Chondrocyte therapeutic delivery system

• US 8,354,100 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2011
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Mitek Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Story, Brooks J., Binette, Francois, Brown, M. E. Liesbeth
• Primary Examiner(s): Noble, Marcia S
• Application Number:
  US13/069,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20110171186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 424/93.1, 424/93.2, 424/93.21
• US Class Current: 424/93.21
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/12 Materials from mammals; Compositions comprising non-specified tissues or cells; Compositions comprising non-embryonic stem cells; Genetically modified cells vaccines or medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 35/32 Bones; Osteocytes; Osteoblasts; Tendons; Tenocytes; Teeth; Odontoblasts; Cartilage; Chondrocytes; Synovial membrane
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0024 Solid, semi-solid or solidifying implants, which are implanted or injected in body tissue compositions for intravenous administration, normal injectable solutions or dispersions for, e.g. subcutaneous administration A61K9/0019; brain implants A61K9/0085; (coated) prostheses, catheters or stents A61L
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2300/252 Polypeptides, proteins, e.g. glycoproteins, lipoproteins, cytokines
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/02 for reconstruction of bones; weight-bearing implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/06 for cartilage reconstruction, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3817 Cartilage-forming cells, e.g. pre-chondrocytes
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/54 Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances A61L27/227 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/00 Drugs for genital or sexual disorders for disorders of sex hormones A61P5/24; Contraceptives
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/08 for gonadal disorders or for enhancing fertility, e.g. inducers of ovulation or of spermatogenesis
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 17/02 for treating wounds, ulcers, burns, scars, keloids, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/00 Drugs for disorders of the nervous system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 25/28 for treating neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system, e.g. nootropic agents, cognition enhancers, drugs for treating Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 29/00 Non-central analgesic, antipyretic or antiinflammatory agents, e.g. antirheumatic agents; Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAID]
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/00 Drugs for immunological or allergic disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 37/02 Immunomodulators
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/00 Drugs for disorders of the endocrine system
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/00 Drugs for disorders of the blood or the extracellular fluid
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2510/00 Genetically modified cells
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/74 Alginate
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/76 : Agarose, agar-agar
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0655 : Chondrocytes; Cartilage

Abstract

Systems and methods for modifying the environment of target cell using genetically altered chondrocytes are provided. The genetically engineered chondrocytes can be used to express a therapeutic agent in a subject, including in an environment typically associated with chondrocytes and in an environment not typically associated with chondrocytes.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a therapeutic agent to a target region comprising:

providing a housing configured to retain a genetically altered chondrocyte and allow passage of the therapeutic agent, the housing comprising;

(i) a cell chamber;

(ii) an auxiliary fluid container to house an auxiliary fluid; and

(iii) an expandable chamber;

the auxiliary chamber being positioned between the cell chamber and the expandable chamber;

providing a genetically altered chondrocyte retained within the housing, the genetically altered chondrocyte altered to express the therapeutic agent;

delivering the housing and genetically altered chondrocyte into the target region,

wherein the genetically altered chondrocyte expresses the therapeutic agent and the therapeutic agent is released from the housing in the target region, and wherein the target region is in an atypical chondrocyte environment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the atypical chondrocyte environment is in an organ selected from the group consisting of the brain, heart, liver, kidney, gastro-intestinal tract, spleen, smooth and skeletal muscle, eye, ganglions, lungs, gonads, and pancreas.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the atypical chondrocyte environment is an aqueous environment selected from the group consisting of blood and plasma.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic agent is associated with a disorder selected from the group consisting of a blood disorder, an autoimmune disorder, a hormonal disorder, an anti-inflammatory disorder, a fertility disorder, and an neurodegenerative disorder.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a rigid material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing further includes at least one semi-permeable port configured to allow passage of the therapeutic agent.