This technology is a perfusion bioreactor system for the preservation of living allograft tissue viability.
Current protocols for preservation of allografts require that the tissues be stored at 4°C and used within 28 days of donor harvest. This limits the window of opportunity for implantation to only 14 days due to a two-week disease testing protocol. Moreover, cellular health is greatly compromised in standard storage conditions, with the number of viable cells decreasing over the storage period. Therefore, there is a clinical need for methods to increase the shelf-life of living tissue grafts, as well as to improve overall graft viability during storage.
This technology is a bioreactor that can be used to store and preserve the viability of living tissue allografts for an extended period of time. The bioreactor maintains proper oxygen content and temperature needed to sustain cell viability, and utilizes a perfusion system to provide a consistent supply of fresh nutrients. As a result, cell viability during a standard one-month storage period has been shown to increase from ≤50% to ≥85%. Additionally, the bioreactor system may allow for storage time to be extended, allowing ample time for proper tissue evaluation, matching, and transport prior to implantation in the patient.
Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, Ph.D.
Patent Pending (WO/2018/035182)
IR CU16209
Licensing Contact: Beth Kauderer