Composite living skin equivalent

Abstract

Skin equivalents and processes for preparing them are described. The living skin equivalent comprises a layer of cultured keratinocyte cells, a layer of high purity, non-porous collagen and a dermal layer of cultured fibroblast cells in a porous, cross-linked collagen sponge. Processes are described for producing the skin equivalent with descriptions on how to obtain and treat skin precursor materials to yield suitable fibroblasts and keratinocytes. The collagen layers, the physical forms thereof, and treatments thereof are also described. Preferably, the non-porous, highly-purified collagen is selected from Type 1, Type 3, or mixtures of Type 1 and Type 3 collagen. The collagen is purified ideally by treatment with pepsin, to remove antigenic substances. The collagen sponge used can be any suitable form of collagen sponge which will support fibroblast growth. The keratinocytes used in the invention are preferably prepared by the "drop" method spotted evenly on culture media and incubated to coalescence.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.