First implantable device for hypoxia-mediated angiogenic induction

Pre-conditioning cells within a collagen depot to cell-generated physiological hypoxia up-regulates production of angiogenic factor proteins which are retained by the nano-porous collagen matrix and remain trapped after the seeded cells are killed by snap-freezing. Non-viable angiogenic depots can be (A) embedded into engineered constructs before in vivo implantation or (B) implanted directly into a wound/ischaemic tissue.