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CN-121985994-A - Hydrogel manufacturing apparatus and hydrogel manufacturing method

CN121985994ACN 121985994 ACN121985994 ACN 121985994ACN-121985994-A

Abstract

The invention provides a hydrogel manufacturing apparatus capable of suppressing the mixing of impurities from the formation of a hydrogel to the time of use. The hydrogel manufacturing apparatus (100) comprises a first channel (212) through which a hydrogel precursor flows, a second channel (222) through which a gelling agent that gels the hydrogel precursor flows, a first junction (216) between the first channel (212) and the second channel (222), a storage container (400) that stores a hydrogel formed by contact between the hydrogel precursor and the gelling agent, and a hydrogel channel (300) that hermetically communicates at least between the storage container (400) and the first junction (216).

Inventors

  • IKIDA KAZUHIRO

Assignees

  • 株式会社细胞纤维

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20241009
Priority Date
20231010

Claims (20)

  1. 1. A hydrogel manufacturing apparatus, comprising: a first flow path through which the hydrogel precursor flows; a second flow path through which a gelling agent that gels the hydrogel precursor flows; A first junction of the first flow path and the second flow path; a storage container for storing a hydrogel formed by contacting a hydrogel precursor with a gelling agent; And a hydrogel flow path which communicates at least between the container and the first junction in a closed manner.
  2. 2. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to claim 1, wherein, The storage container is constituted by a flexible container having an inner space that can be expanded and contracted.
  3. 3. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to claim 1 or 2, The hydrogel flow path is formed of a flexible tube.
  4. 4. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to claim 1 to 3, The container is provided with a first action unit for moving the liquid in the container.
  5. 5. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to any one of claim 1 to 4, The storage container is a culture container for culturing cells.
  6. 6. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to any one of claim 1 to 5, A pulsation suppression means for suppressing pulsation of the hydrogel precursor and/or the gelling agent is provided on the upstream side of the first junction point.
  7. 7. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to any one of claim 1 to 6, On the upstream side of the first junction point, a bubble removing unit is provided which removes bubbles in a solution containing a hydrogel precursor and/or a gelling agent.
  8. 8. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to claim 7, The bubble removal unit has a receiving portion that is located between the pump and the first junction point and is capable of holding a gas.
  9. 9. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to any one of claim 1 to 8, Having a pump for flowing the hydrogel precursor and/or the gelling agent, The pump has a performance that the fluctuation amount of the flow rate is within 20% of a specific average flow rate value within a range of 0.1 mL-1000 mL/min except at the start and stop.
  10. 10. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to any one of claim 1 to 9, The hydrogel imaging device includes an imaging unit that obtains a form of hydrogel on a downstream side of the first junction or at the first junction.
  11. 11. The hydrogel manufacturing apparatus of claim 10, comprising: an analysis unit that analyzes the form of the hydrogel captured by the imaging unit; And a control device for controlling the flow rate of at least one of the hydrogel precursor and the gelling agent based on the result of the analysis by the analysis unit.
  12. 12. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to claim 11, The resolving unit is configured to calculate the size of the hydrogel formed, The control device is configured to control the flow rate of at least one of the hydrogel precursor and the gelling agent based on the size of the hydrogel calculated by the analysis unit.
  13. 13. The hydrogel manufacturing apparatus of claim 11 or 12, comprising: an input unit that sets a flow rate of at least one of the hydrogel precursor and the gelling agent; And a storage unit that stores the result of the analysis by the analysis unit together with the value of the flow rate set by the input unit.
  14. 14. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to any one of claim 1 to 13, Has a third flow path through which a fluid flows, The third flow channel is configured to merge with the first flow channel at a second merging point upstream of the first merging point.
  15. 15. The hydrogel manufacturing apparatus of claim 14, comprising: a third reservoir for storing the fluid; And a second action unit that moves the fluid in the third reservoir.
  16. 16. The hydrogel manufacturing apparatus of claim 15, comprising: an imaging unit that obtains a form of hydrogel on a downstream side of the first junction or at the first junction; an analysis unit that analyzes the form of the hydrogel captured by the imaging unit; And a control device for controlling the flow rate of at least one of the hydrogel precursor, the gelling agent, and the fluid based on the result analyzed by the analysis unit.
  17. 17. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to claim 16, The fluid may comprise a cell and the fluid may comprise a cell, The analysis unit is configured to estimate the density of cells in the hydrogel based on the image information captured by the imaging unit.
  18. 18. The hydrogel manufacturing apparatus of any one of claims 15 to 17, comprising: an input unit that sets a flow rate of at least one of the hydrogel precursor, the gelling agent, and the fluid; And a storage unit that stores the result of the analysis by the analysis unit together with the value of the flow rate set by the input unit.
  19. 19. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to any one of claim 11 to 13 and 15 to 18, The analysis unit detects abnormality of at least one of the hydrogel, the first channel, and the second channel, The control device is configured to stop the liquid feeding of the hydrogel precursor and the gelling agent when the abnormality is detected.
  20. 20. The apparatus for producing a hydrogel according to any one of claim 1 to 19, Has a flow path component part formed with the first flow path and the second flow path, The flow path constituting member has an outlet for letting out a hydrogel formed of a hydrogel precursor and a gelling agent, The distance from the first junction point to the outlet is in the range of 3 mm-150 mm.

Description

Hydrogel manufacturing apparatus and hydrogel manufacturing method Technical Field The present invention relates to a hydrogel production apparatus and a hydrogel production method. Background Patent document 1 below discloses a method for producing hollow hydrogel fibers made of an alginic acid polymer. In the method described in patent document 1, the hydrogel precursor flows around the fluid of the core along the fluid of the core, and the gelling agent flows around the hydrogel precursor. Thereby, the hydrogel precursor is gelled, thereby forming a fibrous elongated hydrogel. Prior art literature Patent literature Patent document 1 International publication No. 2011/046105 Disclosure of Invention In patent document 1, a hydrogel is formed in a container suitable for the formation of the hydrogel. The hydrogel formed is typically transferred at the time of use of the hydrogel to other receptacles suitable for use. Therefore, impurities may be mixed into the hydrogel or the solution containing the hydrogel during transfer of the hydrogel. Accordingly, a hydrogel manufacturing apparatus and a hydrogel manufacturing method capable of suppressing the mixing of impurities during the period from the formation of the hydrogel to the time of use are desired. A hydrogel manufacturing apparatus according to one embodiment includes a first flow path through which a hydrogel precursor flows, a second flow path through which a gelling agent that gels the hydrogel precursor flows, a first junction point between the first flow path and the second flow path, a container that contains a hydrogel formed by contact between the hydrogel precursor and the gelling agent, and a hydrogel flow path that communicates at least between the container and the first junction point in a closed manner. One embodiment of the method for producing a hydrogel is a method using the above-described apparatus for producing a hydrogel, and includes the steps of flowing a hydrogel precursor into the first channel, flowing a gelling agent into the second channel, merging the hydrogel precursor and the gelling agent at the first merging point to form a hydrogel, and introducing the formed hydrogel into the storage container through the hydrogel channel. Drawings Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a hydrogel manufacturing apparatus in a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the flow path structure of the hydrogel manufacturing apparatus in the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the hydrogel manufacturing apparatus in the first embodiment. Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of the hydrogel formed in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the hydrogel shown in FIG. 4. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in the storage unit in the first embodiment. Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in each of the introduction paths in the initial stage of leak inspection. Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating states in the respective import paths in the stage following fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating states in the respective import paths in the stage following fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in each of the introduction paths in the preliminary liquid feeding (preliminary liquid feeding) stage. Fig. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating states in the respective introduction paths in the preparation stage of the pulsation suppression unit and/or the bubble removal unit. Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating states in the respective import paths in the stage following fig. 11. Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in each introduction path in a stage of hydrogel formation. FIG. 14 is a schematic view for explaining the structure of a flow channel of the hydrogel manufacturing apparatus in the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a hydrogel manufacturing apparatus in a second embodiment. Fig. 16 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of the hydrogel formed in the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of the hydrogel shown in FIG. 16. Fig. 18 is a diagram showing an example of data stored in the storage unit in the second embodiment. Detailed Description Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals. It is to be noted that the drawings are schematic, and the ratio of the respective dimensions and the like sometimes differ from reality. First embodiment Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a hydrogel manufacturing apparatus in a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic view for explaining the flow path structure of the hydrogel manufacturing apparatus in the first embodiment. Fig. 3 is a block diagram of the hydrogel manufacturing apparatus in the first embodiment. In fig. 1, the structure of the flow path is simplified