Shape-stabilized collagen scaffolds and methods of obtaining such stabilized scaffolds are disclosed. Stroma can be harvested, for example, from human or porcine corneal stroma. The stroma can be shaped during excision or in a separate step after excision. Following shaping (and preferably decellularization), the excised stroma portion is subject to pressure, force or vacuum to reduce fluid content and then irradiated or otherwise treated to induce crosslinking of collagen chains or fibrils. Various sources of energy can be employed to induce peptide bond crosslinking of collagen including, for example, ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The scaffolds can also be selectively densified or patterned. The invention is particularly useful in forming stable lenticules for intracorneal implantation in additive ocular surgery.

Compositions and methods of transplanting cells by grafting strategies into solid organs (especially internal organs) are provided. These methods and compositions can be used to repair diseased organs or to establish models of disease states in experimental hosts. The method involves attachment onto the surface of a tissue or organ, a patch graft, containing the donor cells. The donor cells may be a mixture of stem cells/progenitors with supporting early lineage stage mesenchymal cells. The patch graft promotes migration of the donor cells into the host organ and supports the successful integration of donor cells with host cells to repair the diseased organ.

The invention is to articles made from extracellular matrix sheets that encase biodegradable polymeric material. Methods of healing wounds or regenerating tissue at sites of defect by placing said articles in mammals are claimed. The biodegradable polymer can change quality upon contact with a physiological parameter such as temperature or pH that causes, for example, a liquid polymer to gel or harden. The degradation of the polymer can be controlled to suit a tissue regeneration or wound healing time course. Additional components such as proteins, cells and drugs can be added to the biopolymer composition.

A fabrication method of an elastomer breath structure includes the steps of applying a liquid elastomer onto a substrate an initial curing of the liquid elastomer on the substrate partially into a partially cured polymer, condensation of water droplets from the environment onto the partially cured polymer, and finishing curing of the partially cured polymer with parallel removal of the water droplets creating surface dimples on the cured elastomer.

The present disclosure provides devices and methods for treating breasts. The devices can include an acellular tissue matrix having a predefined shape that allows for complete or enhanced coverage of an anterior portion of a breast implant or tissue expander or to support an implant and/or surrounding tissues.

Compositions and methods of transplanting cells by grafting strategies into solid organs (especially internal organs) are provided. These methods and compositions can be used to repair diseased organs or to establish models of disease states in experimental hosts. The method involves attachment onto the surface of a tissue or organ, a patch graft, a bandaid-like covering, containing epithelial cells with supporting early lineage stage mesenchymal cells. The cells are incorporated into soft gel-forming biomaterials prepared under serum-free, defined conditions comprised of nutrients, lipids, vitamins, and regulatory signals that collectively support stemness of the donor cells. The graft is covered with a biodegradable, biocompatible, bioresorbable backing used to affix the graft to the target site. The cells in the graft migrate into and throughout the tissue such that within a couple of weeks they are uniformly dispersed within the recipient (host) tissue. The mechanisms by which engraftment and integration of donor cells into the organ or tissue involve multiple membrane-associated and secreted forms of MMPs.

A system for preparation of an implant and ab interno insertion of the implant into an eye including a handle having one or more actuators and an elongated shaft having an outer sheath and an elongate member positioned within a lumen of the tubular outer sheath. The system includes a recess sized for holding a patch of material fixed relative to the handle and a cutting member movable relative to the handle and to the recess. The cutting member cuts the patch of material into an implant as the cutting member moves towards a cutting configuration. The implant, once cut, is axially aligned with the lumen of the tubular outer sheath. The inner elongate member is movable relative to the tubular outer sheath to advance the implant into a deployment position in the lumen of the tubular outer sheath for delivery into the eye. Related devices and methods are provided.

The present disclosure is related to a perfusable-type bio-dual proximal tubule cell construct and a producing method thereof capable of applying an in vitro artificial organ model configured to include a first bioink comprising a decellularized substance derived from a mammalian kidney tissue and human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs) and a second bioink comprising the decellularized substance and renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs), wherein the first bioink and the second bioink are coaxial and printed in tubular constructs having different inner diameters. According to the present disclosure, it is possible to use the renal proximal tubule-on-a-chip as a bioreactor capable of observing a biological drug reaction similar to a real drug by perfusing various drugs to the renal proximal tubule-on-a-chip.

Decellularized and shaped corneal tissue lenticules from allograft and/or xenograft sources and methods of obtaining such lenticules are disclosed. The lenticules are particularly useful as intrastromal lenticular implants in keratoplasty procedures, in which a hinged flap is formed in a patient's cornea and folded back along its hinge to expose the stromal bed of the cornea. The shaped lenticule is then applied to the stromal bed and the flap returned to its original position yielding a new curvature for the cornea and resulting in a desired refractive correction. Fine-tuning of the new refractive power can be achieved by laser ablation either at the same time as implantation or at later time in the event of regression or tonus changes. Methods of decellularizing cornea tissue are disclosed to reduce potential immunogenic reactions on the part of the patient to the implanted lenticule. The lenticules can be further treated to remove immunogenic epitopes. In addition, the posterior and/or anterior surfaces of the lenticule can be treated to assist in intrastromal seating of the lenticule and/or to reduce the likelihood of dislodgement. The methods of forming lenticules can further include preserving at least a portion of the Bowman's membrane. The smoothness of the Bowman's membrane surface also makes it less likely that reopening the flap will dislodge the lenticule.

Methods and devices are provided for preparing and implanting tissue scaffolds. Various embodiments of scribing tools are provided that are configured to mark one or more predetermined shapes around a defect site in tissue. The shape or shapes marked in tissue can be used to cut a tissue scaffold having a shape that matches the shape or shapes marked in tissue. In one embodiment, the scribing tool used to mark a shape in tissue can also be used to cut the tissue scaffold.