Isolated adult cells, artificial organs, rehabilitated organs, research tools, organ encasements, organ perfusion systems, and methods for preparing and utilizing the same

Abstract

One aspect of the invention provides a method for harvesting adult cells from an organ. The method includes perfusing the organ with a perfusate and isolating adult cells from the organ, thereby harvesting the adult cells from the organ. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for rehabilitating an organ. The method includes: dividing the organ into a first portion and a second portion, perfusing the first portion with a decellularization medium, isolating adult cells from the second portion, and recellularizing the first portion with a suspension of the adult cells, thereby rehabilitating the organ.

1 . A method for harvesting adult cells from an organ, the method comprising:
 perfusing the organ with a perfusate; and   isolating adult cells from the organ;   thereby harvesting the adult cells from the organ.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organ is a mammalian organ. 
     
     
         3 . The method  claim 2 , wherein the organ is a human organ. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organ is a liver. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the adult cells are selected from the group consisting of: hepatocytes, endothelial cells, cholangiocytes (bile duct cells), Kupffer cells, stellate cells, and smooth muscle cells. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organ is one selected from the group consisting of: pancreas, spleen, heart, lung, and kidney. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organ is ischemic. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perfusate includes one or more oxygen carriers. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more oxygen carriers include erythrocytes. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perfusate includes one or more antiinflammatory agents. 
     
     
         11 . The method  claim 10 , wherein the one or anti-inflammatory agents includes hydrocortisone. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perfusate includes collagenase. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perfusate is a normothermic perfusate. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perfusate is a room temperature perfusate. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perfusate is a hypothermic perfusate. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising culturing the harvested adult cells. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing the organ. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of isolating the adult cells from the organ includes filtering the perfusate. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the filtering the perfusate step including filtering the perfusate through one or more mesh filters. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the one or more mesh filters have pore sizes ranging from about 1 μm to about 1000 μm. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of isolating the adult cells from the organ includes performing density centrifugation on the perfusate. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising circulating the perfusate through a dialyzer. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the organ is a damaged organ. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the perfusion step improves the vitality of the adult cells. 
     
     
         25 - 171 . (canceled)