Patent ID: 9506907
Filing Date: 2016-11-29
CPC Classification: A61F,C12N,G01N

Claim Text:
1. A method for forming an artificial eye outflow system comprising the steps of: (a) providing a wafer with an upper surface; (b) applying a release layer to the upper surface of the wafer, thereby yielding a top surface; (c) layering a substrate on the top surface; (d) constructing a microstructured or nanostructured three-dimensional (3-D) SU-8 scaffold from the substrate, the 3-D SU-8 scaffold comprising a microstructured or nanostructured plurality of pores forming a patterned, porous grid structure having a porosity of greater than 20%, each pore of the plurality having: (e) releasing the 3-D SU-8 scaffold from the top surface; (f) sterilizing the 3-D SU-8 scaffold; (g) coating the 3-D SU-8 scaffold with a biocompatible coating to produce a coated 3-D SU-8 scaffold, wherein the biocompatible coating provides attachment for TM cells and/or SC cells; (h) seeding the coated 3-D SU-8 scaffold with TM cells and/or SC cells at a pre-determined cell seeding density; and (i) culturing the cells on the coated 3-D SU-8 scaffold for a period of time sufficient for the formation of a confluent monolayer on the surface of the coated 3-D SU-8 scaffold, such that an artificial trabecular meshwork is formed that mimics the perforated sheet-like structure, outflow facility, and physiological function of an in vivo trabecular meshwork.