Magnetic three-dimensional cell culture apparatus and method

Abstract

A culture apparatus and method for growing cells and tissue in a three-dimensional configuration harnesses magnetic, paramagnetic, ferromagnetic and diamagnetic forces. The cells or tissue are grown with magnetized core particles and are suspended via magnetic forces in a native, non-restricted, three-dimensional configuration while being maintained in a normal gravity (1 g) growth environment in the absence of rotational alteration of the gravity vector.

1 . An apparatus for cultivating three-dimensional biological cells or tissue, comprising:
 a first diamagnet;   a second diamagnet disposed in transversely spaced apart relation to said first diamagnet;   an upper lifter magnet disposed in abutting relation to said first diamagnet;   a culture chamber;   said culture chamber containing a culture medium and a plurality of bioattractive magnetized core particles;   said culture chamber positioned in sandwiched relation between said first and second diamagnets to enable levitation of the magnetized core particles.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said culture chamber including biological cells to be cultivated.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said culture chamber being formed of a gas permeable material.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inlet port formed in said culture chamber at a first end of said culture chamber;   an outlet port formed in said culture chamber at a second end of said culture chamber, said second end being spaced apart from said first end.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said magnetized core particles being coated with a cellular adhesive material.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said magnetized core particles being coated with a collagen component.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said magnetized core particles being coated with a matrix component.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 said matrix component being non-biodegradable.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 said matrix component being biodegradable.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said magnetized core particles adapted to form a predetermined cellular construction.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 said predetermined cellular construction being mammalian skin.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 said predetermined cellular construction being a mammalian organ.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 said predetermined cellular construction being mammalian tissue.   
     
     
         14 . An apparatus for cultivating three-dimensional biological cells, comprising:
 a diamagnet;   an upper lifter magnet;   a culture chamber;   said culture chamber containing a culture medium and a plurality of bioattractive magnetized core particles;   said culture chamber positioned in sandwiched relation between said diamagnet and said upper lifter magnet to enable levitation of the magnetized core particles.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 said diamagnet having a “U”-shaped configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 said diamagnet having a toroidal configuration.   
     
     
         17 . A method of culturing biological cells, comprising the steps of:
 inoculating a plurality of biological cells into a culture chamber that contains a culture medium and a plurality of bioattractive magnetized core particles, thereby initiating adherence of the biological cells to the magnetized core particles;   positioning the culture chamber relative to a diamagnet and upper lifter magnet to facilitate levitation of the magnetized core particles, as determined by visual observation; and   monitoring the growth of the cells.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 removing the magnetized core particles subsequent to a predetermined culture cultivation period using a magnet means.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of:
 introducing new culture media into the culture chamber; and   removing spent culture media from the culture chamber.