US4997753A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Weighted collagen microsponge for immobilizing bioactive material
Assignee: Cellex Biosciences Inc
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Filing: 1989-08-14
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Granted: 1991-03-05
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Expires: 2009-08-14
Abstract
Abstract Weighted collagen microsponges having a highly crosslinked collagen matrix are described suitable for use in culturing organisms in motive reactor systems. The microsponges have an open to the surface pore structure, and pore sizes and volumes suitable for immobilizing a variety of bioactive materials. The microsponges also have an average particle size in the range of about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity above about 1.05.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C. Dean, Jr.
- 👤 Frederick H. Silver
- 👤 Richard A. Berg
- 👤 Philip G. Phillips
- 👤 Peter W. Runstadler, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:51
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12N; C12N11/00; C12N11/02; C12N1/00; C12N5/00; C12N5/0068; C12N5/0075; C12P; C12P1/00; C12N2533/00; C12N2533/50; C12N2533/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A weighted collagen microsponge for immobilizing bioactive materials in motive bioreactor systems, said microsponge comprising a porous, biocompatible, biostable, insoluble highly crosslinked collagen matrix containing an inert weighting material, said collagen matrix having an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from about 1 micron to about 150 microns, the pores of said matrix occupying from about 70 to about 98% by volume of the microsponge, said microsponge also having an average particle size of from about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity above about 1.05.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A weighted collagen microsponge for immobilizing bioactive materials in motive bioreactor systems, said microsponge comprising a porous, biocompatible, biostable, insoluble highly crosslinked collagen matrix containing an inert weighting material, said collagen matrix having an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from about 1 micron to about 150 microns, the pores of said matrix occupying from about 70 to about 98% by volume of the microsponge, said microsponge also having an average particle size of from about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity above about 1.05.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The microsponge of claim 1 having immobilized therein bioactive material selected from the group consisting of enzymes, dead cells and living cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The microsponge of claim 1 wherein said inert weighting material is selected from the group consisting of metals, metal alloys, metal oxides and ceramics.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The microsponge of claim 3 wherein said weighting material has a specific gravity of above about 4.0 and said microsponge has a specific gravity of above about 1.3.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The microsponge of claim 4 wherein said inert weighting material is dispersed throughout said collagen matrix as finely divided powder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The microsponge of claim 4 wherein said weighting material is centrally disposed as a solid core about which said collagen matrix is formed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The microsponge of claim 4 wherein said inert weighting material is selected from the group consisting of chromium, tungsten, cobalt, molybdenum, titanium, nickel and alloys thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The microsponge of claim 7 wherein said weighting material is titanium and said microsponge has hybridoma cells immobilized therein.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
10 words
The microsponge of claim 2, wherein the cells are microorganisms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
111 words
A bioreactor system comprising a reactor vessel having aseptically sealed therein a plurality of sterilized weighted collagen microsponges for immobilizing bioactive materials in motive bioreactor systems, said microsponges comprising a porous, biocompatible, biostable, insoluble highly crosslinked collagen matrix containing an inert weighting material, said collagen matrix having an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from about 1 to about 150 microns, the pores of said matrix occupying from about 70 to about 98% by volume of the microsponge, said microsponge also having an average particle size of from about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity of above about 1.05.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
111 words
A bioreactor system comprising a reactor vessel having aseptically sealed therein a plurality of sterilized weighted collagen microsponges for immobilizing bioactive materials in motive bioreactor systems, said microsponges comprising a porous, biocompatible, biostable, insoluble highly crosslinked collagen matrix containing an inert weighting material, said collagen matrix having an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from about 1 to about 150 microns, the pores of said matrix occupying from about 70 to about 98% by volume of the microsponge, said microsponge also having an average particle size of from about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity of above about 1.05.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The biorector system of claim 10 wherein said reactor has a volume between about 0.1 to 10 liters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
The bioreactor system of claim 11 wherein said reactor is a fluidized bed reactor, having a fluid distribution plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
144 words
A process for performing a bioreaction comprising immobilizing a bioactive material in weighted collagen microsponges comprising a porous, biocompatible, biostable, insoluble highly crosslinked collagen matrix containing an inert weighting material, said collagen matrix having an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from about 1 micron to about 150 microns, the pores of said matrix occupying from about 70 to about 98% by volume of the microsponge, said microsponge also having an average particle size of from about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity above about 1.05; retaining the microsponges having said immobilized bioactive material in a suitable reactor vessel; passing a liquid reagent stream into said reactor in direct contact with said microsponges; agitating the mixture of said microsponges and said reagent stream and recovering the biochemical reaction products from said reactor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
144 words
A process for performing a bioreaction comprising immobilizing a bioactive material in weighted collagen microsponges comprising a porous, biocompatible, biostable, insoluble highly crosslinked collagen matrix containing an inert weighting material, said collagen matrix having an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from about 1 micron to about 150 microns, the pores of said matrix occupying from about 70 to about 98% by volume of the microsponge, said microsponge also having an average particle size of from about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity above about 1.05; retaining the microsponges having said immobilized bioactive material in a suitable reactor vessel; passing a liquid reagent stream into said reactor in direct contact with said microsponges; agitating the mixture of said microsponges and said reagent stream and recovering the biochemical reaction products from said reactor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said bioactive material is organisms, the microsponges are incubated to promote growth and colonization of said microsponges by said organisms, said reagent comprises nutrient media for promoting the growth and metabolism of said organisms, and wherein said product comprises metabolites of said organisms.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 13 wherein said bioactive material is organisms and the recovered product comprises free organisms which have escaped from said microsponges.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said organisms comprise hybridomas and said product comprises monoclonal antibodies.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said reactor vessel comprises a fluidized bed reactor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said organisms comprise mammalian cells and said products comprise mammalian cell products.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 14 wherein said organisms are genetically engineered microbial cells and said product comprises secreted protein products.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said organisms are genetically engineered microbial cells and said product comprises said organisms containing a non-secreted protein product.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-03-04 | 1994-09-03 | 1995-03-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-04 | 1998-09-03 | 1999-03-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-04 | 2002-09-03 | 2003-03-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |