System and method for encapsulating biological material by applying electrostatic charge to capsules
US6649384B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 5, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61K9/5089
- WIPO fieldPharmaceuticals
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A method and system for the effective and consistent encapsulation of viable (i.e., living or physiologically active) biological material (preferably, pancreatic islets also known as islets of Langerhans) with a polymeric material (preferably, a biocompatible semipermeable alginate) to form a gelled capsule, which preferably can be transplanted into genetically dissimilar hosts. The method includes an electrostatic mixing process for producing encapsulated cell clusters with at least two polymeric coatings, and the system includes an improved spinning disk atomizer. In an embodiment, biological material is encapsulated in a first alginate layer, the resultant capsules are suspended in a liquid carrier medium such as a saline solution, an electrostatic charge is applied to the carrier medium which is then introduced into an alginate solution, and the resultant suspension is atomized and gelled to form a second alginate layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.