Live cell constructs for production of cultured milk product and methods using the same

A method of producing an isolated milk product from cultured mammary cells, the method comprising:

• (a) culturing a live cell construct in a bioreactor under conditions which produce the milk product,
• said live cell construct comprising:
• (i) a three-dimensional scaffold having an exterior surface, an interior surface defining an interior cavity, and a plurality of pores extending from the interior surface to the exterior surface;
• (ii) a matrix material disposed on the exterior surface of the three-dimensional scaffold;
• (iii) a culture medium disposed within the interior cavity and in fluidic contact with the internal surface;
• and
• (iv) a confluent monolayer of polarized mammary cells disposed on the matrix material, wherein the mammary cells are selected from the group consisting of:
• live primary mammary epithelial cells, live mammary myoepithelial cells, live immortalized mammary epithelial cells, and live immortalized mammary myoepithelial cells, and wherein the polarized mammary cells comprise an apical surface from which the cultured milk product is secreted and a basal surface;
• said bioreactor comprising an apical compartment that is in fluidic contact with the apical surface of the mammary cells, is substantially isolated from the interior cavity of the live cell construct, and is substantially free of cell culture medium;
• and
• (b) isolating the cultured milk product secreted into the apical compartment from the apical surface of the mammary cells.