3-Dimensional parylene scaffold cage

摘要

Thin parylene C membranes having smooth front sides and ultrathin regions (e.g., 0.01 μm to 5 μm thick) interspersed with thicker regions are disclosed. The back sides of the membranes can be rough compared with the smooth front sides. The membranes can be used in vitro to grow monolayers of cells in a laboratory or in vivo as surgically implantable growth layers, such as to replace the Bruch's membrane in the eye. The application further provides an implantable cage-like apparatus for culturing cells comprising the parylene membrane.

主权项

1. A three-dimensional implantable apparatus for implanting cells comprising:
a top portion comprising a top face joined to each of four side faces, wherein said top portion is configured to allow microvilli or other cellular processes to connect to an anatomical structure external to said implantable apparatus; a bottom portion comprising parylene having a first thickness and a second thickness; and a gap between the top portion and the bottom portion, wherein the bottom portion is joined with each of the four side faces, the gap being suitable for growth of cells to be implanted,
wherein said cells are selected from the group consisting of cartilage cells, heart muscle cells, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells,wherein the first thickness of the bottom portion is configured to allow proteins having a molecular weight of 70 kilodaltons or less to move through the bottom portion and to inhibit movement of proteins having a molecular weight greater and 100 kilodaltons through the bottom portion, andwherein the second thickness of the bottom portion is greater than the first thickness of the bottom portion.