IP Library › Granted Patent US 12680065
Granted Patent B2
US 12680065 · App. 17/569,789 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Artificial placenta and methods of preparation

Inventors: Dongeun Huh (Villanova, PA); Cassidy Blundell (Philadelphia, PA)
Assignee: The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
C12M23/16B01D63/088B81B3/00B81B7/00B81C1/00C12M25/02C12M35/08C12M41/30C12N5/0605C12N5/0634G01N33/5005C12N2502/025C12N2503/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680065
App. No.
17/569,789
Filed
Jan 6, 2022
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
1633
USPC
435/29
Abstract

The presently disclosed subject matter provides a microfluidic device that can simulate capillary blood flow on a fetal side of the device and pooled blood on a maternal side of the device (i.e., intervillous space). The microfluidic device can reconstitute the maternal-fetal interface, can expand the capabilities of cell culture models, and can provide an alternative to current maternal-fetal transfer models.

Claims (37)

1 . A microfluidic device comprising:

a base, having first and second microfluidic channels disposed thereon;

a membrane disposed between the first and second microfluidic channels such that the first and second microfluidic channels are adapted for fluidic communication through the membrane, the membrane having a first side and a second side;

a first population of cells of a first cell type encapsulated in a first hydrogel disposed on the first side of the membrane; and

a second population of cells of a second cell type encapsulated in a second hydrogel disposed on the second side of the membrane, wherein the second cell type is differentiated into syncytial structures.

2 . The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the second cell type comprises choriocarcinoma cells.

3 . The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the first population of cells or the second population of cells further comprises white blood cells.

4 . The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises a porous polycarbonate membrane.

5 . The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane is coated with an extracellular matrix.

6 . The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein the membrane comprises one of a polyester membrane, a polytetrafluoroethylene membrane, a paper membrane, an elastomeric membrane, or an extracellular matrix membrane.

7 . The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein one of the first population of cells or the second population of cells further comprises an artificially induced pathology.

8 . The microfluidic device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first hydrogel and the second hydrogel is a collagen gel.

9 . The microfluidic device of claim 1 , further comprising an additional population of cells of a third cell type.

10 . The microfluidic device of claim 9 , wherein the additional population of cells is encapsulated in one or more of the first hydrogel and the second hydrogel.

11 . The microfluidic device of claim 9 , wherein the third cell type comprises one of Hofbauer cells and fibroblasts.

12 . The microfluidic device of claim 9 , wherein the third cell type comprises an artificially induced pathology.

13 . A method of fabricating a microfluidic device comprising:

fabricating a base, the base having first and second microfluidic channels disposed thereon;

disposing a membrane between the first and second microfluidic channels such that the first and second microfluidic channels are adapted for fluidic communication through the membrane, the membrane having a first side and a second side;

growing a first population of cells of a first cell type within a first hydrogel disposed on the first side of the membrane; and

growing a second population of cells of a second cell type within a second hydrogel disposed on the second side of the membrane,

wherein the second cell type is differentiated into syncytial structures.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein one of the first population of cells or the second population of cells further comprises an artificially induced pathology.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first hydrogel and the second hydrogel is a collagen gel.

16 . A method of measuring an amount of a substance of interest, comprising:

providing a microfluidic device having

a base, having first and second microfluidic channels deposed thereon;

a membrane disposed between the first and second microfluidic channels such that the first and second microfluidic channels are adapted for fluidic communication through the membrane, the membrane having a first side and a second side;

a first population of cells of a first cell type encapsulated in a first hydrogel disposed on the first side of the membrane; and

a second population of cells of a second cell type encapsulated in a second hydrogel disposed on the second side of the membrane, wherein the second cell type is differentiated into syncytial structures;

placing the substance of interest in one of the first or second microfluidic channels;

simulating physiological flow conditions; and

measuring the amount of the substance of interest in the first and second microfluidic channels.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the substance of interest is one of glucose, amino acids, proteins, or small molecule pharmaceuticals.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the substance of interest is labeled with fluorescent molecules, and wherein the measuring the amount of substance of interest comprises measuring an amount of fluorescence.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein one of the first or second population of cells further comprises an artificially induced pathology.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first hydrogel and the second hydrogel is a collagen gel.