The EPFL licenses a technology for sterile microencapsulation and clinical immu-noisolation, as well as materials for medical, biological and biotechnological applications.
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File Nr. 6.0153 (EPFL SRI)
¨ Products with ultra-low endotoxin levels
¨ Clinical scale apparatus with excellent quality control
¨ High uniformity of capsule size and membrane thickness, permitting a tuning of the permeability
¨ Facile application under clinical conditions
Patent pending
Microencapsulation, bioartificial pancreas, large scale production, clinic, sterile conditions
Prof. Dr. D. Hunkeler
EPFL-DC-LPBM
CH-1015 Lausanne Switzerland
e-mail: david.hunkeler@epfl.ch
Tel: +41-21 693 31 14
Fax: +41-21 693 56 90
André Catana, PhD, EPFL-SRI
CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
andre.catana@epfl.ch
http://sprwww.epfl.ch/sri
Tel : + 41 21 693 55 81
Fax : + 41 21 693 70 40
DEVICE FOR STERILE ENCAPSULATION OF BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE MATERIALS USING ULTRA-LOW ENDOTOXIN COMPONENTS
The invention represents a technology for the large-scale microencapsulation of cells under sterile and low endotoxin conditions. For this purpose an 'automated reaction control' system has been developed. It allows the reproducible large-scale production of microcapsules. A rate of 500,000 microcapsules/hour has been achieved in the lab, with a size distribution within ±10% and similar membrane thickness distribution tolerances. The parameters are achieved by the precise control of the reaction conditions and time. Using the alginate/cellulose sulphate/poly(methylene-co-guanidine) system mechanical stability and permeability can be adjusted independently
Potential Commercial Uses :
¨ Microencapsulation of cells under sterile conditions
¨ Large scale production of microcapsules
¨ Coupling with ultra-low endotoxin biomaterials