A cell or tissue embedding device having an aqueous gel serving as an immunoisolation layer, the aqueous gel containing, as components thereof, a denatured polyvinyl alcohol resin having an activated carbonyl group and a crosslinking agent is highly capable of supplying a physiologically active substance.

Provided herein are compositions and methods for treating a subject with damaged tissue, such as an injury associated with a tissue to tissue (e.g., a connective tissue-to-connective tissue or tissue to bone) interface. One aspect provides an adhesive film or adhesive layer, optionally comprising a biomaterial, tissue growth factors, including CTGF/CCN2, or cells.

Thin-film mesh for medical devices, including stent and scaffold devices, and related methods are provided. Micropatterned thin-film mesh, such as thin-film Nitinol (TFN) mesh, may be fabricated via sputter deposition on a micropatterned wafer. The thin-film mesh may include slits to be expanded into pores, and the expanded thin-film mesh used as a cover for a stent device. The stent device may include two stent modules that may be implanted at a bifurcated aneurysm such that one module passes through a medial surface of the other module. The thin-film mesh may include pores with complex, fractal, or fractal-like shapes. The thin-film mesh may be used as a scaffold for a scaffold device. The thin-film scaffold may be placed in a solution including structural protein such as fibrin, seeded with cells, and placed in the body to replace or repair tissue.

Provided are live, artificial, skin substitute products and methods of making and using the same, such as for wound treatment and compound testing, including compound testing for efficacy, toxicity, penetration, irritation and/or metabolism testing of drug candidates or compositions such as cosmetics. Described herein is an artificial mammalian skin substitute product, comprising: (a) optionally, but in some embodiments preferably, a first (“hypodermis-like”) layer comprising live mammalian adipocytes (e.g., induced pre-adipocytes) in a first hydrogel carrier; (b) a second (“dermis-like”) layer contacting or directly contacting the first layer and comprising live mammalian fibroblast cells and' live mammalian follicle dermal papilla cells in combination in a second hydrogel carrier; (c) a third (“epidermis-like”) layer contacting or directly contacting the second layer (i.e., on the opposite side thereof as the first layer, so that the second layer is sandwiched between the first and third layers when the first layer is present), the third layer comprising live mammalian keratinocytes and live mammalian melanocytes in combination in a third hydrogel carrier.

An implantable medical product and method of use for substantially reducing or eliminating harsh biological responses associated with conventionally implanted medical devices, including inflammation, infection and thrombogenesis, when implanted in in a body of a warm blooded mammal. The bioremodelable pouch structure is configured and sized to receive, encase and retain an electrical medical device therein and to allow such device to be inserted into the internal region or cavity of the pouch structure; with the pouch structure formed from either: (a) first and second sheets, or (b) a single sheet having first and second sheet portions. After receiving the electrical device, the edges around the opening are closed by suturing or stapling. The medical device encased by the bioremodelable pouch structure effectively improves biological functions by promoting tissue regeneration, modulated healing of adjacent tissue or growth of new tissue when implanted in the body of the mammal.

Methods for treating a wound with a wound packing are discussed. While the wound packing can include any suitable component, in some cases, it includes a collection of multi-potent cells (e.g., cells from bone marrow, amniotic membrane tissue, amniotic fluid, stem cells, etc.), plasma (e.g., concentrated and/or platelet rich plasma), and collagen (e.g., native and/or organized reconstituted collagen). In some cases, the wound packing is gelled, coagulated, or otherwise hardened through the use of thrombin, calcium chloride, and/or another suitable additive. In some cases, the wound packing is shaped to substantially correspond to the wound's shape. While the wound packing can be used in any suitable manner, in some instances, it is applied to the wound, skin fragments are applied to the packing, the packing is secured to the wound, and/or the packing is covered with a protective barrier. Other implementations are also described.

Disclosed herein is a cross-linked polymeric system comprising thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA), thiolated chondroitin sulfate (CS), and functionalized polyethylene glycol (PEG), wherein said functionalized PEG cross-links thiolated HA and thiolated CS. Methods of fabrication and utilization of the same are also claimed. This polymeric system may be used as an engineered biocompatible cellular matrix for 3D cell culture, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications.

A method for improving bioactivity of a surface of an implantable object comprising titania, titanium, an alloy of titanium, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and implantable objects prepared thereby provides forming an accelerated neutral beam derived from an accelerated gas-cluster ion-beam (GCIB) in a reduced-pressure chamber, introducing an implantable object into the reduced-pressure chamber, and irradiating at least a first portion of the surface of said implantable object with a GCIB-derived neutral beam.

An intravascular cell therapy device comprises a scaffold (2, 12) that is radially adjustable between a contracted orientation suitable for transluminal delivery to a vascular locus and an expanded orientation, and a biodegradable matrix provided on at least a portion of the scaffold that is suitable for seeding with cells and degrades in a vascular environment. The scaffold is configured to have a distal piercing tip (5) when in a deployed orientation. The scaffold comprises a plurality of sidewall panels (3, 13, 14) arranged around a longitudinal axis of the scaffold, and adjustable couplings (4) between the panels configured for adjustment between an expanded configuration and a contracted orientation, and in which each sidewall panel comprises a matrix suitable for seeding with cells.

Provided herein are novel methods and composition utilizing adipose tissue-derived stromal stem cells for treating fistulae.