Hydrogel thin film containing extracellular matrix components

Abstract

The thin film of the invention comprises a hydrate of a vitrified gel containing an extracellular matrix components, which can be integrated with a retainer as required. A hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components such as thin-film collagen hydrogel thin film, which is useful for a cell culture substratum and for preventing organ adhesion, can be easily prepared, and is excellent in expediency.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components, which is a thin film comprising a hydrate of a vitrified matrix gel containing an extracellular matrix components.  
     
     
         2 . A hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hydrogel thin film contains a plurality of extracellular matrix components.  
     
     
         3 . A hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said an extracellular matrix components is collagen.  
     
     
         4 . A hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein said hydrogel thin film has a cell culture medium components  
     
     
         5 . A hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  4 , wherein said thin film is integrated with a retainer.  
     
     
         6 . A hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said retainer is an annular or a mesh shape.  
     
     
         7 . A hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in  claim 5  or  6 , wherein said retainer comprises a biological absorbing substance(s).  
     
     
         8 . A hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said retainer has a circular opening which comprises a cylinder retaining and integrating the thin film.  
     
     
         9 . A glass-like substance of a dried gel containing an extracellular matrix components, which comprises a dried gel containing an extracellular matrix component(s) as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  7 .  
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components, which comprises the steps of preparing the gel from a solution containing the extracellular matrix component(s), drying the resultant gel for vitrification thereof, and then hydrating the vitrified gel.  
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said hydrogel thin film contains a plurality of extracellular matrix components.  
     
     
         12 . A method of manufacturing a hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in  claim 10  or  11 , wherein said an extracellular matrix components is collagen.  
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacturing a hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in any one of  claims 10  to  12 , wherein said thin film has a cell culture medium components.  
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in any one of  claims 10  to  13 , wherein the thin film is integrated with a retainer, which is prepared by gelation in the presence of said retainer and hydrating the vitrified gel after drying and vitrification.  
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components as claimed in  claim 14 , which is integrated with a cylinder, wherein said thin film retained integrally with said cyclic retainer manufactured by said method of  claim 14  is fixed by the transfer onto the cylinder having a circular opening having a diameter smaller than said cyclic retainer.  
     
     
         16 . A cell culture substratum which comprises the thin film as claimed in any one of  claims 1  to  8 .  
     
     
         17 . A cell culturing method using a hydrogel thin film containing an extracellular matrix components, which comprises the step of seeding and culturing cells on the substratum according to  claim 16.