Electroactive materials for stimulation of biological activity of bone marrow stromal cells

Patent Number: 6,190,893

This patent is useful for parties interested in altering the biological activity of stromal cells of the bone marrow, particularly in the area of bioengineering. The invention has 5 independent claims. The first covers a method for stimulating biological activities (gene expression, growth, differentiation, transduction, and combo) in bone marrow stromal cells by contacting with an electroactive substrate and applying and electromagnetic stimulation. The second is identical except for adding the step of contacting the cells and electroactive substrate are contacted to mammalian tissue. The third covers removing the cells from the elecroactive substrate and contacting with mammalian tissue. The forth independent claim covers applying electromagnetic stimulation to mammalian tissue after it has been contacted with cells. The fifth covers a system for stimulating biological activities in cells by an elecroactive substrate being connected both to the surface of an electroactive material and the electroactive material being added to bone marrow stromal cells, the system also having a device for applying electromagnetic energy. The examples in the invention illustrate ways of altering cellular activity, although the studies were confined to in vitro demonstration of developing the system for electrical stimulation of the cells.

View this patent on the USPTO website.