Brown University

Cytotherapeutics, Inc.

Neurotech S.a.

Tyrone F Hazlett

Edward J Doherty

Keith E Dionne

David H Rein

Nicholas F Warner

Brian M Cain

John F Mills

Frank T Gentile

Patrick A Tresco

Orion D Hegre

Rebecca Li

Laura M Holland

Thomas R Flanagan

Thomas Flanagan

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

This invention is directed to methods of manufacturing implantable biocompatible cell encapsulation devices, wherein the cell encapsulation devices have a jacket made of a permeable, biocompatible material that is loaded with a core made of a reticulate foam scaffold having interconnected pores, with cells that are dispersed in the interconnected pores.

Biocompatible devices with foam scaffolds

A sealed, implantable, encapsulation device (20) for diffusing a biologically active product or function to an individual which includes a substantially non-porous fitting (32) including an inner surface (33) defining an access port (34). A permselective, porous, membrane (21), having an interior surface (22), cooperates with the fitting inner surface (33) to form a storage cavity (23) therebetween. The membrane interior surface (22) is in substantially cell-tight dry sealing engagement with fitting (32) to seal cavity (23). Living cells (24) are disposed in the cavity (23) which are capable of secreting the biologically active product to an individual. The membrane (21) is of a material capable of permitting the passage of substances between the individual and cells required to provide the biological product or function. A plug member (35) is positioned in the access port (34) and seated in cell-tight sealing engagement with the fitting inner surface (33). A method for sealing the implantable encapsulation device (20) is also provided.

Method and apparatus for sealing implantable membrane encapsulation

A biocompatible cell device having an internal foam scaffold to provide a growth surface for encapsulated cells which produce a biologically active molecule.

Method and apparatus for sealing implantable, membrane encapsulation

A biocompatible capsule for containing cells for implantation is prepared containing an inner support that provides tensile strength to the capsule. The capsule may be a tubular semipermeable membrane such as a hollow fiber membrane having both ends sealed. A rod shaped inner support extends through the lumen and ends of the rod are attached to sealed ends of the fiber. Prior to sealing one fiber end, cells are introduced into the lumen. Cells within the capsule may be suspended in a liquid medium or immobilized in a hydrogel or extracellular matrix material, and biologically active molecules can be delivered from the capsule to surroundings or from the surroundings into the capsule. The inner support may have external features such as flutes or a roughened or irregularly-shaped surface, and may be coated with cell-adhesive substance or a cell-viability-enhancing substance. The inner support may be a hollow tube having two channels, one communicating with a filling port that permits injecting cells through the support into the capsule and the other communicating with another port that allows gas to escape through the support as cells are introduced. Anti-inflammatory agents can be incorporated into the capsule membrane to reduce immune response, and angiogenic factors and cell growth factors may be used to stimulate cell culture. Post-coating of capsule can be used to provide a protective barrier against immunogens. A tether for capsule retrieval can be formed integral with the inner support.

Inner-supported, biocompatible cell capsules

A biocompatible capsule for containing cells for implantation is prepared containing an inner support that provides tensile strength to the capsule. Cells within the capsule are suspended in a liquid medium or immobilized in a hydrogel or extracellular matrix material, and are surrounded by a semipermeable membrane across which biologically active molecules can be delivered from the capsule to surroundings or from the surroundings into the capsule. The inner support may be formed as an integral part of the capsule during a coextrusion process to form the capsule. Alternatively, the inner support may be a discrete component within a tube having top and bottom sealing fittings that are linked withing the tube by the support. The inner support may have external features such as flutes or a roughened or irregularly-shaped surface, and may be coated with cell-adhesive substance or a cell-viability-enhancing substance. The inner support may be a hollow tube having two channels, one communicating with a filling port that permits injecting cells through the support into the capsule and the other communicating with another port that allows gas to escape through the support as cells are introduced. The capsule may be made immunoisolatory by controlling membrane permselectivity or by substances in the membrane that reduce immune response, and may contain a tether for retrieval that can be formed integrally with the inner support.

Growing community of inventors

Coventry, RI, United States of America

Tyrone F Hazlett