| abstract |
The present invention relates to a three-dimensional tissue culture, comprising chondrocytes in a biocompatible artificial matrix, having at least the following layers: a first layer located at or near a surface of the matrix, the chondrocytes having a non-spherical shape and being disposed substantially parallel to the surface along their longest dimension; and a second layer at least partially covered by the first layer, the average sphericity of the chondrocytes of the second layer being greater than the average sphericity of the chondrocytes of the first layer; and preferably a third layer at least partially covered by the second layer, chondrocytes being arranged in columns extending in the matrix, each column having at least two chondrocytes. Such tissue culture may for example be used as artificial cartilage in surgery. The invention also relates to a method for producing such a three-dimensional culture. |