• This is the first demonstration of a three dimensional (3D) micropatterned, metallic container capable of encapsulating microbeads and cells.
• The 3D containers can be patterned into almost any shape using conventional micro fabrication and self-assembly.
• The 3D containers can be fabricated in a highly parallel manner, thereby allowing the mass production of a large number of containers in a single process run.
• A 3D medical device has several advantages over its 2D counterpart:
- A larger external surface area to volume ratio, thereby maximizing interactions with the surrounding medium, and providing space to mount different diagnostic or delivery modules.
- A finite volume allowing the encapsulation of cells and drugs.
- A geometry that reduces the chances of the device being undesirably lodged in the body. As compared to smaller or larger sized biocapsules, the 200 nm size provides the maximum encapsulation volume while still allowing the diffusion of oxygen and nutrients to the cells.
• The containers can also be non-invasively tracked, using conventional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology. MRI detectability is a major advantage, as other bio-encapsulation systems can only be tracked by MRI when they are loaded with a contrast agent.
Technical Details:
The Johns Hopkins University seeks partners to commercialize a novel technique that allows for the fabrication and control of a variety of self-assembling microcontainers useful for several different applications.
Looking for Partners:
• Targeted drug and gene delivery
• MRI imaging at a cellular level
• Functional microparticles and nanoparticles
• Controlled microenvironments
Patent Information:
| Title |
App Type |
Country |
Serial No. |
Patent No. |
File Date |
Issued Date |
Expire Date |
Patent Status |
| Self-Assembled, Micropatterned, and Radio Frequency (RF) Shielded BioContainers |
ORD: Ordinary Utility |
United States |
11/491,829 |
8,236,259 |
7/24/2006 |
8/7/2012 |
7/22/2026 |
Granted |
