The present invention relates to an extrudable photocrosslinkable hydrogel comprising a biochemically modified extracellular matrix (ECM) with an electroconductive nanomaterial embedded; a photoinitiator and a solvent, the method for its preparation starting from decellularized extracellular matrices (dECMs) and its applications for preparing electroconductive scaffolds, electroconductive extrudable hydrogels for in situ defect-filling, conductive grafts, in situ or in vitro printed tissues or organs, adhesives for different tissues, or bone adhesives.

The present chitosan-based superfine fiber invention relates to compositions, formulations, and processes that result in numerous significant advantages for the production and use of superfine fiber bioactive matrices in biomedical applications. The present invention relates to superfine, chitosan-based fibers, wherein the chitosan-based fibers have a percentage chitosan content of at least about 20% w/w, and highly conformable and compliant matrices comprising such fibers, processes for their production, and related formulations. The superfine chitosan-based fibers of the invention preferably include microfibers with diameter less than or equal to about 10 microns and micron and submicron fibers that are about 2 microns and less.

Disclosed herein are substrates for cell delivery to target tissues requiring treatment for various diseases that induce cell death, damage or loss of function. The substrates are configured to provide seeded cells, including stem cells, with a structural support that allows interconnection with and transmission of biological signals between the cells and the target tissue.

A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.

An engineered vocal fold mucosa, including an engineered lamina propria layer and an engineered squamous epithelium layer, is disclosed. The engineered lamina propria is made by seeding and culturing human vocal fold fibroblasts within a polymerized collagen scaffold, and the engineered squamous epithelium is made by culturing human vocal fold epithelial cells on the scaffold surface. The resulting engineered vocal fold mucosa is not immunogenic, and is capable of exhibiting the vibratory function and acoustic output of a native vocal fold mucosa. Accordingly, the engineered vocal fold mucosa may be implanted into the larynx to treat voice impairment.

The invention relates to a method of preparing pancreatic islet-like cell structures characterized by a unique combination of morphological and functional features which make them particularly suitable for use in both clinical and drug screening application, as well as to the pancreatic islet-like cell structures obtained therefrom.

A bioresorbable triblock copolymer according to Formula 1
R-B-A-B-R(1)
wherein A is a hydrophilic polymer, B a hydrophobic polymer and R are end-groups, wherein R is H or a C1-C30 organic moiety and wherein the copolymer is fluid in a temperature range of 0 C. to 37 C. A pharmaceutical composition including the triblock copolymer and at least one therapeutically active agent. The copolymer and pharmaceutical composition can be used for forming a depot in a human or animal body or as medical device.

Absorbable composite medical devices such as surgical meshes and braided sutures, which display two or more absorption/biodegradation and breaking strength retention profiles and exhibit unique properties in different clinical settings, are made using combinations of at least two types of yarns having distinctly different physicochemical and biological properties and incorporate in the subject construct special designs to provide a range of unique properties as clinically useful implants.

The present invention is drawn to a 3-dimensional cell-produced scaffold construct comprising cells and the extracellular matrix that has been produced and arranged by these cells.

The invention discloses a preparation method of a catechol group modified biomacromolecular scaffold material, comprising: grafting a catechol-containing compound by amidation to obtain modified biomacromolecules; then, allowing dopamine to perform oxidized self-polymerization in a weakly alkaline buffer solution to form polydopamine (PDA) particles with a uniform particle size; next, forming a scaffold which has three cross-linking structures, namely modified biomacromolecules, modified biomacromolecules/PDA, and biomacromolecules/PDA, through interaction between catechol groups, interaction between catechol groups and PDA particles, and interaction between macromolecules and PDA particles in the modified macromolecules respectively; and cross-linking the scaffold with calcium ions, adipic dihydrazide or genipin to further adjust the degree of cross-linking and porosity of the scaffold. The prepared scaffold material has excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, can promote cell adhesion, and has a wide application prospect in the field of tissue repair and regeneration.