US 12,286,609 B2
Skin culturing apparatus and method
Rosalind Francesca Hannen, London (GB); and Jose Rafael Castrejón-Pita, London (GB)
Assigned to QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, London (GB)
Appl. No. 17/285,960
Filed by QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON, London (GB)
PCT Filed Oct. 16, 2019, PCT No. PCT/GB2019/052952
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 16, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/079431, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 1816911 (GB), filed on Oct. 17, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0380912 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. C12M 3/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/00 (2006.01); C12M 1/34 (2006.01); C12N 5/071 (2010.01); G01N 33/50 (2006.01)
CPC C12M 21/08 (2013.01) [C12M 23/48 (2013.01); C12M 29/00 (2013.01); C12M 29/04 (2013.01); C12M 29/20 (2013.01); C12M 41/14 (2013.01); C12M 41/26 (2013.01); C12M 41/34 (2013.01); C12M 41/44 (2013.01); C12N 5/0698 (2013.01); G01N 33/5088 (2013.01); C12N 2500/02 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
 
1. A skin culturing apparatus configured for biphasic culturing of ex vivo mammalian skin or a mammalian skin substitute comprising a first chamber, a second chamber, a barrier, and a skin sample holder, wherein:
the first chamber is configured to provide a gaseous environment having a relative humidity below 90% and comprising less than 5% CO2;
the second chamber is configured to provide tissue culture medium at a temperature of 33.0-37.5° C. and pH of 6.1-7.9;
the skin sample holder is configured to house ex vivo mammalian skin and/or a mammalian skin substitute; and
the barrier separates the first and second chambers, and is configured to receive the skin sample holder;
wherein in use:
(i) the first chamber comprises a gaseous environment having a relative humidity below 90% and comprising less than 5% CO2;
(ii) the second chamber comprises a tissue culture medium at a temperature of 33.0-37.5° C. and pH of 6.1-7.9;
(iii) the skin sample holder houses ex vivo mammalian skin and/or a mammalian skin substitute;
(iv) a first surface of the ex vivo mammalian skin and/or skin substitute is exposed to the gaseous environment, but not to the tissue culture medium; and
(v) a second surface of the ex vivo mammalian skin and/or skin substitute, which opposes said first surface, is exposed to the tissue culture medium, but not to the gaseous environment.