Methods for Culturing Cells in an Alternating Ionic Magnetic Resonance (AIMR) Multiple-Chambered Culture Apparatus

Abstract

Provided herein are systems and methods for culturing tissue-like assemblies of cells in the presence of a pulsating alternating ionic magnetic resonance field. The cells are introduced into a growth module in fluid connection with a nutrient module in which the gravity vector of the growth module is continually randomized and cultured in the presence of the alternating ionic magnetic resonance field.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An alternating ionic magnetic resonance (AIMR) culture system for culturing a stable tissue-like assembly of cells, comprising:
 a nutrient module, comprising:
 a first gas-permeable membrane disposed on a proximal end thereof; 
 a gas port fitted onto the first-gas permeable membrane; and 
 a first sealable opening on a distal end thereof; said distal end adaptable for an electrical connection; 
   a growth module disposed within the nutrient module and fluidly connected with the first gas-permeable membrane thereof, comprising:
 a second gas-permeable membrane with a plurality of inlet/outlet ports thereon disposed on a proximal end thereof; 
 a baffling system on a distal end thereof; and 
 a semi-permeable membrane on the distal end thereof; 
   a randomizing adapter comprising a randomizing mechanism in an electrical connection with the nutrient module received within an open proximal end thereof;   a removable alternating ionic magnetic resonance chamber comprising an AIMR generating device with a diameter sufficient to receive at least the growth module therein.   
     
     
         2 . The AIMR culture system of  claim 1 , wherein the nutrient module, the growth module or a combination thereof are disposable. 
     
     
         3 . The AIMR culture system of  claim 1 , wherein the nutrient module, the growth module and the randomizing adapter are sterilizable. 
     
     
         4 . The AIMR culture system of  claim 1 , wherein the AIMR generating device is configured to generate the pulsating alternating ionic magnetic resonance (AIMR) field with a frequency of about 7.8 Hz to about 59.9 Hz at fundamental intervals of 10, 14, 15, 16 and 32 Hz including the harmonic intervals of each of these extending to 256 Hz. 
     
     
         5 . A method for culturing a stable, tissue-like assembly of cells with up-regulated genes, comprising the steps of:
 introducing a cell suspension into the growth module of the alternating ionic magnetic resonance (AIMR) culture system of  claim 1 ; said growth module disposed within and in fluid connection with the nutrient module;   randomizing continually a gravity vector of the growth module containing the cells for three-dimensional growth; and   applying to the cells in the growth module the pulsating alternating ionic magnetic resonance field generated by the AIMR generating device within the alternating ionic magnetic resonance chamber at increasing frequencies in the range of about 7.8 Hz to about 59.9 Hz at fundamental intervals; whereby the continually randomized gravity vector produces the stable, tissue-like assembly of cells and the pulsating AIMR field upregulates the genes in the cells.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the introducing step comprises:
 filling the growth module completely with the cell suspension and a media to displace any air therein; and   adding a nutrient medium to the nutrient module.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the randomizing step comprises:
 positioning the open-ended alternating ionic magnetic resonance chamber over the fluidly connected nutrient module and growth module;   connecting electrically the randomizing mechanism of the randomizing adapter to the distal end of the nutrient module; and   randomizing the gravity vector via the randomizing mechanism of the randomizing adapter.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the applying step comprises:
 generating the pulsating alternating ionic magnetic resonance (AIMR) field at increasing frequencies from about 7.8 Hz to about 59.9 Hz at fundamental intervals of 10, 14, 15, 16 and 32 Hz including the harmonic intervals of each of these extending to 256 Hz.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cell suspension comprises mammalian cells. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the up-regulated genes in the mammalian cells comprise transport family genes, regeneration genes or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the cell suspension comprises cells infected with a virus or a bacterium. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the up-regulated genes in the cells are associated with replication and proliferation of the virus infecting the cells. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the tissue-like assembly of cells is stable for at least 3 months. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the tissue-like assembly of cells is stable for at least 6 months. 
     
     
         15 . A method for culturing a stable, tissue-like assembly of virus-infected cells with up-regulated genes, comprising the steps of:
 filling the growth module of the alternating ionic magnetic resonance (AIMR) culture system of  claim 1  with an amount of a virus-infected cell suspension and media sufficient to displace the air therein; said growth module disposed within and in fluid connection with the nutrient module;   adding a nutrient medium to the nutrient module; said nutrient module positioned within the open-ended alternating ionic magnetic resonance chamber and electrically connected to the randomizing mechanism in the randomizing adapter;   randomizing continually a gravity vector of the growth module for three-dimensional growth via the randomizing mechanism; and   applying to the virus-infected cell suspension in the growth module the pulsating alternating ionic magnetic resonance field generated by the AIMR generating device in the alternating ionic magnetic resonance chamber at increasing frequencies in the range of about 7.8 Hz to about 59.9 Hz at fundamental intervals; whereby the continually randomized gravity vector produces the stable, tissue-like assembly of virus-infected cells and the pulsating AIMR field upregulates virus-associated genes therein.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pulsating alternating ionic magnetic resonance (AIMR) field is generated at increasing frequencies from about 7.8 Hz to about 59.9 Hz at fundamental intervals of 10, 14, 15, 16 and 32 Hz including the harmonic intervals of each of these extending to 256 Hz. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the virus-infected cell suspension comprises virus-infected mammalian cells. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the up-regulated genes in the virus-infected cells are associated with replication and proliferation of the virus. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the tissue-like assembly of cells is stable for at least 3 months. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the tissue-like assembly of cells is stable for at least 6 months.