Method for preparing tissue constructs
The present invention relates to a method of assembling a single living tissue sheet formed of different cell populations. According to this invention at least two cell populations composing at least two living tissue sheets can be assembled into a single continuous tissue construct. The cells of this construct can also be autologous or heterologous depending on the needs and the type of implant to be transferred in a recipient patient.
1 . A method for producing a continuous living tissue construct comprising allowing edge contact of at least two separate cell populations maintained in culture, each cell population forming a living tissue, for a period of time sufficient for assembling of said at least two cell populations into a single continuous living tissue construct.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said cell populations are partially or totally confluent.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said cell population are embedded into a gel before being placed in culture for allowing edge contact.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said gel is a collagen gel.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said cell populations are composed of homologous or heterologous cells.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said cell populations are composed of mammalian cells.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said cell populations are composed of cells selected from the group consisting of mesenchymal cells, muscle cells, or fibroblasts.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said muscle cells are smooth muscle cells.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said cell populations comprise at least one type of cells.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said living tissue is a sheet comprised of at least one cell layer.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said cell populations is a single cell layer, a tri-dimensional tissue construct or a tissue graft.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said cell populations comprises genetically transformed cells.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said cell populations are separated by a separator.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein said separator is impermeable or allows selective passage of components contained in a culture medium.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said contact is caused by removal of a separator between the at least two cell populations, or by placing said cell populations in contact.
16 . A method for producing a tubular tissue construct comprising rolling the continuous tissue construct of claim 1 .
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein said tubular tissue construct is a blood vessel.
18 . A single continuous tissue construct produced by the method of claim 1 .
19 . The single continuous tissue construct of claim 18 , wherein said living tissue sheets are composed of homologous or heterologous types of cells.
20 . The single continuous tissue construct of claim 19 , wherein said types of cells are mammalian cells.
21 . The single continuous tissue construct of claim 19 , wherein said types of cells are selected from the group consisting of mesenchymal cells, muscle cells, or fibroblasts.
22 . The single continuous tissue construct of claim 21 , wherein said muscle cells are smooth muscle cells.
23 . The single continuous tissue construct of claim 18 , wherein at least one living tissue sheet comprises at least one type of cells.
24 . The single continuous tissue construct of claim 18 , wherein said living tissue sheet comprises at least one cell layer.
25 . The single continuous tissue construct of claim 18 , wherein said living tissue sheets are placed in edge contact after removal of a separator toaft form said continuous tissue construct.
26 . The single continuous tissue construct of claim 25 , wherein said separator is impermeable or allows selective passage of components contained in a culture medium in which are maintained said living tissue sheets.