Tissue Engineering and Cell-Populated Collagen Matrices

Summary

Tissue engineering seeks to produce living, three-dimensional cellular constructs that can be used as clinical replacements of damaged tissues and organs as well as research tools to study cell and matrix interactions that occur in higher-order systems. To organize the cells into a three-dimensional structure in vitro, a provisional extracellular matrix support is required. The two main methods to achieve this are (a) to culture the stromal cells on a three-dimensional synthetic meshwork, or else (b) embed the cells within a three-dimensional lattice, for example type I collagen. The contracted collagen lattice can be used for a variety of practical applications including the support of epithelial growth and differentiation to produce a skin replacement (Toxic In vitro 5:591–596, 1991; J. Biomech. Eng. 113:113–119, 1991; Parenteau, 1994, Keratinocyte Methods, 1994, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp.45–55; Dermatol. Surg. 21:839–843, 1995; Biomaterials 17:311–320, 1996). This has been used successfully to treat patients with chronic ulcers. However, this model system can also be exploited for experiments to study cell–matrix interactions such as the influence of tension on cell phenotype (Exp. Cell Res. 193:198–207, 1991).