Modifying corneal shape involves implantation of a segment of tissue in the corneal stroma, where the properties of the tissue segment and its anatomical placement provide a change in corneal topography. In particular, such methods and materials can be used for correction of defects in corneal shape, such as corneal ectasias.

Embodiments herein relate to prosthetic heart valves constructed with animal tissue wherein the leaflets are unitary with the inner skirt. In an embodiment, an implantable heart valve assembly is included having a plurality of valve leaflets, an inner skirt, and a metal frame, wherein the plurality of valve leaflets and the inner skirt are formed of a continuous piece of animal tissue. In another embodiment, a method of making an implantable heart valve assembly is included, the method including placing a piece of pericardial tissue over a mold, cross-linking the pericardial tissue in place over the mold, removing the pericardial tissue from the mold, and attaching the pericardial tissue to a frame, wherein the pericardial tissue forms a seamless junction between a plurality of valve leaflets and an inner skirt. Other embodiments are also included herein.

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.

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.

A method is provided for preparing pericardial tissue that is used for a bioprosthetic heart valve assembly. According to this method, pericardial tissue is harvested from a host animal and then cleaned. The cleaned tissue is then fixed using glutaraldehyde. After fixation of the tissue, the residual antigenic components are removed to preserve the tissue structural integrity for its long-term performance. In addition, higher concentrations of alcohol are used to reduce the tissue bioburden, and at the same time to dehydrate the tissue followed by preserving the tissue with glycerol so as to mitigate glutaraldehyde-storage related issues for the bioprosthetic heart valve.

The present invention provides a method for producing a cell aggregate containing a ciliary marginal zone-like structure, including a step of culturing a cell aggregate containing a retinal tissue in which Chx10 positive cells are present in a proportion of 20% or more and 100% or less of the tissue in a serum-free medium or serum-containing medium each containing a substance acting on the Wnt signal pathway and a substance inhibiting the FGF signal pathway for only a period before the appearance of a RPE65 gene expressing cell, followed by culturing the “cell aggregate in which a RPE65 gene-expressing cell does not appear” thus obtained in a serum-free medium or serum-containing medium each free of a substance acting on the Wnt signal pathway and so on. According to the production method of the present invention, a ciliary marginal zone-like structure can be produced with high efficiency.

Compositions comprising perforated, unseparated amnion/chorion; perforated, separated amnion; and perforated, separated chorion derived from the placenta and methods of preparing and using those compositions are provided. Perforation of placental tissue before or during processing may allow for one or more benefits such as more efficient removal of blood remnants, retention of wound healing and tissue regeneration components, better handling characteristics, or improved healing capacity. The present invention also includes methods of healing a wound of the skin, eye, nerve, tendon, or dura comprising applying the perforated compositions of the invention to the wound.

A pre-loadable dried biological heart valve and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method includes: Step A: soaking a fresh animal pericardium in an aqueous solution of soluble elastin or glycosaminoglycan, and then subjecting the pericardium to a first cross-linking reaction in a mixed solution of carbodiimide or N-hydroxysuccinimide to allow the soluble elastin or glycosaminoglycan to bind to the pericardium via a chemical bond; and Step B: subjecting the pericardium after the first cross-linking to a second cross-linking reaction in an aqueous glutaraldehyde solution, and then drying the pericardium after the second cross-linking, to obtain the pre-loadable dried biological heart valve. The dried biological heart valve obtained by the above preparation method has good toughness, and is rapidly flattened out in a simulated folding and pressing test.

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.

Disclosed are kits for preparing a reactive graft material and injecting the graft material into a patient. Kits may include a first syringe containing a first powdered component and a second syringe containing a second powdered component that is reactive with the first powdered component when the first and second powdered components are dispersed in a diluent solution. The kits may further include a vial sealed by a septum and containing the diluent solution. A syringe connector may be included that has a connector at each end configured to make a fluidic connection to, respectively, the first syringe and the second syringe, and also comprises a passageway adapted to allow fluid to pass between the syringes when the syringes are both fluidically connected to the syringe connector. A vial adapter comprising a connector adapted for fluidically connecting to at least one of the first syringe and the second syringe, a passageway adapted to allow fluid to pass from the vial into a syringe fluidically connected to the connector of the vial adapter, and a spike in fluidic communication with the passageway of the vial adapter may be included. The spike is adapted for piercing the septum of the vial. Certain kits also contain one or more needles for delivery of the graft material to a site within a body of a patient.