1239 results about "Biological cell" patented technology

Electroporation is performed in a controlled manner in either individual or multiple biological cells or biological tissue by monitoring the electrical impedance, defined herein as the ratio of current to voltage in the electroporation cell. The impedance detects the onset of electroporation in the biological cell(s), and this information is used to control the intensity and duration of the voltage to assure that electroporation has occurred without destroying the cell(s). This is applicable to electroporation in general. In addition, a particular method and apparatus are disclosed in which electroporation and / or mass transfer across a cell membrane are accomplished by securing a cell across an opening in a barrier between two chambers such that the cell closes the opening. The barrier is either electrically insulating, impermeable to the solute, or both, depending on whether pore formation, diffusive transport of the solute across the membrane, or both are sought. Electroporation is achieved by applying a voltage between the two chambers, and diffusive transport is achieved either by a difference in solute concentration between the liquids surrounding the cell and the cell interior or by a differential in concentration between the two chambers themselves. Electric current and diffusive transport are restricted to a flow path that passes through the opening.

A flow cytometer for detecting target particles such as microorganisms including biological cells and viruses as well as molecular species. The flow cytometer includes a detection system involving a CCD having a time delay integration capability to thereby increase the signal from the target particle and decrease the noise detected by the CCD. Calibration particles can be included in the sample stream of the flow cytometer for coordinating the readout of the CCD with the rate of flow of the sample stream to improve the detection capability of the CCD. Statistical analysis techniques can also be used to determine the rate of flow of target particles in the sample stream to thereby coordinate the readout rate of the CCD with the rate of flow of the target particles.

Electroporation is performed in a controlled manner in individual and multiple biological cells present in biological tissue by monitoring the electrical impedance, defined herein as the ratio of current to voltage in the electroporation cell. The impedance detects the onset of electroporation in the biological cell(s), and this information is used to control the intensity and duration of the voltage to assure that electroporation has occurred without destroying the cell(s). This is applicable to electroporation in general.

The present invention relates to a structure comprising a biological membrane and substrate with fluidic network, an array of membranes and an array of fluidic networks in substrate, a high throughput screen, methods for production of the membrane, substrate structure, and a method for interconnected array of substrate structures and a method for attaching membranes to structure, a method to electrically record events from the membranes and a method to screen large compound library using the array. More particularly, it relates to biological cells and artificial cell membranes adhered to the substrate with a high electrical resistivity seal, a method to manufacture array configuration of such substrates, and a method to screen compounds using the membrane receptors such as ion-channels, ion pumps, & receptors.

Electroporation is performed in a controlled manner in either individual or multiple biological cells or biological tissue by monitoring the electrical impedance, defined herein as the ratio of current to voltage in the electroporation cell. The impedance detects the onset of electroporation in the biological cell(s), and this information is used to control the intensity and duration of the voltage to assure that electroporation has occurred without destroying the cell(s). This is applicable to electroporation in general. In addition, a particular method and apparatus are disclosed in which electroporation and / or mass transfer across a cell membrane are accomplished by securing a cell across an opening in a barrier between two chambers such that the cell closes the opening. The barrier is either electrically insulating, impermeable to the solute, or both, depending on whether pore formation, diffusive transport of the solute across the membrane, or both are sought. Electroporation is achieved by applying a voltage between the two chambers, and diffusive transport is achieved either by a difference in solute concentration between the liquids surrounding the cell and the cell interior or by a differential in concentration between the two chambers themselves. Electric current and diffusive transport are restricted to a flow path that passes through the opening.

A scanning method for scanning samples of biological cells using optical tomography includes preparing, acquiring, reconstructing and viewing three-dimensional images of cell samples. Concentration and enrichment of the cell sample follows. The cell sample is stained. Cells are isolated from the cell sample and purified. A cell / solvent mixture is injected into a gel by centrifugation. A cell / gel mixture is injected into a capillary tube until a cell appears centered in a field of view using a step flow method. An optical imaging system, such as a fixed or variable motion optical tomography system acquires a projection image. The sample is rotated about a tube axis to generate additional projections. Once image acquisition is completed, the acquired shawdowgrams or image projections are corrected for errors. A computer or other equivalent processor is used to compute filtered backprojection information for 3D reconstruction.

Electroporation is performed in a controlled manner in individual and multiple biological cells present in biological tissue by monitoring the electrical impedance, defined herein as the ratio of current to voltage in the electroporation cell. The impedance detects the onset of electroporation in the biological cell(s), and this information is used to control the intensity and duration of the voltage to assure that electroporation has occurred without destroying the cell(s). This is applicable to electroporation in general.

An object of the invention is to provide a method for delivery of macromolecules into biological cells, such as Langerhans cells (22) in the epidermis (20) of a patient, which includes the steps of coating electodes (16) in an electrode assembly (12) with solid phase macromolecules to be delivered, such as a DNA, and / or RNA vaccine or a protein-based vaccine, attaching the electrode assembly (12) having the coated electrodes (16) to an electrode assembly holder (13), providing a waveform generator (15), establishing electrically conductive pathways between the electrodes (16), and the waveform generator (15), locating the electrodes (16) such that the biological cells are situated therebetween, such as by penetrating the needle electrode (16) into the epidermis (20) above the epidermal basal lamina, and providing pulse waveform from the waveform generator (15) to the electrodes (16), such that macromolecule on the electrodes (16) is driven off of the electrodes (16), and delivered into the biological cells, such as the Langerhans cells (22).

A micromechanical actuator for sorting hematopoietic stem cells for use in cancer therapies. The actuator operates by diverting cells into one of a number of possible pathways fabricated in the fabrication substrate of the micromechanical actuator, when fluorescence is detected emanating from the cells. The fluorescence results from irradiating the cells with laser light, which excites a fluorescent tag attached to the cell. The micromechanical actuator thereby sorts the cells individually, with an operation rate of 3.3 kHz, however with the massively parallel 1024-fold device described herein, a throughput of 3.3 million events / second is achievable.

Disclosed is a chamber apparatus for electroporating in vitro relatively large volumes of a fluid medium carrying biological-cells-or-vesicles wherein-a reservoir for carrying said cells and vesicles is variable in its volume on demand and wherein the volume chosen is directly related to the volume of the sample to be electroporated. The apparatus has further embodiments wherein the chamber is disposable and can be operated either in isolation from a patient or connected thereto.

Candidates for biological activity are screened in capsules, each capsule containing a candidate, a target (which may be a molecular species or a biological cell or multiple copies of such a species or cell), and an intelligent substance. The target is one with which a successful candidate will interact to evoke a particular response in the target, and the intelligent substance is one that undergoes a transformation as a result of the response, the transformation being detectable by observation of the capsule itself. The candidate and the target are isolated from each other in the capsule until a designated point in time thereby enabling the operator to control the time interval between exposure of the target to the candidate and the observation of the capsule to determine whether or not a successful interaction has occurred and the transformation has taken place.

A method for enhancing the uptake of a therapeutic biological agent by treated cells. A low-power, unfocused field of acoustic energy is directed at the treated cells after the delivery of the therapeutic agent to the treated cells. A related method for stimulating either neural cells or cells in a cell culture. A portable sized device provides the field, and may include either an array of emitters or a scanable emitter.

An apparatus and method for medical practitioners to detect the presence of abnormal cells including cancerous and pre-cancerous cells by using a transport capsule containing an imaging apparatus including UV sources and fluorescence detectors for obtaining images and fluorescence data of biological cells and tissue. The method includes the steps of scanning biological tissue using an ultra-violet (UV) source to obtain fluorescence data, transferring fluorescence data and / or images using a radio frequency (RF) or other suitable means to a personal computer (PC) system, analyzing the image and / or fluorescence data in the PC, identifying -tissues with precancerous and cancerous cells, and optionally determining their precise location, and assessing the accuracy of the calculated fluoroscopic images.

An object of the invention is to provide a method for delivery of macromolecules into biological cells in the tissues of a patient and includes the steps of: (a) providing electrodes (16) in an electrode assembly (12), wherein the electrodes have fixed electrode surfaces (42) which are coated with at least one static layer of electrode releasable molecules (44) to be delivered; (b) providing a waveform generator (15) for generating electric fields; (c) establishing electrically conductive pathways between the electrodes (16) and the waveform generator (15); (d) locating the electrodes (16) such that the biological cells are situated therebetween, and (g) providing electric fields in the form of pulse waveforms from the waveform generator (15) to the electrodes (16), such that molecules in the at least one static layer of the electrode releasable molecules (44) on the electrodes (16) are delivered into the biological cells. The electrode releasable molecules (44) can be either electric field separable molecules and / or solvent separable material. Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for carrying out the method of the invention. The static-coated electrode assembly (12) can be provided in a sterile package (24), from which the electrode assembly (12) is removed prior to use. The statically-coated electrode assembly (12) can be in a form of a disposable assembly (12) which is removable and replaceable from an electrode assembly holder (13).

An implantable biological device including a semipermeable membrane formed into a geometric shape capable of encapsulating biological cells and capable of immunoisolating the biological cells upon introduction into the body, the semipermeable membrane including an amphiphilic copolymer network having hydrophobic segments and hydrophilic segments, wherein the hydrophobic segments include polyolefins terminated with radicals selected from the group consisting of acryloyl groups, methacryloyl groups and mixtures thereof and wherein the hydrophilic segments include polyacrylates. Also provided is a method of encapsulating and immunoisolating cells using the semipermeable membrane and method of treating ailments using the implantable biological device.

A method of isolating epithelial cells from a human skin tissue or internal organ tissue using trypsin and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) simultaneously with the application of magnetic stirring, a method of preconditioning isolated biological cells by the application of physical stimulus, i.e., strain, are provided. Epithelial cells can be isolated by the method with increased yield, colony forming efficiency (CFE), and colony size. Also, the increased percentage of stem cells in isolated cells is advantageous in therapeutic tissue implantation by autologous or allogeneic transplantation. In skin cells preconditioned by the application of strain, cell division is facilitated, and the secretion of extracellular matrix components and growth factors and the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are improved. When preconditioned cells are implanted by autologous or allogeneic transplantation to heal a damaged tissue, the improved cell adhesion, mobility, and viability provides a biological adjustment effect against a variety of stresses or physical stimuli which the cells would undergo after implantation, with improved capability of integration into host tissue, thereby markedly improving the probability of success in skin grafting.

The development and application of a novel non-polar oil recovery process utilizing a non-dispersive solvent extraction method to coalesce and recover oil from a bio-cellular aqueous slurry is described herein. The process could apply to recovery of algal oil from a lysed algae slurry, recovery of Omega fatty acids from a bio-cellular aqueous feed, recovery of Beta-carotene from a bio-cellular aqueous feed and for the removal from produced water in oil production and similar type applications. The technique of the present invention utilizes a microporous hollow fiber (MHF) membrane contactor. The novel non-polar oil recovery process described herein can be coupled to a collecting fluid (a non-polar solvent such as heptane, a biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil) that is circulated through the hollow fiber membrane. In cases where the biodiesel mixture or the previously extracted oil is used the solvent recovery step (e.g. distillation) can be eliminated.

An apparatus and method for recording spatially dependent intensity patterns of polarized light that is diffusely backscattered from highly scattering media are described. These intensity patterns can be used to differentiate different turbid media, such as polystyrene-sphere and biological-cell suspensions. Polarized light from a He-Ne laser ( lambda =543 nm) is focused onto the surface of the scattering medium, and a surface area of approximately 4x4 cm centered on the light input point is imaged through polarization analysis optics onto a CCD camera. A variety of intensity patterns may be observed by varying the polarization state of the incident laser light and changing the analyzer configuration to detect different polarization components of the backscattered light. Experimental results for polystyrene-sphere and Intralipid suspensions demonstrate that the radial and azimuthal variations of the observed pattern depend on the concentration, size, and anisotropy factor, g, of the particles constituting the scattering medium. Measurements performed on biological cell suspensions show that intensity patterns can be used to differentiate between suspensions of cancerous and non-cancerous cells. Introduction of the Mueller-matrix for diffusely backscattered light, permits the selection of a subset of measurements which comprehensively describes the optical properties of backscattering media.

The invention discloses a method for extracting and purifying DNA, comprising the following steps: 1) pre-treatment: a biological sample is in contact with pre-treated lysis solution, and solid substance adhering to biological cells is removed to obtain rude lysis solution; 2) nucleic acid adsorption: the rude lysis solution obtained in step 1 is mixed with lyse combined liquid and magnetic bead suspension to form a solution system containing magnetic nanosphere-DNA composite body, and the magnetic nanosphere-DNA composite body in the solution system is collected; 3) washing: the magnetic nanosphere-DNA composite body obtained in step 2 is successively washed with a cleaning solution I and a cleaning solution II, and then DNA is dissolved out by spent regenerant. The method provided by the invention has 90% of the DNA extracting efficiency, the extracted DNA can be used in down stream analysis operation, such as STR multiplex amplification, DNA sequencing, DNA quantitation and the like.

A Microscope Imaging System (CMIS) with intelligent controls is disclosed that provides techniques for scanning, identifying, detecting and tracking microscopic changes in selected characteristics or features of various surfaces including, but not limited to, cells, spheres, and manufactured products subject to difficult-to-see imperfections. The practice of the present invention provides applications that include colloidal hard spheres experiments, biological cell detection for patch clamping, cell movement and tracking, as well as defect identification in products, such as semiconductor devices, where surface damage can be significant, but difficult to detect. The CMIS system is a machine vision system, which combines intelligent image processing with remote control capabilities and provides the ability to auto-focus on a microscope sample, automatically scan an image, and perform machine vision analysis on multiple samples simultaneously.

This invention relates to a pulse generator circuit for delivering a short high current pulse to a load. This pulse generator comprises a junction recovery diode, a switch, a first resonant circuit and a second resonant circuit. The diode may be configured to store charges in its depletion layer when there is a forward flow of a current and to rapidly switch open after the depletion layer is discharged by a reverse flow of a current. After the diode rapidly switch opens, the pulse generator may provide a reverse current to the load. This pulse generator may be configured to generate at least one pulse that is having a length of no more than 100 nanoseconds at the full-width-at-half-maximum and an amplitude of at least 1 kilovolt. Electrodes may be connected to the pulse generator to deliver one pulse or plurality of pulses to biological cells such as tumor cells.

The invention integrates a two-stage dielectrophoretic (DEP) droplet dispensing and distribution system with particulate DEP to create a novel LOC platform capable of manipulating biological cells based on the varied dielectrophoretic signatures that distinguish cells in a population, for example, healthy from diseased cells. The two-stage DEP droplet transport system acts as the backbone of this application, providing the essential dispensing and distribution function, while particulate DEP provides the critical capability to characterize and analyze the heterogeneous biological cell populations routinely encountered in biotechnology and clinical settings.

A method and apparatus for magnetically separating target particles of a selected type from a sample in order to produce a concentration of the target particles in the sample, or a depletion of the sample with respect to the target particles, by producing a sample mixture of the sample with magnetic particles having a selective affinity to magnetically stain the target particles; producing a flow of a buffer liquid through a tube which includes an inlet connectable to a source of buffer liquid, and an outlet for the buffer liquid; after a flow of the buffer liquid has been produced through the tube, introducing the sample mixture into the buffer liquid flowing through the tube such that the buffer liquid forms a continuous liquid carrier for the sample mixture as both are fed through the tube; and applying a magnetic field across the tube at a magnetizing station therein to cause the magnetically-stained target particles to be separated and retained in the buffer liquid within the tube at the magnetizing station.

An intracellular electro-manipulation apparatus for delivery an electric field pulse to a target of one or more biological cells is provided. The apparatus includes a pulse generator that generates an ultrashort electric field pulse, and a pulse delivery system that directs the ultrashort electric field pulse to the target. The apparatus can include a reflected-signal impeder connected between the pulse generator and the pulse delivery system to impede reflection of a signal to the pulse generator when impedance mismatching between the pulse delivery system and pulse generator occurs. Alternatively, or additionally, the apparatus can include a current limiter connected between the pulse generator and the pulse delivery system to limit current between the pulse generator and the pulse delivery system when a high-conductivity condition occurs in the target.

The invention discloses a safety and efficient compound food preservative which comprises a first preservative, a second preservative, a third preservative, an acidity regulator, a stabilizer, an emulsifier, a flavoring agent and an anti-caking agent. The safety and efficient compound food preservative can damage microbial cell walls, change permeability of cell membrane, and prevent schizogamy of microbial cell walls, has high inhibitory effect to specific bacteria, yeast, spoilage bacteria, bacillus and the like, can prolong shelf life of products effectively, and can at least double preservation time comparing with conventional preservatives.

A fuel cell has an anode and a cathode with anode enzyme disposed on the anode and cathode enzyme is disposed on the cathode. The anode is configured and arranged to electrooxidize an anode reductant in the presence of the anode enzyme. Likewise, the cathode is configured and arranged to electroreduce a cathode oxidant in the presence of the cathode enzyme. In addition, anode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the anode to transduce a current between the anode and the anode enzyme and cathode redox hydrogel may be disposed on the cathode to transduce a current between the cathode and the cathode enzyme.

This invention is predicated on the present applicants' discovery that nanostructures comprising discrete regions of different composition can be used to deliver to a biological cell a desired combination of molecules in close proximity. Different molecules can be selectively bonded to discrete regions of different composition in sufficiently close physical relationship to enhance delivery or effectiveness within the cell. The preferred nanostructures are multicomponent nanorods. Important applications include delivery of missing DNA sequences for gene therapy and delivery of antigens or DNA encoding antigens for vaccination.

An acoustophoresis device made up of modular components is disclosed. Several modules are disclosed herein, including ultrasonic transducer modules, input / output modules, collection well modules, and various connector modules. These permit different systems to be constructed that have appropriate fluid dynamics for separation of particles, such as biological cells, from a fluid.

A disposable rapid cell sorter comprises of microfluidic chip with electrodes and sorts biological cells of interest through magnetic field and electric field based on biological cell functional antibody bonded magnetic beads and luminescent labeling.