Composite living skin equivalents
OwnerMark Eisenberginventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A composite living skin equivalent is described comprising an epidermal layer of cultured keratinocyte cells, a layer of non-porous collagen, and a dermal layer of cultured fibroblast cells in a porous cross-linked collagen sponge matrix. Preferably the non-porous collagen is Type 1, Type 3 or mixtures of Types 1 and 3 bovine collagen, which has been pepsin treated. A process for preparing the skin equivalent is described, as well as a test kit for in vitro testing of the skin equivalent. The skin equivalent has use for skin grafting as well as in vitro testing of the effects of various substances on skin.
Claims11
A composite living skin equivalent which comprises relative to a horizontal plane:
- a) a sponge first layer comprising a cross-linked collagen sponge, said first layer having upper and lower surface, said sponge containing cultured fibroblast cells therein,
- b) a second layer comprising a high purity non-porous collagen, said second layer having upper and lower surfaces, the lower surface thereof being in contact with the upper surface of said first layer, and
- c) a layer comprising cultured keratinocyte cells in contact with the upper surface of said non-porous collagen second layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.