Patent ID: 8685635

Claim:
A method of delivering interferon to a subject comprising implanting into or underneath the skin at least one genetically modified dermal micro-organ that expresses and secretes at least one recombinant gene product or at least a portion of said at least one recombinant gene product, a. wherein said at least one recombinant gene product comprises interferon; b. wherein said genetically modified dermal micro-organ is autologous with said subject; c. wherein said dermal micro-organ is an explant of living tissue consisting essentially of a plurality of dermal components and lacking a complete epidermal layer that substantially maintain the micro-architecture and three-dimensional structure of the dermal tissue from which they are obtained, and having dimensions selected so as to allow passive diffusion of adequate nutrients and gases to cells of said dermal micro-organ and diffusion of cellular waste out of said cells so as to minimize cellular toxicity and concomitant death due to insufficient nutrition and accumulation of waste in said dermal micro-organ; and d. wherein at least some of the cells of said genetically modified dermal micro-organ express and secrete at least a portion of said interferon; wherein said implanting of said at least one genetically modified dermal micro-organ delivers interferon to said subject.