The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Raehyun Kim

Nancy L Allbritton

Yuli Wang

Peter Joseph Attayek

A method for producing tissue constructs comprising two or more distinct regions, each of which comprises a different cell population or lineage is described. The method involves providing a support substrate or substrate assembly comprising two or more physically distinct regions, wherein the two or more physically distinct regions of the support substrate or substrate assembly are different from each other; and depositing/positioning one or more cells on the support substrate or substrate assembly. The cells can form a continuous monolayer with at least two zones, e.g., a proliferative zone and a nonproliferative zone, that can act as in vitro intestinal models. The models are two-dimensional, thus facilitating rapid and facile imaging. Systems comprising the tissue constructs and methods of using the constructs to study the effects of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and metabolites on intestinal cells are also described.

Formation of arrays of planar intestinal crypts possessing a stem/proliferative cell compartment and differentiated cell zone

Disclosed herein are devices, apparatuses and methods for generating self-sustaining gaseous and non-gaseous gradients across a cell support structure and for culturing one or more cells or tissues under hypoxic conditions. Methods of generating one or more gas gradients across a cell support structure include providing a luminal container having a bottom wall that is a gas permeable membrane, positioning a cell support structure above the bottom wall, positioning one or more cells or tissues on the cell support structure, and generating one or more gas gradients between the bottom wall, across the cell support structure and into a luminal reservoir. An apparatus to produce hypoxic conditions for cell cultures includes a luminal container having a bottom wall, a cell support structure on the bottom wall, and a cover that sealably closes the open top, such that a hypoxic condition can be generated in the luminal reservoir.

Devices, systems and apparatuses for generating self-sustaining hypoxic conditions and gaseous and non-gaseous chemical gradients for in vitro cell culture

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Raehyun Kim