Non-contracting tissue equivalent

A substantially non-contracting tissue equivalent which comprises an uncontracted collagenous matrix and a plurality of mesenchymal cells retrained within said matrix;

• said collagenous matrix being substantially free from covalent crosslinks and dissociated by mild treatment with collagenase, wherein the substantially non-contractile characteristic of said tissue equivalent is independent of cell density in the range of about 1.0×105 to about 5.0×105 cells/ml, and is independent of collagen concentration in the range of about 3 to about 5 mg/ml.

A method of making a tissue equivalent which comprises the steps of combining an aqueous suspension of mesenchymal cells in a substantially serum-free nutrient medium at a temperature below about ambient temperature with a solution of collagenous material to produce a gelable admixture;

• and
• solidifying the admixture by gelation at a pH of about 7 and a temperature of about 37° C. to a translucent matrix;
• wherein the cell density of the tissue equivalent is in the range of about 1.0×105 cells/ml and the collagen concentration of the tissue equivalent is in the range of about 3 to about 5 mg/ml.