Tissue engineered meat for consumption and a method for producing tissue engineered meat for consumption

Abstract

A non-human tissue engineered meat product and a method for producing such meat product are disclosed. The meat product comprises muscle cells that are grown ex vivo and is used for food consumption. The muscle cells may be grown and attached to a support structure and may be derived from any non-human cells. The meat product may also comprise other cells such as fat cells or cartilage cells, or both, that are grown ex vivo together with the muscle cells.

1 . A non-human meat product for consumption comprising non-human muscle cells grown ex vivo.  
     
     
         2 . The non-human meat product in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a support structure; and    wherein the non-human muscle cells are attached to the support structure.    
     
     
         3 . The non-human meat product in  claim 1  wherein the non-human muscle cells are skeletal muscle cells.  
     
     
         4 . The non-human meat product in  claim 1  wherein the non-human muscle cells are derived from animals selected from the group consisting of mammals, birds, fishes, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians.  
     
     
         5 . The non-human meat product in  claim 1  wherein the non-human meat product is substantially free from harmful microbial contamination.  
     
     
         6 . The non-human meat product in  claim 1  wherein the non-human muscle cells are derived from pluri-potent or toti-potent cells.  
     
     
         7 . The non-human meat product in  claim 1  wherein the non-human muscle cells have been exposed to an electric current.  
     
     
         8 . The non-human meat product in  claim 1  further comprising non-human adipocyte cells grown ex vivo.  
     
     
         9 . The non-human meat product in  claim 8  wherein the non-human adipocyte cells are trans-differentiated from non-human myoblasts.  
     
     
         10 . The non-human meat product in  claim 8  wherein the non-human adipocyte cells are derived from pluri-potent or toti-potent non-human stem cells.  
     
     
         11 . The non-human meat product in  claim 1  further comprising non-human cartilage cells grown ex vivo.  
     
     
         12 . The non-human meat product in  claim 10  wherein the non-human cartilage cells are positioned between a support structure and the non-human muscle cells.  
     
     
         13 . The non-human meat product in  claim 10  wherein the non-human cartilage cells have been exposed to mechanical stress.  
     
     
         14 . A method of producing non-human meat products for consumption comprising the steps: 
 culturing non-human muscle stem cells ex vivo;    seeding the non-human muscle stem cells onto a support structure; and    growing the non-human muscle stem cells to produce a non-human meat product.    
     
     
         15 . The method in  claim 13  wherein the step of growing the non-human muscle stem cells comprises: 
 differentiating the non-human muscle stem cells into different types of non-human muscle cells.    
     
     
         16 . The method in  claim 14  further comprising the step: 
 exposing the non-human muscle cells to an electric or oscillating current.    
     
     
         17 . The method in  claim 13  further comprising the step: 
 adding nutrients to be incorporated into the non-human meat products.    
     
     
         18 . The method in  claim 13  wherein the non-human muscle cells are derived from animals selected from the group consisting of mammmals, birds fishes, invertebrates, reptiles, and amphibians.  
     
     
         19 . The method in  claim 13  wherein the non-human meat product is substantially free from harmful microbial contamination.  
     
     
         20 . A method of producing non-human meat for consumption comprising the steps: 
 co-culturing non-human muscle cells and non-human fat cells ex vivo;    seeding the non-human muscle cells and the non-human fat cells to a support structure; and growing the non-human muscle cells and the non-human fat cells to produce a non-human meat product.    
     
     
         21 . A method of producing non-human meat for consumption comprising the steps of: 
 culturing non-human muscle stem cells ex vivo;    seeding the non-human muscle stem cells to a support structure;    treating the non-human muscle stem cells with fatty acids to trans-differentiate the non-human muscle stem cells into adipocytes; and    growing the adipocytes to produce a non-human meat product.    
     
     
         22 . A method of producing non-human meat products for consumption comprising the steps: 
 culturing non-human cartilage cells ex vivo;    seeding the non-human cartilage cells to a support structure;    culturing non-human muscle cells together with the non-human cartilage cells on or around the support structure; and    growing the non-human muscle cells to produce a non-human meat product.    
     
     
         23 . The method in  claim 20  wherein the non-human cartilage cells have been exposed to mechanical stress.