Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology – Carrier-bound or immobilized enzyme or microbial cell;... – Enzyme or microbial cell is immobilized on or in an organic...
Patent
1995-08-24
1999-12-07
Naff, David M.
Chemistry: molecular biology and microbiology
Carrier-bound or immobilized enzyme or microbial cell;...
Enzyme or microbial cell is immobilized on or in an organic...
210601, 435 41, 435 701, 435 711, 435161, 435182, 435395, 4352625, C12N 1108, C12N 500, C12P 100, C02F 300
Patent
active
059981857
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cell support structures, particularly but riot exclusively to cell support structures for immobilizing cells.
The immobilization of biological cells by loading them onto a support structure is a technique often used by scientists in the production of important biologically derived products. The technique offers numerous advantages over free cell, liquid phase systems, including permitting increased ease of separation of the cells from the reaction medium, increased throughput flow rates in continuous reaction systems, increased cell density per unit volume of reaction medium, and the production of a relatively cell-free, product containing medium which in turn facilitates downstream processing.
Conventional immobilization materials suffer from several disadvantages. Some materials, such as synthetic polymers are relatively expensive and harmful, often causing a decrease in cell viability and/or product activity. Other materials used such as Agar, are mechanically soft, unstable and also cause cell viability problems. Calcium Alginate is currently one of the more popular materials used, but suffers from being relatively unstable and mechanically weak, and thereby prone to structural collapse during use, and is also susceptible to chemical attack.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate these disadvantages.
According to the present invention there is provided a resilient cell support structure comprising silicon or a derivative thereof.
The structure may be of any suitable configuration, for instance beads, blocks, sheets, pads, chips, strands, tubes or granules. The structure may be formed or adapted to be locatable in or around and/or connectable to other component(s), for instance a reaction vessel or the like.
Preferably the structure is porous, for instance, the structure may be a sponge or foam. The porosity and/or density of the structure is preferably controlled according to the intended application. The porosity and/or density may be engineered by adding one or more additives to the structure, preferably substantially inert additives. Metal powder, such as stainless steel powder may be added to provide a relatively dense structure. Alternatively or additionally the porosity and/or density may be engineered by controlling aeration of liquid structure material during manufacture of the structure.
Preferably one or more substances may be added to give the structure particular surface properties. The or at least one of the substances may cooperate with biological cells.
Preferably the structure comprises silicone rubber.
Preferably the structure is re-usable.
The invention also provides a method of immobilizing cells the method comprising introducing a cell or cells to a resilient support structure comprising silicon or a derivative thereof.
The structure used may be of any suitable configuration, for instance block, sheet, pad, chip, strand, tube or granule. The structure may be formed or adapted to be locatable in or around and/or connectable to other component(s), for instance a reaction vessel or the like.
Preferably a culture of cells is grown on the support structure, preferably in conditions favouring growth. A plurality of cell cultures of different types of cells may be grown on a support structure.
Preferably the cells are introduced and/or grown on a porous structure, preferably in favourable conditions of acidity or alkalinity. The structure may be a sponge or foam. The growth conditions may be controlled to enable the extent of colonisation of the structure by the cells to be controlled.
The porosity and/or density of the structure is preferably controlled according to the intended application. The porosity and/or density may be engineered by incorporating one or more additives to the structure, preferably inert additives. Metal powder such as stainless steel powder may be added to provide a relatively dense structure. Alternatively or additionally the porosi
REFERENCES:
patent: 5079011 (1992-01-01), Lommi et al.
patent: 5190872 (1993-03-01), Hashizume et al.
patent: 5266476 (1993-11-01), Sussman et al.
Derwent Abstract, 88-268198, Mar. 28, 1994.
Sheldon W. May and Raymond E. Spier, Enzyme and Microbial Technology, vol. 10, No. 9, Sep. 1988, Haywards Heath, England.
Jennifer Van Brunt, Immobilized Mammalian Cells: The Gentle Way To Productivity, vol. 4, No. 6, Jun. 1986.
Clayson Tony
Fuller Jess Paul
Knights Anthony James
Ashby Scientific Ltd.
Naff David M.
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