Processes for the preparation of novel collagen-based supports for tissue engineering, and biomaterials obtained

A composite skin product forming a collagen support comprising at least one porous collagen layer covered on at least one side with a collagen membrane prepared by a compression of a collagen sponge at a pressure of at least about 50 bar, said porous collagen layer comprising living fibroblasts and said collagen membrane comprising on the surface thereof living cells selected from the group consisting of:

• keratinocytes, melanocytes, Merkel's cells, Langerhans' cells originating from the blood, sebocytes, blood cells.

A composite acellular product forming a collagen support comprising at least one porous collagen layer covered on at least one side with a collagen membrane prepared by a compression of a collagen sponge at a pressure of at least about 50 bar, and wherein at least one of the porous layer and membrane is produced from a collagen gel containing a mixture of soluble collagen and insoluble collagen.

A composite acellular product forming a collagen support comprising at least one porous collagen layer covered on at least one side with a collagen membrane comprising a collagen film prepared by drying a collagen gel separately from the porous collagen layer.

An artificial skin product forming a collagen support comprising at least one porous collagen layer covered on at least one side with a collagen membrane prepared by drying a collagen gel separately from the porous collagen layer, said porous collagen layer comprising living fibroblasts and said collagen membrane comprising on the surface thereof living cells selected from the group consisting of:

• keratinocytes, melanocytes, Merkel's cells, Langerhans' cells originating from the blood, and sebocytes.

A composite acellular product forming a collagen support comprising at least one porous collagen layer covered on at least one side with a collagen membrane prepared by drying a collagen gel separately from the porous collagen layer, and wherein at least one of the porous layer and of the collagen membrane is produced from a collagen gel containing a mixture of soluble collagen and insoluble collagen.

An artificial skin product forming a collagen support comprising at least one porous collagen layer covered on at least one side with a collagen membrane comprising a collagen film prepared by drying a collagen gel in air separately from the porous collagen layer, said porous collagen layer comprising living fibroblasts cells and said collagen membrane comprising on the surface thereof living cells other than fibroblasts.