Methods and compositions for repair of cartilage using an in vivo bioreactor
First Claim
1. An implantable device, comprising:
- a cells/scaffold composition encapsulated inside a membrane, said membrane having an inside and an outside; and
a structure for exchanging at least part of fluid that is inside the membrane,wherein the membrane has the following characteristics;
semi-permeable;
biocompatible;
biodegradable; and
resorbable.
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Abstract
Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. An implantable device, comprising:
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a cells/scaffold composition encapsulated inside a membrane, said membrane having an inside and an outside; and a structure for exchanging at least part of fluid that is inside the membrane, wherein the membrane has the following characteristics; semi-permeable; biocompatible; biodegradable; and resorbable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification