In vitro cell culture device including cartilage and methods of using the same

A method of screening putative therapeutic agents for activity in promoting re-epithelialization of cartilaginous tissues comprising:

• providing an in vitro cell culture device, whereby said in vitro cell culture device comprises:
• (a) a vessel comprising an inner surface;
• (b) a layer of cartilage disposed on at least a portion of said inner surface, said layer of cartilage comprising a plurality of chondrocytes in an extracellular matrix;
• and
• (c) a growth medium in said vessel, said layer of cartilage being bathed in said growth medium;
• introducing a layer of type I collagen onto the layer of cartilage;
• introducing epithelial cells onto the layer of type I collagen, thereby forming a composite cell culture;
• introducing a putative therapeutic agent into the composite cell culture;
• and
• assessing epithelial cell growth on the composite cell culture, wherein growth and migration of epithelial cells beyond distinct plaques thereof indicates that the putative therapeutic agent has activity in promoting re-epithelialization of cartilaginous tissues.

A method of screening putative therapeutic agents for activity in inhibiting a growth factor or proteinase which prevents re-epithelialization of cartilaginous tissues comprising:

• providing an in vitro cell culture device, whereby said in vitro cell culture device comprises:
• (a) a vessel comprising an inner surface;
• (b) a layer of cartilage disposed on at least a portion of said inner surface, said layer of cartilage comprising a plurality of chondrocytes in an extracellular matrix;
• and
• (c) a growth medium in said vessel, said layer of cartilage being bathed in said growth medium;
• introducing a layer of type I collagen onto the layer of cartilage;
• introducing epithelial cells onto the layer of type I collagen, thereby forming a composite cell culture;
• introducing a putative therapeutic agent into the composite cell culture;
• and
• assessing epithelial cell growth on the composite cell culture, wherein growth and migration of epithelial cells beyond distinct plaques thereof indicates that the putative therapeutic agent has activity in inhibiting a growth factor or proteinase which prevents re-epithelialization.