Systems for and methods for using biomimetic structures providing communication in living tissue
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorJoseph P. Vacanti
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A platform for creating engineered tissues includes a vascular tube that defines a vascular diameter and is configured to receive vascular system seed cells, a non-vascular tube that defines a non-vascular tube diameter and is configured to receive organ system seed cells, and a barrier formed between the vascular tube and the non-vascular tube.
Claims19
A scaffold for engineering tissues comprising:
- a vascular tube defining a vascular diameter and configured to receive vascular system seed cells;
- a non-vascular tube defining a non-vascular tube diameter and configured to receive organ system seed cells;
- and
- a barrier formed between the vascular tube and the non-vascular tube.
A method of populating a tubular structure including a vascular tube configured to receive vascular system seed cells, and an organ tissue tube configured to receive organ system seed cells, the method comprising:
- flowing hydrogel through the vascular tube in a first direction;
- flowing hydrogel through the organ tissue tube in a second direction opposite the first direction;
- introducing a chelating agent;
- forming a barrier between the vascular tube and the organ tissue tube while maintaining flow through the vascular tube and through the organ tissue tube;
- flushing the hydrogel from the vascular tube and the organ tissue tube while maintain the barrier intact;
- seeding the vascular tube with vascular system cells;
- and
- seeding the organ tissue tube with organ tissue cells.
A method of populating a tubular structure including a vascular tube configured to receive vascular system seed cells, and an organ tissue tube configured to receive organ system seed cells, the method comprising:
- filling the organ tissue tube with hydrogel;
- maintaining the tubular structure at about thirty-seven degrees Celsius;
- seeding the vascular tube with vascular system cells;
- cooling the tubular structure to below about thirty-seven degrees Celsius;
- draining the hydrogel from the organ tissue tube while creating a barrier at the interface of the vascular tube and the organ tissue tube;
- and
- seeding the organ tissue tube with organ tissue cells.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.