Granted Patent B2

US 12,196,754 · App. 18/114,130 · Granted Jan 14, 2025

Inventors: Tiffany Snow (Ann Arbor, MI); Jonathan Roussey (Ann Arbor, MI); Casey Wegner (Ann Arbor, MI); Brandon H. McNaughton (Ann Arbor, MI)

Assignee: Akadeum Life Sciences, Inc.

G01N33/56972B01D21/0084G01N33/5432

Abstract

Claims (14)

1. A method for buoyancy-assisted production of cells for a cell therapy, the method comprising:

initiating a 1 st selection process, the 1 st selection process comprising:

combining T cells and a 1 st set of buoyant particles, wherein the 1st set of buoyant particles are functionalized with moieties for binding to and forming a complex with the T cells to produce first bound T cells; and

initiating a cell activation and expansion process comprising a 2 nd selection process, the cell activation and expansion process comprising:

producing second bound T cells by combining a set of activators factors, a 2 nd set of buoyant particles, and the T cells within a container, wherein the set of activation factors are antibodies, wherein the 2 nd set of buoyant particles are functionalized with moieties for binding to and forming a complex with the antibodies, wherein in at least a portion of the second bound T cells, a single T cell is bound to multiple buoyant particles of the 2 nd set of buoyant particles, wherein the second bound T cells aggregate at a superior region of the container;

culturing the second bound T cells in the container to produce daughter cells from the second bound T cells;

increasing a spatial separation of the daughter cells relative to the second bound T cells, thereby preventing exhaustion of the daughter cells due to exposure of the daughter cells to the antibodies, wherein the daughter cells aggregate at an inferior surface of the container; and

collecting the daughter cells, wherein the daughter cells are used in the cell therapy.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 1 st and 2 nd sets of buoyant particles are glass beads.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each of the 1 st and 2 nd sets of buoyant particles comprises streptavidin-functionalized buoyant particles.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the spatial separation comprises maximizing a distance between the daughter cells and the second bound T cells.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second bound T cells comprise multiple ratio values of a number of the antibodies bound to a buoyant particle of the 2 nd set of buoyant particles.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the portion of the second bound T cells in which a single T cell is bound to multiple buoyant particles of the 2 nd set of buoyant particles, the multiple buoyant particles are submerged within fluid in the container.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the spatial separation of the daughter cells relative to the second bound T cells comprises agitating the second bound T cells to detach the daughter cells from the second bound T cells.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (3)

References Cited (162)