Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110236874 | METHOD FOR FORMATION OF RENAL TUBULES - There is provided a method of making a renal tubule. The method comprises seeding renal tubule cells onto a solid surface; culturing the renal tubule cells in a liquid growth medium to form a monolayer on the solid surface; and continuing culturing the renal tubule cells to form a tubule. | 09-29-2011 |
20120196345 | DOUBLE COATING PROCEDURE FOR THE MEMBRANES OF BIOARTIFICIAL KIDNEYS - The present invention generally relates to modified substrates such as membranes for use in bioartificial organs, such as bioartificial kidneys, and other applications. Certain aspects are generally directed to a membrane or other substrate modified to facilitate the attachment of cells. In one set of embodiments, the substrate or membrane may be at least partially coated with an adhesive such as 3,4-dihydroxy-L-phenylalanine (DOPA), poly(dopamine), or other adhesive comprising a molecule having a catechol moiety, for example on one side of the membrane or substrate. On at least a portion of the adhesive coated portion of the substrate, a protein may be coated, such as an extracellular matrix protein (for example, a collagen), to which cells such as primary human renal proximal tubule cells may be adhered. Surprisingly, such a dual coating may be used to promote the attachment of such cells to a membrane or other substrate that otherwise may not promote cell adhesion. In certain embodiments, the coating may also facilitate or promote not only cell adhesion, but also cell proliferation and/or differentiation. Such membranes or other substrates may be useful, for example, in bioartificial organs such as bioartificial kidneys, hemodialysis cartridges, bioimplants, biosensors, bioreactors, etc. In certain embodiments, cells may be attached to a membrane or other substrate on only one side, while the other side may be kept free of attached cells. | 08-02-2012 |
20120202741 | DELIVERY OF BMP-7 AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF - The present invention generally relates to delivery of BMP-7 or functional variants or functional fragments thereof and/or a BMP-7 agonist and methods of use thereof. In some embodiments, methods and devices are provided for delivery of BMP-7 or functional variants or functional fragments thereof and/or a BMP-7 agonist to a patient. In some cases, the BMP-7 or functional variants or functional fragments thereof and/or a BMP-7 agonist may be released in controlled fashion from a device in fluid communication with a patient. In some embodiments, the BMP-7 or functional variants or functional fragments thereof and/or a BMP-7 agonist may be expressed by cells within a device. In other embodiments, methods are provided for improving the function of devices containing renal proximal tubule cells. For example, in some embodiments, exposure of renal proximal tubule cells to BMP-7 or functional variants or functional fragments thereof and/or a BMP-7 agonist may be used to inhibit disruption of cell layers comprising renal proximal tubule cells. In another embodiment, exposure of renal proximal tubule cells to BMP-7 or functional variants or functional fragments thereof and/or a BMP-7 agonist may be used to inhibit trans- and de-differentiation of renal proximal tubule cells. In another embodiment, exposure of renal proximal tubule cells to BMP-7 or functional variants or functional fragments thereof and/or a BMP-7 agonist may be used to improve renal proximal tubule cell functions. | 08-09-2012 |
20150087057 | IN VITRO METHOD FOR CULTURING STEM CELLS - There is provided a method for culturing a stem cell in vitro. The method comprises providing a substrate surface coated with a coating comprising a molecule having a catechol moiety or a polymer thereof; and growing a stem cell on said coated substrate surface in a growth medium. | 03-26-2015 |
20150197802 | IN VITRO ASSAY FOR PREDICTING RENAL PROXIMAL TUBULAR CELL TOXICITY - There is provided an in vitro assay for screening a test compound for toxicity in renal proximal tubular cells. The method comprises contacting a test compound with a test population of renal proximal tubular cells; and determining the expression level of an interleukin in the test population, the interleukin being interleukin-6 (IL-6) or interleukin-8 (IL-8), or both. Expression levels of the interleukin in the test population being greater than expression levels in a control population of renal proximal tubular cells not contacted with the test compound is indicative that the test compound is toxic for renal proximal tubular cells. | 07-16-2015 |
20150219625 | IN VITRO ASSAY FOR PREDICTING RENAL PROXIMAL TUBULAR CELL TOXICITY - There is provided an in vitro assay for screening a test compound for toxicity in renal proximal tubular cells. The method comprises contacting a test compound with a test population of renal proximal tubular cells; and examining one or more cell morphology features, examining one or more cytoskeleton features, and/or determining cell numbers of the renal proximal tubular cells in the test population and comparing such cell morphology, arrangement of cytoskeletal components and/or cell count with the respective features of a control population. A change in one or more cell morphology features, a change in arrangement of one or more cytoskeleton features or a decrease in cell numbers of the test population relative to the control population is indicative that the test compound is toxic for renal proximal tubular cells. | 08-06-2015 |