Synthecon, Inc.

University of North Texas

S Dan Dimitrijevich

Ray P Schwarz

William J Anderson

Robert W Gracy

Charlie W Dodd

A two-chamber perfusion bioreactor counteracts a significant amount of shear stress while allowing high nutrient transfer and removal of waste and/or valuable bio-products, e.g., protein, hormones, growth factors, and monoclonal antibodies without disturbing the cell culture. Cells and tissues, contained in the growth chamber, are suspended in the growth media by rotation of the vessel and are separated by a porous membrane from the feeding chamber. Nutrients and gases are transferred across the membrane from the feeding chamber to the growth chamber. Even dispersion of nutrients along the membrane barrier is accomplished through a novel nutrient dispersion flow path. The flow path is created by flowing media out a center shaft in the vessel and along the front of the nutrient dispersion disk. The fluid then flows around the back of the nutrient dispersion disk and exits the outer center return shaft. The feeding chamber can be constantly perfused with fresh media or recirculated to maintain constant concentration of a specific media or testing component, e.g., pharmaceutical drug test candidate, growth factor, or anti cancer compound. The two-chamber perfusion device allows the attachment of different types human cells to represent various tissues in the human body.

Two chamber cell culture vessel

The present invention provides a non-contracting tissue equivalent comprising at least one cellular component and at least one non-cellular component. The tissue equivalent closely resembles normal tissue in being substantially non-contracting. In addition, the non-contracting tissue equivalent is translucent, allowing direct visual observation of the different layers of cells in the tissue equivalent. The non-contracting tissue equivalent is useful for a variety of complete tissue replacements including skin and cornea. The non-contracting tissue equivalent is useful for in vitro testing, evaluation and screening of potential pharmaceuticals or consumer products, production of biocompatible clinical products for tissue replacement and augmentation, and research studies on fundamental aspects of tissue structure and function. The capability for direct visual observation of layers of cells permits manual or automated assessment of important biological parameters of the tissue, including cell viability, proliferation, motility, and differentiation.

Non-contracting tissue equivalent

A bioreactor system features a vessel capable of being temperature controlled comprised of two or more cylindrical chambers separated by a common porous membrane. The chambers are capable of being mounted for rotation about a common horizontal axis, essentially creating a micro gravity environment, for the purpose of creating an interface between the chambers while maintaining fluid culture medium in at least one of the chambers and enabling cells to grow in the wells or pores disposed between the chambers. The device is formed by a tubular vessel having an inner surface and an outer surface, a first open end, a second open end and a longitudinal axis.

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Bedford, TX, United States of America

S Dan Dimitrijevich