Synthetic scaffolds and organ and tissue transplantation

Abstract

A synthetic scaffold for replacing at least a portion of an airway includes an airway mold, one or more structural ribs on the airway mold, and a non-structural wall. Each of the one or more structural ribs is formed from a first material and the non-structural wall is formed from a second material. The non-structural wall coats the airway mold and forms a conduit that incorporates the one or more structural ribs.

1 . A method of seeding a synthetic airway scaffold, the method comprising incubating a synthetic airway scaffold in a rotating bioreactor in the presence of a cellular solution. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells of the cellular solution are mesenchymal cells. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature of about 30° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein cells of the cellular solution are obtained from human bone marrow. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incubating lasts for 1-3 days. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the incubating lasts for 2 days. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising adding epithelial cells. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising adding epithelial cells. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature of between about 25° C. and 37° C. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 30° C. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 30° C. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 30° C. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 30° C. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 30° C. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 30° C. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 35° C. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 35° C. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 35° C. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 35° C. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 35° C. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the incubating is at a temperature is about 35° C.