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.