Abstract: The invention features methods of making living tissue constructs having a predetermined shape by obtaining a negative mold having a defined shape; suspending isolated tissue precursor cells in a hydrogel to form a liquid hydrogel-precursor cell composition; filling the liquid hydrogel-precursor cell composition into the mold; implanting the filled mold into a living host for incubation; removing the mold after a suitable incubation period; and removing the living tissue construct from the mold. The final living tissue construct can then be surgically implanted into a patient.

Abstract: A method for growing a tissue structure includes providing a scaffold having the shape of the tissue structure and seeding the scaffold with tissue precursor cells. The seeded scaffold is then grown in vitro under conditions and for an incubation time sufficient for the tissue precursor cells to produce tissue on the scaffold and to from a tissue structure that can be implanted into a patient without causing an immune response.