing A2B5, NG2 and eNCAM is provided. In addition, methods for transplanting these cells into an animal are provided. Animals models transplanted with these human neuroepithelial precursor cells and methods for monitoring survival, proliferation, differentiation and migration of the cells in the animal model via detection of human specific markers are also provided.

Method of isolating human neuroepithelial precursor cells from human fetal tissue

The present invention is directed to a composition and method for regulating the adhesion of cells and biomolecules to hydrophobic surfaces and hydrophobic coated surfaces. The composition is a biomolecule conjugated end-group activated polymer (EGAP). The biomolecule conjugated EGAP can be put to numerous uses including cell adhesion, cell growth, cell sorting, and other biological assays.

Composition and method for regulating the adhesion of cells and biomolecules to hydrophobic surfaces

A method for determining the viral retentivity of an external jacket of an implantable permselective macrocapsule. Viral retentivity describes the ability of an external jacket to retard the transport of virus particles across the jacket.

Microporous macrocapsules

The present invention is directed to a composition and method for regulating the adhesion of cells and biomolecules to hydrophobic surfaces and hydrophobic coated surfaces. The composition is a biomolecule conjugated end-group activated polymer (FGAP). The biomolecule conjugated EGAP can be put to numerous uses including cell adhesion, cell growth, cell sorting, and other biological assays.

Methods are disclosed for the alleviation of movement disorders via the implantation of static devices which focally release neuroinhibitory compounds to preselected brain areas. Pathological conditions to be treated by these methods include parkinsonian movement disorders, Huntington's chorea, and epileptiform seizure activity. In the treatment of parkinsonism, target areas implantation include the subthalamic nucleus, the globus pallidus internus, and the substantia nigra pars reticulata. In the treatment of epilepsy, implants may be placed in an epileptogenic focus area of neural over-activity. The devices may be polymeric implants that release neuroinhibitory compounds such as GABA, GABA agonists, GABA potentiators, action potential blockers and voltage dependent calcium channel blockers, and glutamate antagonists. Alternatively, the devices may contain living cells which secrete neuroinhibitory compounds.

Planting devices for the focal release of neuroinhibitory compounds

A method for encapsulating biological substances in biocompatible microcapsules is disclosed, the method comprising: (a) maintaining a coating-forming liquid film sheet transverse to a vertical plane, said sheet comprising an organic polymerizable monomer liquid, (b) causing droplets comprising biological substances in an aqueous medium to fall downwardly through said liquid film sheet to form microcapsules comprising cores of said droplets coated by said film, (c) permitting said microcapsules to fall downwardly from said liquid film sheet, and (d) polymerizing said liquid film coatings during descent of said microcapsules below said sheet to form a permeable polymer coating of a sufficient structural integrity so that said microcapsules are self-supporting.

Method of encapsulating biological substances in microspheres

Elongated seamless capsules containing biological material are prepared by a method in which a coagulant, which includes a cell suspension or other biological material, and a polymeric casting solution are extruded through a common extrusion port having at least two concentric bores, such that the coagulant is extruded through an inner bore and the polymeric casting solution is extruded through an outer bore. Extrusion of the coagulant is initiated subsequent to initiating delivery of the casting solution to form a capsule having a curved and smooth leading edge shape. Delivery of the coagulant is then shut off, and extrusion of the casting solution is terminated either immediately or after some predetermined time. This procedure can be modified to form in the capsule a coaxial rod that is connected to one end but not the other end of the capsule. This is accomplished by drawing casting solution into the inner bore after initiating extrusion of the casting solution through the outer bore, and then initiating delivery of the coagulant through the inner bore so as to coagulate the casting solution therein and form a rod, and ejecting the rod from the inner bore by pressure of the coagulant. Delivery of the coagulant and casting solution are then terminated as described above.

Preparation of elongated seamless capsules containing a coaxial rod and

Implanting devices for the focal release of neuroinhibitory compounds

A method for encapsulating a biological substance is biocompatible microcapsules is disclosed, said method comprising:

Growing community of inventors

Sandy, UT, United States of America

Patrick A Tresco