Patent · US Active

Hepatic lobule-like bioreactor

US8735143B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
2References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 21, 2011
Grant dateMay 27, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2031

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
  • CPC primaryC12N5/067
  • WIPO fieldBiotechnology
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The present invention provides a hepatic lobule-like bioreactor. The bioreactor includes a nanofiber scaffold enclosed within a housing. An intrahepatic fibrous vascular network, a bile capillary network, upper hepatic bile ducts, lower hepatic bile ducts, a common bile duct connecting the upper and the lower hepatic bile ducts, and collagen fibrous microchannels for hepatocytes surrounded by the bile capillary network are distributed throughout the nanofiber scaffold. Bile capillaries in the bile capillary network are provided with two or more inlet ports for biliary epithelial cells. The collagen fibrous microchannels for hepatocytes are provided with two or more inlet ports for hepatocytes. The intrahepatic vascular network is provided with a liquid inlet port and a liquid outlet port. These ports extend through the housing.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.