Process for producing a vascularized bioartificial tissue and an experimental reactor for carrying out the process

• US 6,960,427 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corlife Gbr
• Original Assignee: Artis GmbH
• Inventors: Kofidis, Theo, Haverich, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Naff, David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/084,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20020081728A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 435/174, 435/177, 435/180, 435/365, 435/395, 435/399, 435/400, 435/402, 435/1.1, 424/423, 424/93.7
• US Class Current: 435/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 21/08 for producing artificial tissue or for ex-vivo cultivation of tissue prostheses A61F2/00, grafts A61L27/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/22 Transparent or translucent parts glassware for laboratory use B01L3/00
• CPC Class Codes: C12M 23/34 Internal compartments or partitions
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2501/165 Vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/90 Substrates of biological origin, e.g. extracellular matrix, decellularised tissue
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0062 General methods for three-dimensional culture
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0068 General culture methods using substrates for specific animal cell type C12N5/06
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0657 Cardiomyocytes; Heart cells

Abstract

The invention concerns a process for producing a three-dimensional bioartificial tissue having viable cells in or on a matrix, and by which cells and matrix can be cultivated into a tissue or a precursor of a tissue, a vascularized tissue of biological materials, obtained by this process, and an experimental reactor for scientific purposes and for producing clinically usable tissues and organs.

Claims

1. A vascularized bioartificial tissue for implantation, made by the process of:

inserting at least one vascularizing vessel into a mixture of viable cells in or on a matrix whereby the at least one vessel is inserted prior to or at the beginning of cultivation of the mixture of the matrix and cells; and

cultivating said mixture wherein the at least one vessel propagates and a vascularized bioartificial tissue is obtained, and wherein said step of cultivating includes supplying constituents to said at least one vessel from a location remote from said tissue.

2. The vascularized bioartificial tissue of claim 1, wherein said process further comprises the step of providing a mechanical, nutritious or migrative stimulus to said mixture during cultivation.

3. The vascularized bioartificial tissue of claim 1, wherein said at least one vessel contains branches.

4. The vascularized bioartificial tissue of claim 1, wherein said at least one vessel contains lateral openings.

5. The vascularized bioartificial tissue of claim 1, wherein said at least one vessel is inherently porous.

6. Vascularized bioartificial tissue according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vessel passes through said tissue and other vessels are propagated into the tissue from the at least one vessel.

7. Vascularized bioartificial tissue according to claim 6 wherein the at least one vessel is selected from the group consisting of a vessel of natural origin from human or animal, and a biocompatible synthetic vessel.

8. Vascularized bioartificial tissue according to claim 6 wherein the tissue is a synthetic bioartificial heart tissue having cardiomyocytes in the matrix.

9. Vascularized bioartificial tissue according to claim 6 wherein the tissue is bioartificial skin tissue having keratinocytes in the matrix.