Patent US5100783A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5100783A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Weighted microsponge for immobilizing bioactive material
Assignee: Cellex Biosciences Inc
•
Filing: 1989-04-05
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Granted: 1992-03-31
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Expires: 2009-04-05
Abstract
Abstract Weighted microsponges formed of a porous, biostable matrix of a biocompatible polymer containing an inert weighing material are prepared suitable for use in culturing organisms in motive reactor systems. The matrix has an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from about 1 to about 150 microns and the pores occupy from about 70 to about 98% by volume of the microsponge. The microsponges have an average particle size of from about 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity of above about 1.05. Biocompatible polymers that can be used are polysaccharides, proteins and synthetic polymers and the weighing material can be metals, metal alloys, metal oxides or ceramics.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert C. Dean, Jr.
- 👤 Frederick Cahn
- 👤 Philip G. Phillips
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 00:32
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12P; C12P1/00; C12N; C12N1/00; C12N11/00; C12N11/02; C12N5/00; C12N5/0068; C12N5/0075; C12N2533/00; C12N2533/50; C12N2533/54
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
A weighted microsponge for immobilizing bioactive materials in motive bioreactor systems, said microsponge comprising a porous, biostable matrix of a biocompatible polymer containing an inert weighting material, said 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 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
A weighted microsponge for immobilizing bioactive materials in motive bioreactor systems, said microsponge comprising a porous, biostable matrix of a biocompatible polymer containing an inert weighting material, said 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 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The microsponge of claim 1 having immobilized therein bioactive materials selected from the group consisting of enzymes, microorganisms, dead cells and living cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The microsponge of claim 1 wherein said biostable, biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of cellulose, dextran, dextrin, polyamides, polyesters, starch, agarose, carrageenan, polyurethanes, polyvinyl alcohols, polyacrylates, polymethacyrlates and polyacrylamides.
Claim 5
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 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The microsponge of claim 4 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 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The microsponge of claim 5 wherein said inert weighting material is dispersed throughout said porous matrix as finely divided powder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The microsponge of claim 5 wherein said weighting material is centrally disposed as a solid core about which said porous matrix is formed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The microsponge of claim 5 wherein said inert weighting material is selected from the group consisting of chromium, tungsten, cobalt, molybdenum, titanium, nickel and alloys.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The microsponge of claim 8 wherein said weighting material is titanium and said microsponge has hybridoma cells immobilized therein.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The microsponge of claim 6 wherein said porous matrix is a collagen matrix.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
A bioreactor system comprising a reactor vessel having aseptically sealed therein a plurality of sterilized weighted microsponges for immobilizing bioactive materials in motive bioreactor systems, said microsponges comprising a porous, biostable matrix of a biocompatible polymer containing an inert weighting material, said matrix having an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from above 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 bout 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity of above about 1.05.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
109 words
A bioreactor system comprising a reactor vessel having aseptically sealed therein a plurality of sterilized weighted microsponges for immobilizing bioactive materials in motive bioreactor systems, said microsponges comprising a porous, biostable matrix of a biocompatible polymer containing an inert weighting material, said matrix having an open to the surface pore structure with an average pore size in the range of from above 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 bout 100 to about 1000 microns and a specific gravity of above about 1.05.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The bioreactor system of claim 11 wherein said reactor has a volume between about 0.1 to 10 liters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The bioreactor system of claim 12 wherein said reactor is a fluidized bed reaction, having a fluid distribution plate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
141 words
A process for performing a bioreaction comprising: immobilizing a bioactive material in weighted microsponges comprising a porous, biostable matrix of a biocompatible polymer containing an inert weighting material, said 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, retaining the microsponges having said immobilized bioactive materials 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 biocohemical reaction products from said reactor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
141 words
A process for performing a bioreaction comprising: immobilizing a bioactive material in weighted microsponges comprising a porous, biostable matrix of a biocompatible polymer containing an inert weighting material, said 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, retaining the microsponges having said immobilized bioactive materials 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 biocohemical reaction products from said reactor.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
50 words
The process of claim 14 wherein organisms are immobilized in said microsponges, 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 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 14 wherein organisms are immobilized in said microsponges and the recovered product comprises free organisms which have escaped from said microsponges.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The process of claim 15 wherein organisms comprises hybridomas and said product comprises monoclonal antibodies.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 17 wherein said reactor vessel comprises a fluidized bed reactor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said organisms comprise mammalian cells and said products comprise mammalian cell products.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said organisms are genetically engineered microbial organisms and said product comprises secreted protein products.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 16 wherein organisms are genetically engineered microbial cells and said product comprises said cells 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-03-31 | 1995-09-30 | 1996-03-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-03-31 | 1999-09-30 | 2000-03-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-03-31 | 2003-09-30 | 2004-03-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |