Tissue formation by injecting a cell-polymeric solution that gels in vivo

A method for injecting a cell suspension into an animal to form tissue within the animal comprising

• forming a cell-polymeric solution by mixing a solution of a biodegradable, biocompatible natural or synthetic organic polymer, wherein the polymer is capable of being cross-linked via covalent, ionic, or hydrogen bonds to create a three-dimensional open-lattice structure which entraps water molecules to form a gel, with dissociated cells, wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of chondrocytes, osteoblasts, muscle cells, fibroblasts, and cells acting primarily to synthesize, secret or metabolize materials, to form an injectable cell-polymeric solution having cells dispersed therein and
• injecting the cell-polymeric solution into the animal which crosslinks to form a polymeric hydrogel having cells dispersed therein inside the animal, whereby the cells form tissue.