SPECIAL NOTICE
99 -- TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Fabricating cell laden microgels via In-Air Drop Encapsulation Apparatus (IDEA)
- Notice Date
- 4/23/2024 12:05:06 PM
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 325414
— Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- LLNS � DOE CONTRACTOR Livermore CA 94551 USA
- ZIP Code
- 94551
- Solicitation Number
- IL-13931
- Response Due
- 5/23/2024 1:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 06/07/2024
- Point of Contact
- Jared Lynch, Phone: 9254226667, Charlotte Eng, Phone: 9254221905
- E-Mail Address
-
lynch36@llnl.gov, eng23@llnl.gov
(lynch36@llnl.gov, eng23@llnl.gov)
- Description
- Opportunity: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its capability to produce high-throughput, tunable, cell-laden microgels leveraging the advanced manufacturing system known as the In-air Drop Encapsulation Apparatus (IDEA). Background: Tissues are composed of a mixture of cell types supported by a 3D scaffold of proteins and macromolecules known as the extracellular matrix (ECM). The spatial organization of these components results in gradients of both mechanical and chemical properties, which give rise to each tissue's unique function.� There is an urgent need to engineer gradient tissues in vitro to both study cellular behavior and for regenerative medicine.� Cell-embedded microgels provide a direct path toward engineering tissue biophysical gradients as individual microgels can be customized, serving as building blocks that can be assembled to fabricate multi-material, multi-stiffness, multi-cellular scaffolds with tunable pore size.� Microgel based tissue engineered constructs remain critically bottlenecked by traditional microfluidic fabrication methods that suffer from low throughput, low yield, and limited usable biomaterials.� The patented In-air Drop Encapsulation Apparatus (IDEA) technology, developed with LLNL's unique Advanced Manufacturing (AM) capability, overcomes these limitations. Description: LLNL researchers have enhanced and expanded the IDEA technology, which fabricates micron-scale droplets that are then crosslinked in-air (within milliseconds) using a UV light source before collection. An aerodynamically shearing air jet or acoustic vibration force causes rapid droplet formation. This technology can be useful for a variety of applications such as carbon capture, chemical sensing, and other applications that uses functional particles/capsules. For the first time, LLNL researchers has applied the IDEA technology to the processing of biomaterials with desired gradient mechanical properties.� The technology enables the fabrication of microgels that can be made 10x-100x more viscous compared to materials produced by microfluidics.� The tunability afforded by IDEA is key to achieving higher stiffness microgels.� This novel approach allows for the development of a high-throughput, versatile, and facile bottom-up tissue engineering method to create gradient tissues using cell-embedded microgels as building blocks. Advantages/Benefits:� IDEA-based approach compared to traditional methods for microfluidic-based production: Droplet formation up to three orders of magnitude faster. Eliminates harsh washing steps; decreases material loss from 80% to <5%.� IDEA enables the processing of biomaterials that are 10x-100x more viscous. Tunability of microgels stiffness.� Ability to encapsulate a variety of cell types, and biological cargos. Potential for introducing new encapsulant chemistries to allow for triggered release of cargo. Path towards higher scale manufacturability. Potential Applications:� Cellular therapy, tissue scaffolding, drug delivery, gene therapy, cell growth enhancement. Development Status:� Current stage of technology development:� TRL 3 LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention. LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information.� Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. Note:� THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.� Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Fabricating cell laden microgels via In-Air Drop Encapsulation Apparatus should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following: Company Name and address. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Fabricating cell laden microgels via In-Air Drop Encapsulation Apparatus. The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL�s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Innovation and Partnerships Office P.O. Box 808, L-779 Livermore, CA� 94551-0808 Attention:�� IL-13931
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://sam.gov/opp/73ecabca72e14f559fd663a5e5877e47/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Livermore, CA, USA
- Country: USA
- Country: USA
- Record
- SN07039392-F 20240425/240423230047 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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