Biodegradable, porous structures useful for growing living tissue, and methods of manufacture

A method of making a biodegradable, porous structure comprising a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by a structural framework, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) making an aphron from a population of molecules, wherein said population comprises molecules selected from the group consisting of (1) biodegradable polymer molecules, and (2) a mixture of amino acid molecules and polymer molecules;
• (b) freezing the aphron in a mold to yield a frozen, porous, structure comprising a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by a structural framework;
• and
• (c) lyophilizing the frozen, porous, structure to yield a lyophilized, biodegradable, porous structure comprising a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by a structural framework.

A method for growing a living tissue or a living organ, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) introducing living cells into a biodegradable, porous structure, said structure comprising a structural framework, wherein the structural framework comprises:
• (1) a solidified mixture of polymer molecules and amino acid molecules, wherein at least some amino acid molecules are linked to other amino acid molecules within the structural framework;
• and (2) a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by the structural framework;
• and
• (b) culturing the cells within the porous structure under conditions that promote formation of a living tissue or a living organ.