The invention is directed to a prosthetic kidney, to methods of making a
prosthetic kidney and to methods of treating kidney disease with a
prosthetic kidney. The prosthetic kidney comprises nephron analogs on the
exterior surface and an enclosed porous membrane structure equipped with
an effluent channel for collecting and draining urine from the device. The
nephron analogs are prepared by implanting a device containing renal
tubule analogs on the membrane structures and inducing angiogenesis to
form glomeruli-like structures. The renal tubule analogs are prepared by
seeding kidney cells on the porous membrane structure and culturing this
composite in vitro.
