Artificial cells and delivery devices for use in tissue engineering, and related methods

A blood vessel growth scaffold comprising a porous tube of a biocompatible polymer and a composition comprising:

• a first particle comprising a first conditioned medium from a cell culture within the first particle, and having a first release profile of the conditioned medium;
• and
• a second particle, different from the first particle, comprising a second conditioned medium from a cell culture within the second particle, and having a second release profile of the second conditioned medium different from the first release profile,
• wherein the first conditioned medium is the same as or different than the second conditioned medium,
• wherein a combination of the first particle and the second particle produces an extended release profile, releasing effective amounts of the first and/or second conditioned medium beyond the first release profile.

A method of making a tissue growth scaffold comprising distributing a composition in a biocompatible polymer, the composition comprising:

• a first particle comprising a first conditioned medium from a cell culture within the first particle, and having a first release profile of the conditioned medium;
• and
• a second particle, different from the first particle, comprising a second conditioned medium from a cell culture within the second particle, and having a second release profile of the second conditioned medium different from the first release profile,
• wherein the first conditioned medium is the same as or different than the second conditioned medium,
• wherein a combination of the first particle and the second particle produces an extended release profile, releasing the effective amounts of the first and/or second conditioned medium beyond the first release profile in a biocompatible polymer.

A method of preparing a controlled-release composition comprising:

• a) preparing a first particle by:
• i) culturing cells in a cell culture medium, thereby producing a first conditioned medium;
• ii) collecting the first conditioned medium;
• iii) emulsifying the first conditioned medium in a volatile solvent comprising a polymer to produce a micro-emulsion;
• and
• iv) homogenizing the micro-emulsion in an aqueous phase, so that particles precipitate as the solvent evaporates, to produce the first particle having a first release profile of the first conditioned medium;
• b) preparing a second particle by:
• i) culturing cells in a cell culture medium, thereby producing a second conditioned medium that is the same or different than the first cultured medium in the first particle;
• ii) collecting the second conditioned medium;
• iii) emulsifying the second conditioned medium in a volatile solvent comprising a polymer to produce a micro-emulsion;
• and
• iv) homogenizing the micro-emulsion in an aqueous phase, so that particles precipitate as the solvent evaporates, to produce the second particle having a second release profile of the second conditioned medium different than the first release profile;
• and
• c) incorporating the first and second particles into a tissue scaffold comprising a porous material comprising a biocompatible polymer,
• wherein a combination of the first particle and the second particle in the scaffold produces an extended release profile, releasing the effective amounts of the first and/or second conditioned medium beyond the first release profile.