Extracellular Matrix Scaffolds

Abstract

A method for micro-tissue encapsulation of cells includes coating a tissue scaffold stamp with an extracellular matrix compound; depositing the tissue scaffold stamp onto a thermoresponsive substrate; seeding the tissue scaffold stamp with a cell culture; incubating the cell culture on the tissue scaffold stamp at a temperature that is specified, wherein the cell culture forms a cell patch that is attached to the extracellular matrix compound; removing the thermoresponsive substrate by lowering the temperature; removing the tissue scaffold stamp from the cell patch to form a micro-tissue structure by dissolving the tissue scaffold stamp in a solvent; folding the micro-tissue structure by suspending the micro-tissue in the solvent to enable the cell patch to fold the micro-tissue structure; collecting the folded micro-tissue structure from the solvent; and administering the folded micro-tissue structure to an organism.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for micro-tissue encapsulation of cells comprising:
 coating a tissue scaffold stamp with an extracellular matrix compound;   depositing the tissue scaffold stamp onto a thermoresponsive substrate;   seeding the tissue scaffold stamp with a cell culture;   incubating the cell culture on the tissue scaffold stamp at a temperature that is specified, wherein the cell culture forms a cell patch that is attached to the extracellular matrix compound;   removing the thermoresponsive substrate by lowering the temperature;   removing the tissue scaffold stamp from the cell patch to form a micro-tissue structure by dissolving the tissue scaffold stamp in a solvent;   folding the micro-tissue structure by suspending the micro-tissue in the solvent to enable the cell patch to fold the micro-tissue structure;   collecting the folded micro-tissue structure from the solvent; and   administering the folded micro-tissue structure to an organism.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein administering the micro-tissue structure to an organism comprises injecting the micro-tissue structure. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein folded micro-tissue structure is configured to protect the cell patch from forces during the injecting. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a size of the micro-tissue structure is proportional to a size of the tissue scaffold stamp, and wherein the size of the micro-tissue structure is a fraction of a diameter of an injecting apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue scaffold stamp comprises an organosilicon compound. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the organosilicon compound comprises Polydimethylsiloxane. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the extracellular matrix compound comprises a protein comprising one or more of collagen IV, laminin, a fibroblast growth factor protein, and a vascular endothelial growth factor protein. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein depositing the tissue scaffold stamp comprises printing the tissue scaffold stamp onto the thermoresponsive substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoresponsive substrate comprises a PIPAAm polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue scaffold stamp forms a regular geometry. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the tissue scaffold stamp comprises a surface dimension of less than or approximately equal to 250 μm 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell culture comprises one or more populations of corneal endothelial cells. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell culture comprises one or more populations of stem cells. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cell culture forms a monolayer on the tissue scaffold stamp. 
     
     
         15 . A micro-tissue raft comprising:
 a cell patch comprising binders exposed on a first side of the cell patch; and   an extracellular matrix compound that is attached to a second side of the cell patch and that forms a base for the cell patch, wherein the extracellular matrix compound is configured to be responsive to one or more tension forces expressed by the cell patch, wherein the one or more tension forces cause the extracellular matrix compound to fold into a specified geometry around the cell patch, wherein the specified geometry substantially conceals the expressed binders of the cell patch.   
     
     
         16 . The micro-tissue raft of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more tension forces are expressed by one or more junctions of one or more respective cells that form the cell patch. 
     
     
         17 . The micro-tissue raft of  claim 15 , wherein the extracellular matrix compound is configured to fold into the compact geometry in response to removal of an organosilicon compound scaffold from the extracellular matrix compound. 
     
     
         18 . The micro-tissue raft of  claim 15 , wherein the extracellular matrix compound is configured to alter a form factor into a planar geometry that exposes the expressed binders of the cell patch, and wherein the extracellular matrix compound is configured to alter the form factor after a delay in response to folding into the specified geometry.