Humacyte Inc.
This article was originally published in Start Up
Executive Summary
Humacyte uses smooth muscle cells isolated from cadavers to create a collagen matrix. The cells are grown on a biodegradable scaffold for 8-10 weeks. The original scaffold degrades, leaving just the cells and the collagen matrix. In a final step, researchers remove the cells and leave only the matrix. Without the cells, the non-immunogenic matrix can be used as a 'universal' off-the-shelf medical device. It can be grown in tube, sheet, or particulate form. Once implanted, host cells infiltrate, which then integrate and remodel the graft as if it were a natural body part.
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