Tubular construct for implantation

• US 7,029,689 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2002
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Sambanis, Athanassios, Berglund, Joseph D., Nerem, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Naff, David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/143,554
• Publication Number:
  US 20030072741A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 435/177, 435/178, 435/180, 435/182, 435/395, 435/29, 424/423, 424/93.7
• US Class Current: 424/423
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/225 Fibrin; Fibrinogen
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/227 Other specific proteins or polypeptides not covered by A61L27/222, A61L27/225 or A61L27/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/24 Collagen
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3839 characterised by the site of application in the body materials for artificial blood vessels A61L27/507; materials for use in artificial skin A61L27/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/507 for artificial blood vessels apparatus for applying cells on a blood vessel prosthesis A61F2/062
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/54 Collagen; Gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/56 Fibrin; Thrombin
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0068 General culture methods using substrates for specific animal cell type C12N5/06
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/069 Vascular Endothelial cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/5082 Supracellular entities, e.g. tissue, organisms

Abstract

The present invention is directed to devices for repair, replacement or augmentation of soft tissues in an organism. The devices comprise cellular compositions comprising cells and preferably, structural proteins such as collagen or elastin. The devices can also be used in methods for testing the effects of agents on soft tissues.

Claims

1. A tubular construct suitable for implantation, comprising, a biological support structure comprising a gel matrix admixed with a cellular composition comprising one or more types of cells and products of cells, and an intact elastin scaffold.

2. The tubular construct of claim 1, wherein the gel matrix comprises collagen.

3. The tubular construct of claim 1, wherein the gel matrix comprises fibrin.

4. The tubular construct of claim 1, wherein the cellular composition comprises smooth muscle cells.

5. The tubular construct of claim 1, wherein the cellular composition comprises altered or modified cells.

6. The tubular construct of claim 1, wherein the cellular composition and the intact elastin scaffold are derived from the same species.

7. A method of repair of soft tissue, comprising, implanting a tubular construct suitable for implantation, comprising, a biological support structure comprising a gel matrix admixed with a cellular composition comprising one or more types of cells and products of cells, and an intact elastin scaffold.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the gel matrix comprises collagen.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the gel matrix comprises fibrin.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the cellular composition comprises smooth muscle cells.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the cellular composition comprises altered or modified cells.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the cellular composition and the intact elastin scaffold are derived from the same species.

13. A method for determining activity of agents, comprising, a) providing a tubular construct, comprising, a biological support structure comprising a gel metrix admixed with a cellular composition comprising one or more types of cells and products of cells, and an intact elastin scaffold, b) adding at least one agent to the tubular construct and c) determining an effect on the tubular construct.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the gel matrix of the tubular construct comprises structural proteins collagen, fibrin, or elastin.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the cellular composition comprises altered or modified cells.