EP0145406A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microstructures
Assignee: University of Glasgow
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Filing: 1984-11-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-11-28
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to the location of biological cells 5 in a predetermined spatial disposition relative to each other on a solid non-biological substrate. According to the invention an extended generally planar surface of the substrate is provided with a plurality of surface discontinuities 4 at least partly defining cell adhesion enhanced and/or cell-adhesion orienting zones having a width of from 0.2 to 20 micrometres in a predetermined relation to each other and substantially spaced apart from each other. When a plurality of the cells 5 in a physiologically acceptable medium is brought into contact with said substrate surface cells attached to the substrate surface preferentially and/or in preferential orientations at said discontinuities 4.
Inventors
- 👤 Adam Sebastian G. Curtis
- 👤 Christopher David W. Wilkinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 06:39
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M25/00; C12M25/06; C12M25/08; C12M23/00; C12M23/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
62 words
A solid non-biological substrate (2) suitable for use in the formation of bio-mechanical micro-structures, which substrate has an extended generally planar surface with a plurality of surface discontinuities (4) at least partly defining cell-adhesion enhanced and/or cell-adhesion orientating zones having a width of from 0.2 to 20 micrometres in a predetermined relation to each other and substantially spaced apart from each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
62 words
A solid non-biological substrate (2) suitable for use in the formation of bio-mechanical micro-structures, which substrate has an extended generally planar surface with a plurality of surface discontinuities (4) at least partly defining cell-adhesion enhanced and/or cell-adhesion orientating zones having a width of from 0.2 to 20 micrometres in a predetermined relation to each other and substantially spaced apart from each other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A substrate as claimed in claim 1 wherein said discontinuities (4) have a height or depth of from 5 nm to 500 pm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A substrate as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said substrate is selectively provided at said discontinuities with a cell-adhesion enhancing material (4).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A substrate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said zones (31) are separated by areas provided with cell-adhesion inhibiting material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A substrate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one of said zones (31) is provided with at least one phagocytosable projection (36).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A substrate as claimed in claim 5 wherein at least part of the surface of said projection (36) is provided with an electrical conductor or semi-conductor material (26).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A substrate as claimed in claim 6 wherein said substrate is provided with an electrically insulated conductor (23) extending from said projection (36)
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A substrate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein at least one of said discontinuities comprises a step, groove or generally rectangular section ridge (4).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A substrate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein at least one of said discontinuities (17) is branched.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A substrate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein at least one of said discontinuities (40) has an arcuate portion having a radius of curvature of from 20 pm to 1 mm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
A bio-mechanical structure comprising a substrate as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 with a plurality of cells (5) attached to said zones (4) of said surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A structure as claimed in claim 11 wherein said cells (5) are selected from nerve cells, fibroblasts and glial cells.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of locating a plurality of cells (5) in a predetermined spatial disposition relative to each other on a solid non-biological substrate (2), which method comprises providing on an extended generally planar surface of said substrate (2) a plurality of surface discontinuities (4) at least partly defining cell-adhesion enhanced and/or cell-adhesion orienting zones having a width of from 0.2 to 20 micrometres in a predetermined relation to each other and substantially spaced apart from each other, and bringing a plurality of said cells (5) in a physiologically acceptable medium into contact with said substrate surface.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of locating a plurality of cells (5) in a predetermined spatial disposition relative to each other on a solid non-biological substrate (2), which method comprises providing on an extended generally planar surface of said substrate (2) a plurality of surface discontinuities (4) at least partly defining cell-adhesion enhanced and/or cell-adhesion orienting zones having a width of from 0.2 to 20 micrometres in a predetermined relation to each other and substantially spaced apart from each other, and bringing a plurality of said cells (5) in a physiologically acceptable medium into contact with said substrate surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said cells (5) are incubated in said medium on said substrate surface for at least 10 minutes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said cells (5) are applied to elongate members whose distal ends are disposed at or in close proximity to said zones (4) so as to migrate along said members onto said zones (4).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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