Method for in vitro production of bone

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for an vitro production of bone tissue, comprising the steps of: (a) applying undifferentiated mammalian cells, in particular autologous marrow cells, on a substrate; (b) directly contacting said cells with a culture medium for a sufficient time to produce a continuous matrix; (c) removing the substrate with the matrix from the culture medium. The produced matrix can be used for joint prostheses, maxillofacial implants, special surgery devices, or bone fillers. The contacted culture medium can also be used for the production of active factors such as growth factors.

1 . A method for in vitro production of bone tissue, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) applying undifferentiated mammalian cells on a substrate;    (b) directly contacting said cells with a culture medium for a sufficient time to produce a continuous mineralised or non-mineralised matrix having a thickness of at least 0.5 μm;    (c) removing the substrate with the matrix from the culture medium.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein said undifferentiated mammalian cells are bone marrow cells especially stromal cells.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein in said cells are autologous cells.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein in step (a) the cells are applied at a rate of 10 3  to 10 6  cells per cm 2 .  
     
     
         5 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein the culture medium used in step (b) is a conditioned liquid culture medium.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to    claim 5   , wherein the culture medium used in step (b) is conditioned by prior exposure to viable marrow cells.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein in step (b) the cells are contacted with the culture medium until a matrix layer of 1-100 μm, in particular of 10-50 μm has been produced.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to    claim 1   , wherein in step (b) the cells are contacted with the culture medium for at least 2 weeks.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to    claim 1   , for the provision of load-bearing implants, joint prostheses, maxillofacial implants or special surgery devices.  
     
     
         10 . A method of producing active factors such as growth factors, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) applying undifferentiated mammalian cells on a substrate;    (b) directly contacting said cells with a culture medium for a sufficient time to produce growth factors:    (c) removing the substrate with the matrix from the culture medium;    (d) recovering the active factors from the culture medium.    
     
     
         11 . A method according to    claim 10   , wherein in step (b) the cells are contacted with the culture medium for at least 2 weeks.  
     
     
         12 . A method of restoring a load-bearing structure in a mammal, including man, comprising introducing a substrate coated with a continuous matrix produced according to    claim 1    as an implant into the site of the structure to be restored.