Patent ID: 9611453
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: C12M

Claim:
1. A method for dynamically controlling a co-culture of cells, comprising the steps of: (a) culturing at least one cell of a first type on a first micromechanical substrate, thereby providing a first population of cells; (b) culturing at least one cell of a second type on a second micromechanical substrate, thereby providing a second population of cells; (c) placing the first micromechanical substrate in contact with the second micromechanical substrate for a first period of time, thereby providing direct cell-cell contact between the first population of cells and the second population of cells; and (d) placing the first micromechanical substrate at a distance from the second micromechanical substrate for a second period of time, thereby preventing direct cell-cell contact between the first population of cells and the second population of cells while providing exposure to soluble factors produced by the first or second population of cells, wherein the distance is in the range of about 1 μm to about 1,000 μm; thereby dynamically controlling the co-culture of cells.