Cell Culture Membrane With Adjustable Coating Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cell culture vessels fail to replicate in vivo conditions effectively, leading to non-uniform cell culture environments and high reagent consumption, while thin porous membranes lack strength and adaptability for specific cell types.
Innovation Solution
A cell culture membrane structure with through pores and adjustable coating layers made from specific materials, allowing for customization of chemical and physical properties to suit different cell types, including the use of chemical agents and biomolecules for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If thin porous membranes are used as cell culture supports, then control over cell culture conditions is improved, but membrane strength is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a porous membrane base material with coating layers. The membrane provides porosity for cell culture control, while the coating layers (such as polymers, proteins, or other materials) are applied to enhance mechanical strength and provide specific surface properties for different cell types, creating a composite structure that achieves both adaptability and strength.
2Loss of substance
If thin porous membranes are used for cell culture, then reagent consumption is reduced, but adaptability for specific cell types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by depositing different coating materials on different regions or surfaces of the porous membrane. This allows specific areas of the membrane to be tailored for different cell types or culture conditions while maintaining the overall porous structure that reduces reagent consumption. Each coating region can have optimized properties for its intended cell culture application.
3Reliability
If conventional cell culture vessels are used, then cell culture conditions are established, but uniform cell culture conditions throughout the vessel volume are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell culture environment by using a porous membrane structure that divides the culture space into distinct regions while maintaining controlled interaction through the membrane pores. This segmentation allows for more uniform local conditions on each membrane surface compared to conventional bulk vessels, as cells are cultured in closer proximity to the membrane interface where conditions can be more precisely controlled.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure refers to a porous membrane structure that can be used as a cell culture support adapted for specific cells to be grown thereon. The porous membrane structure comprises a membrane having through pores formed therein and at least one coating layer provided on the membrane such that the through pores remain open. Said adaptation is provided by selecting membrane and coating materials based on at least one type of cells to be grown on the at least one coating layer. By so doing, it is possible to alter different properties of the cell culture membrane structure (e.g., chemical and physical properties, such as hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity, stiffness, roughness, cell proliferation, attachment, mobility, survivability, etc.), thereby providing control over how a cell interacts with the membrane and other cells.