Engineered muscle

Abstract

A muscle implant includes an extracellular matrix, tendon and muscle cells. The extracellular matrix is made of a matrix of electroaerosol polymer droplets. Cardiac and smooth muscles may be formed by depositing an extracellular matrix onto a mandrel, the extracellular matrix comprising a polymer helically wound around the mandrel at predetermined pitches.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An extracellular matrix comprising a matrix of electroaerosol droplets.  
     
     
         2 . An extracellular matrix as described in  claim 1 , wherein the droplets are discharged from one or more electrically charged orifices onto a grounded substrate to form the matrix.  
     
     
         3 . An extracellular matrix as described in  claim 1 , wherein the matrix is treated with cross-linking agents whereby the droplets are cross-linked.  
     
     
         4 . An extracellular matrix as described in  claim 1 , wherein the droplets are less than 10 μm in diameter.  
     
     
         5 . An extracellular matrix as described in  claim 1 , wherein the droplets are comprised of collagen.  
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing an extracellular matrix comprising: 
 streaming an electrically-charged polymer solution on to a grounded target substrate under conditions effective to deposit polymer droplets on said substrate to form an extracellular matrix.    
     
     
         7 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer is extruded from a capillary pipette.  
     
     
         8 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer droplets form a three-dimensional matrix.  
     
     
         9 . A method of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer comprises collagen.  
     
     
         10 . A method of  claim 6 , further comprising depositing a gel of aligned collagen fibers on said extracellular matrix.  
     
     
         11 . A method of forming a vascular prosthesis comprising: 
 providing a mandrel about which the prosthesis will be formed,    forming an extracellular matrix layer comprising winding a polymer fiber around the mandrel in a helical manner at a predetermined pitch, and    depositing muscle cells onto the extracellular matrix.    
     
     
         12 . The method described in  claim 11 , further comprising forming a plurality of the extracellular matrix layers around the mandrel.  
     
     
         13 . The method described in  claim 11 , wherein the mandrel is round.  
     
     
         14 . The method described in  claim 11 , wherein the mandrel is in the shape of a predetermined blood vessel.  
     
     
         15 . The method described in  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined pitch of the polymer fiber is different for each adjacent layer in the prosthesis.  
     
     
         16 . The method described in  claim 11 , wherein the extracellular matrix comprises collagen gel.  
     
     
         17 . The method described in  claim 11 , where in the extracellular matrix comprises electrospun fibers.  
     
     
         18 . The method described in  claim 11 , where in the extracellular matrix comprises electroaerosol droplets.