| 摘要 |
An improved process for screening cell cultures, e.g., cultures of genetically modified cells or hybridomas, for cells secreting a specific substance involves encapsulating cells within membranes permeable to the substance of interest but substantially impermeable to the cells. The cell-containing capsules are cultured in an apparatus having plural compartments, e.g. a microtiter tray, each compartment containing an extracapsular medium and capsules containing cells. The encapsulated cell producing the substance of interest synthesizes and secretes the substance into the intracapsular volume of the capsule and the secreted substance passes through the membrane into the extracapsular medium. The extracapsular medium of each compartment is assayed for the substance and the process is repeated for the capsules from all compartments yielding a positive assay. Thus, by separating the capsules in a positive-assaying compartment from one another and placing them anew in separate compartments, the assay can be repeated to locate that compartment containing the cell which secretes the substance of interest, thereby to identify the cell and differentiate it from other cells. |
