Cell Cultivation Methodology

A method of cultivating cells, comprising:

• (i) providing an initial scaffolding comprising a first interlocking porous hydrogel block (IPHB), wherein the first IPHB comprises a three-dimensional (3D) macrostructure defined by a continuous polymeric matrix material and a network of microporous channels and/or chambers extending throughout the continuous polymeric matrix material, and wherein the 3D macrostructure comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a thickness defined by at least one side edge extending from the top surface to the bottom surface, and wherein the 3D macrostructure structure includes at least one interlocking-male component and at least one interlocking-female component;
• (ii) seeding the first IPHB with one or more cells of interest;
• (iii) feeding the one or more cells of interest with a first culture media, and allowing the one or more cells of interest to propagate throughout the network of microporous channels and/or chambers;
• (iv) expanding the initial scaffolding by interlocking a second IPHB to the first IPHB, wherein the at least one interlocking-male component or at least one interlocking-female component of the first IPHB is joined to a corresponding interlocking-male component or corresponding interlocking-female component of the second IPHB;
• and
• (v) allowing the one or more cells of interest to propagate from the first IPHB into the second IPHB, and feeding the one or more cells of interest located inside the second IPHB with the first culture media or a second culture media.