Scaffold-free three dimensional nerve fibroblast constructs
The invention relates to scaffold-free three dimensional nerve fibroblast constructs and method of generating the nerve fibroblast constructs. The invention also relates to methods or repairing nerve transection and replacing damaged nerve tissue using the nerve fibroblast constructs of the invention.
1. A self-organizing, scaffold-free, three-dimensional nerve-fibroblast construct comprising an inner core of nerve cells surrounded by an external sheath of fibroblasts for use in repairing a nerve transection or replacing damaged tissue, wherein neural markers are absent from the fibroblast sheath.
2. The construct of claim 1 , wherein the fibroblasts or nerve cells are derived from adipose-derived stem cells.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the fibroblasts and nerve cells are derived from adipose-derived stem cells.
4. A method of repairing a nerve transection in a subject comprising inserting the three-dimensional nerve fibroblast construct of claim 1 in a subject in need to repair the nerve transection.
5. A method of replacing damaged nerve tissue in a subject comprising inserting the three-dimensional nerve fibroblast construct of claim 1 in a subject in need to replace the damaged nerve tissue.