Organogenesis, Inc.

Paul D. Kemp

Valerie Mason

David T. Kagan

Eugene Bell

John Cavallaro

Paul D Kemp

Robert M Carr, Jr

Jerome Gross

John G Maresh

David T Kagan

Tissue equivalents are produced by applying a solution of collagen without cells to a permeable membrane, gelling to produce a collagen gel on the membrane, applying a mixture of collagen and a contractile agent to the collagen gel, gelling the mixture and allowing the resultant gel to undergo radial contraction which is controlled by the collagen gel on the membrane. A suitable contractile agent is fibroblast cells. A skin tissue equivalent is produced by disposing human epidermal cells on the contracted collagen gel and allowing epidermalization to occur. A nutrient medium can be supplied to the cells. An absorbent member may be disposed adjacent the permeable membrane opposite the collagen gel on the membrane. The permeable membrane can be the bottom of an inner well disposed in an outer well for containing a nutrient medium in contact with the membrane. The nutrient medium may be contained in the outer well in an agarose gel in contact with the membrane.

Preparation of tissue equivalents by contraction of a collagen gel

The present invention provides improved collagen threads and methods of making and using such threads, including the production of yarn, as well as braided, knitted, and woven articles of manufacture, comprising such threads.

Collagen threads

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Gloucester, MA, United States of America

John Cavallaro