Assays and methods for fusing cell aggregates to form proto-tissues
AssigneeBrown University
InventorsJeffrey R. Morgan, Dylan Dean, Adam Rago
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided are assays and methods for creating proto-tissues from aggregates of cells. The invention concerns assays and methods useful in tissue engineering and reconstruction techniques, specifically in the formation of macrotissues from microtissues using microtissue pre-culture time as a controlling parameter.
Claims14
An assay method for assessing the parameters affecting macrotissue formation from microtissue fusion comprising the steps of:
- (a) pre-culturing at least two microtissues;
- (b) placing the pre-cultured microtissues onto a surface of a substrate that is nonadhesive in an area in which tissue fusion is desired so as to effect contact between the microtissues;
- (c) maintaining the microtissues on the surface of the substrate;
- and
- (d) determining the parameters necessary for the function and usefulness of the resultant macrotissue.
A method of forming a macrotissue having desired cell sorting characteristics and cell position from at least two different microtissues comprising the steps of:
- (a) pre-culturing the microtissues;
- (b) placing the pre-cultured microtissues onto a surface of a substrate that is nonadhesive in the area in which tissue fusion is desired so as to effect contact between the microtissues;
- and
- (c) maintaining the microtissues on the surface of the substrate until the desired macrotissue is formed, wherein pre-culture time is varied in order to influence cell position with the macrotissue.
A method of controlling the formation of macrotissues from at least two microtissues comprising the steps of:
- (a) separately pre-culturing the microtissues for about one hour to about fourteen days;
- (b) thereafter, placing the pre-cultured microtissues onto the surface of a substrate that is nonadhesive in the area in which tissue fusion is desired so as to effect contact between the microtissues;
- (c) maintaining the microtissues on the surface of the substrate for a period of time until a macrotissue has formed;
- and
- (d) harvesting the macrotissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.