Tissue scaffolds

1. A method of preparing a tissue scaffold, comprising:

adding an acellular tissue matrix to at least one aqueous solution comprising sodium acetate;

incubating the acellular tissue matrix in the at least one aqueous solution comprising sodium acetate;

mechanically homogenizing the acellular tissue matrix and the at least one aqueous solution comprising sodium acetate to form a slurry containing the acellular tissue matrix;

cooling the slurry;

casting the slurry containing the homogenized acellular tissue matrix in a casting container;

cooling the slurry in an environment of about −70° C. or less to freeze the slurry; and

lyophilizing the slurry to produce a tissue scaffold of acellular tissue matrix having a porosity of about 75% to about 90%.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix added to the at least one aqueous sodium acetate solution is added in dehydrated form.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix is out into small pieces prior to homogenization.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the incubating takes place at about 4° C. for more than 12 hours.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the homogenizing and the cooling are repeated at least three times.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the cooling is accomplished at about 0° C. for about 1.5 minutes or longer.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lyophilizing the slurry includes freezing the slurry at −200° C. or less.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the shape and height of the resulting tissue scaffold are determined by the shape and height of the casting container.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aqueous sodium acetate solution has a pH of about 3.4.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one aqueous sodium acetate solution achieves a final concentration of about 0.1% w/v to about 15% w/v of acellular tissue matrix.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the resulting tissue scaffold has a strut density from about 0.13 g/cm 3 to about 0.24 g/cm 3.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein sodium bicarbonate is further added to the at least one aqueous solution comprising sodium acetate.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein mechanical strength, porosity, hydration and fluid conductance of the tissue scaffold are controlled by controlling at least one condition selected from the freezing rate, the freezing temperature, and the composition of the casting container.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix is a dermal acellular tissue matrix.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix is a human dermal acellular tissue matrix.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix is a porcine dermal acellular tissue matrix.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the acellular tissue matrix comprises collagen, elastin, and vascular channels.

18. A tissue scaffold made by a process comprising:

adding an acellular tissue matrix to at least one aqueous solution comprising sodium acetate;

incubating the acellular tissue matrix in the at least one aqueous solution comprising sodium acetate;

mechanically homogenizing the acellular tissue matrix and the at least one aqueous solution comprising sodium acetate to form a slurry containing the homogenized acellular tissue matrix;

cooling the slurry;

casting the slurry containing the homogenized acellular tissue matrix in a casting container;

cooling the slurry in an environment of about −70° C. or less to freeze the slurry; and

lyophilizing the slurry to produce a tissue scaffold of acellular tissue matrix haying a porosity of about 75% to about 90%.