Patent ID: 9670447
Date: 2017-06-06
CPC Classifications: B29D,C12M,C12N

Claim:
1. A microfabricated oxygen permeable membrane comprising a base member having a cell culture support surface with solid oxygen-permeable pillars formed thereon that mimic microvasculature in a three-dimensional cell culture, the pillars having respective top surfaces and side surfaces that are oxygen permeable and through which oxygen can diffuse three-dimensionally between and around the pillars, the pillars having a height of greater than 1 μm and less than 1 mm to form blood vessel mimetics that mimic the three-dimensional structure of the microvasculature, the base member and the pillars comprising an oxygen-permeable material, the base member including a bottom surface opposite the cell culture support surface and configured to be exposed to oxygen such that oxygen can diffuse from the bottom surface through the oxygen-permeable material toward the cell culture support surface and three-dimensionally through the pillars toward the top surfaces and side surfaces of the pillars, the base member including a barrier between the pillars that reduces oxygen diffusion through the cell culture surface to preferentially direct oxygen flow diffusing through the membrane into and through the pillars.