METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR REPAIR OF CARTILAGE USING AN IN VIVO BIOREACTOR
First Claim
1. An implantable device, comprising:
- a cells/scaffold composition; and
an encapsulating device that comprises;
a first membrane having an inside and an outside;
a second membrane having an inside and an outside, wherein the first membrane is encapsulated inside the second membrane;
a first volume disposed inside the first membrane;
a second volume that is disposed outside the first membrane and that is disposed inside the second membrane; and
a structure for adding fluid to the second volume, removing fluid from the second volume, or both,wherein the cells/scaffold composition is disposed inside the first membrane and the first membrane has one or more of the following characteristics;
semi-permeable;
biocompatible;
biodegradable; and
resorbable,wherein the second membrane has one or more of the following characteristics;
biocompatible;
hermetic to fluid;
permeable to oxygen;
resorbable;
biodegradable; and
expandable.
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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.
42 Citations
61 Claims
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1. An implantable device, comprising:
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a cells/scaffold composition; and an encapsulating device that comprises; a first membrane having an inside and an outside; a second membrane having an inside and an outside, wherein the first membrane is encapsulated inside the second membrane; a first volume disposed inside the first membrane; a second volume that is disposed outside the first membrane and that is disposed inside the second membrane; and a structure for adding fluid to the second volume, removing fluid from the second volume, or both, wherein the cells/scaffold composition is disposed inside the first membrane and the first membrane has one or more of the following characteristics; semi-permeable; biocompatible; biodegradable; and resorbable, wherein the second membrane has one or more of the following characteristics; biocompatible; hermetic to fluid; permeable to oxygen; resorbable; biodegradable; and expandable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57)
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54. A method of preparing a cells/scaffold composition, wherein the cells are chondrocytes or chondrocyte-like cells, comprising:
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subjecting cells capable of differentiating into a chondrocyte-like cell to the scaffold; subjecting the cells to mechanical stress; and optionally subjecting the cells to one or more growth factors suitable for differentiation to a chondrocyte or chondrocyte-like cell. - View Dependent Claims (55)
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58. 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 one or more of the following characteristics; semi-permeable; biocompatible; biodegradable; and resorbable.
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59. A hybrid structure for cartilage repair, comprising:
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an encapsulating device comprising inert material; and a living core comprising chondrocyte-like cells, wherein said encapsulating device encapsulates the living core.
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- 60. An in vivo bioreactor for cartilage engineering, comprising a device that encapsulates cells, wherein said cells are capable of differentiating to chondrocytes or chondrocyte-like cells, wherein the encapsulation of said cells provides suitable conditions for in vivo growth and differentiation of said cells, wherein said conditions comprise providing a physiologic loading regimen on said cells.
Specification