This document provides methods and materials involved in reducing venous neointimal hyperplasia (VNH) of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft. For example, methods and materials for using stem cells (e.g., mesenchymal stem cells), extracellular matrix material, or a combination of stem cells and extracellular matrix material to reduce VNH of AVFs or grafts are provided.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a composition comprising an aqueous medium and, disposed in the aqueous medium, a first volume of a first hydrogel, which process comprises: (i) providing a composition comprising a first hydrophobic medium and, disposed in the first hydrophobic medium, a first volume of a first hydrogel; (ii) disposing a volume of an aqueous composition comprising a hydrogel compound around the first volume of the first hydrogel; (iii) allowing the aqueous composition comprising the hydrogel compound to form a gel and thereby forming a hydrogel object, which hydrogel object comprises the first volume of the first hydrogel and a second volume of a second hydrogel, which second volume of the second hydrogel is disposed around the first volume of the first hydrogel; and (iv) transferring the hydrogel object from the first hydrophobic medium to an aqueous medium and thereby producing the composition comprising the aqueous medium and, disposed in the aqueous medium, the first volume of the first hydrogel. The invention further provides a hydrogel object, which hydrogel object comprises a first volume of a first hydrogel and a second volume of a second hydrogel, which second volume of the second hydrogel is disposed around the first volume of the first hydrogel.

The present invention relates to a process for producing a composition comprising an aqueous medium and, disposed in the aqueous medium, a first volume of a first hydrogel, which process comprises: (i) providing a composition comprising a first hydrophobic medium and, disposed in the first hydrophobic medium, a first volume of a first hydrogel; (ii) disposing a volume of an aqueous composition comprising a hydrogel compound around the first volume of the first hydrogel; (iii) allowing the aqueous composition comprising the hydrogel compound to form a gel and thereby forming a hydrogel object, which hydrogel object comprises the first volume of the first hydrogel and a second volume of a second hydrogel, which second volume of the second hydrogel is disposed around the first volume of the first hydrogel; and (iv) transferring the hydrogel object from the first hydrophobic medium to an aqueous medium and thereby producing the composition comprising the aqueous medium and, disposed in the aqueous medium, the first volume of the first hydrogel. The invention further provides a hydrogel object, which hydrogel object comprises a first volume of a first hydrogel and a second volume of a second hydrogel, which second volume of the second hydrogel is disposed around the first volume of the first hydrogel.

The present disclosure relates to tissue engineering, and more particularly to a method for treating or repairing rotator cuff or other tendon tears or damage using scaffold-free 3-dimensional engineered tendon constructs.

An inducer is directed to the induction of in situ regeneration in regenerative medicine. The inducer including an extracellular matrix and/or a bone morphogenetic protein, can induce the regeneration of bone and soft tissues surrounding the bone such as muscle, blood vessel and skin at the residual tissues where trauma occurs. The amount of regenerated tissue is associated with the dose of the implanted inducer.

An inducer is directed to the induction of in situ regeneration in regenerative medicine. The inducer including an extracellular matrix and/or a bone morphogenetic protein, can induce the regeneration of bone and soft tissues surrounding the bone such as muscle, blood vessel and skin at the residual tissues where trauma occurs. The amount of regenerated tissue is associated with the dose of the implanted inducer.

A cell transplanting kit includes a transplant including a cell group and a cell transplanting device. The cell transplanting device includes a needle-shaped portion that extends in a shape of a tube, and an aspiration portion configured to aspirate an interior of the needle-shaped portion. The needle-shaped portion is configured to attract the transplant by aspiration by the aspiration portion and take the transplant into the interior. The aspiration portion is configured to create an aspiration pressure in a range of −100 kPa to −0.1 kPa. The transplant includes a protection portion in a form of a gel covering at least a part of the cell group. The transplant has an outer diameter that is greater than or equal to a minimum value of the inner diameter of the needle-shaped portion. The protection portion has a jelly strength of greater than or equal to 100 g.

A cell transplanting kit includes a transplant including a cell group and a cell transplanting device. The cell transplanting device includes a needle-shaped portion that extends in a shape of a tube, and an aspiration portion configured to aspirate an interior of the needle-shaped portion. The needle-shaped portion is configured to attract the transplant by aspiration by the aspiration portion and take the transplant into the interior. The aspiration portion is configured to create an aspiration pressure in a range of −100 kPa to −0.1 kPa. The transplant includes a protection portion in a form of a gel covering at least a part of the cell group. The transplant has an outer diameter that is greater than or equal to a minimum value of the inner diameter of the needle-shaped portion. The protection portion has a jelly strength of greater than or equal to 100 g.

A scaffold according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is for cartilage regeneration. The scaffold may include a plurality of linear nano-patterns aligned in one direction, and stem cells adhered to the plurality of linear nano-patterns. The scaffold may improve regeneration and maturity of the cartilage, thereby being effectively used in treatment of cartilage defects.

Embodiments herein relate to cell encapsulation membranes, devices including the same, and related methods. In an embodiment, a cell encapsulation membrane is included. The cell encapsulation membrane can include a mesh substrate. The mesh substrate can include a first series of fibers extending in a first direction and a second series of fibers extending in a second direction, the first series of fibers intersecting with the second series of fibers, the mesh substrate defining a plurality of apertures disposed between adjacent fibers of the first series and the second series. The cell encapsulation membrane can further include a coating disposed on the mesh substrate, the coating partially occluding the plurality of apertures defined by the mesh substrate and forming pores. Other embodiments are also included herein.