SUPPORT FOR TISSUE REGENERATION AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING THE SAME

The present invention provides a scaffold in which cells can be stably retained and grafted in a uniform distribution state in the culture, preferable proliferation ability and viability can be secured, and particularly in the case of cartilage, fixation treatment such as suture can be carried out in the transplantation into affected parts after the culture, and the mechanical strength is provided sustainable for (weighted) compression at the initial stage of transplantation. The present invention relates to a 3-dimensional porous scaffold for tissue regeneration which comprises a structure composed of vertically long-shaped pores having a pore diameter of not less than 10 mu m to not more than 500 mu m and pore length of not less than 20 mu m to not more than 1 cm being juxtaposedly arranged obtained by a production process comprising rapid freeze-drying as a key technology. Further, the invention relates to the above 3-dimensional porous scaffold in which seeding properties of cells are improved by a pore enlargement treatment of one side face by a separation operation, a salt elution operation of a surface part, or a combination of these operations. It becomes possible to produce a 3-dimensional cell combination having excellent degree of tissue formation and medical treatment effect by seeding a cell or precursor cell derived from a tissue in this scaffold, and culturing them in an artificial environment and/or the living body.