Simple and long lasting media for cultivation of epidermal tissue

Lead Inventors: Rebecca Morris, PhDProblem or Unmet Need:Media that permit in vitro cultivation of murine and human epidermal cells are advantageous for developing physiologically accurate models of skin and hair growth and are preferred when growing epidermal cells for human therapeutic purposes, such as skin grafts. The cultivation has been difficult to achieve in the absence of unpurified biological components, like serum, that increase the risk of adverse effects. It is important to establish simple and long lasting chemically defined culture conditions which support the growth and differentiation of epidermal and follicular cells, particularly human cells and skin explants used to develop skin grafts. This technology establishes the chemical compositions of cell culture media for in vitro cultivation of animal epidermal cells including hair follicles and other skin substructures. Details of the medium preparation are defined as are the methods for co-culturing hair follicle cells and epidermal substructures like sebaceous and eccrine glands. In addition, the technology includes systems for identifying test compound effects on skin and hair growth and methods for the cultivation epithelial cells in the media.

Advantages of the media conditions established by this technology over currently available animal cell culture media include: Full chemical definition and no unpurified biological components. Simple to prepare and longer shelf-life. Low ratio of sodium to potassium, preferable for epidermal and epithelial cell cultivation. Support co-cultivation of hair follicles and other epidermal substructures for better skin grafts.

In vitro cultivated animal epidermal cells can be used for a variety of applications: Human skin grafts for burn patients that include hair follicles and other epidermal substructures. Gene therapy and bioengineering techniques. Development of physiologically accurate skin and hair growth models in vitro. Testing of compounds that effect skin and hair development and growth.

This technology establishes the chemical compositions of cell culture media for in vitro cultivation of animal epidermal cells including hair follicles and other skin substructures. Details of the medium preparation are defined as are the metho...

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