A three-dimensional fibrin engineered tissue construct is provided selected from: (i) a fibrin gel matrix comprising a combination of tissue-specific cells and at least one type of vascular cells; and (ii) a hybrid scaffold of fibrin gel and a polymeric synthetic scaffold comprising at least one type of vascular cells or a combination of tissue-specific cells and at least one type of vascular cells.

Several embodiments disclosed herein relate to compositions and methods for treating or repairing damage to ocular tissue. In particular, several embodiments relate to patches that interact, e.g., by way of an adhesive, with damaged retinal tissue to repair or mend a hole, tear or detachment of the retina from underlying ocular tissue. Still additional embodiments relate to self-assembling patches.

Disclosed are a multilayered cell sheet of cardiac stem cells (CSCs) and a method of manufacturing the same. In particular, the present disclosure provides a method of manufacturing a multilayered cell sheet according to a single step culture procedure by using, as a three-dimensional matrix, a biodegradable natural polymer hydrogel and embedding CSCs in the hydrogel. The multilayered cell sheet of the present disclosure does not require any special device for the manufacturing, is manageable with good physicomechanical property, increases a cell engraftment rate after transplantation based on sufficient accumulation of various growth and protective factors and extracellular matrix between cells, and is also self-assembled by the cell-mediated hydrogel compaction, making nutrients transfer easy. Therefore, the multilayered cell sheet of the CSCs is expected to be usefully applicable as a therapeutic agent for myocardium regeneration.

Disclosed herein are low density particles comprising polymerized fibrin that are micrometer or nanometer sized in diameter. The particles can further include at least one therapeutic agent. The particles may be used to treat wounds, by administration directly or systemically to the site of the wound. Exemplary wounds that may be treated with the fibrin particles include a trauma wound, a surgical wound, a burn wound, or an ulcer wound. Also disclosed herein are methods for preparing the particles using a shearing process.

This invention discloses methods and composition to form biodegradable polymer implant arrays in the live tissue. Artificial cavities are created in the live tissue by using laser ablation, oscillating needle, microneedle array and other methods. The cavities are then filled with biodegradable polymer solution. The solvent in the polymer solution is dissipated in the tissue to form a biodegradable polymer implant in artificial cavities. The cavities and implants formed are arranged to form of an array of implants. The biodegradable polymer in the cavity can also be loaded with drug to form biodegradable drug delivery array in the live tissue.

A prosthetic valve comprising a conical shaped sheet structure and a support structure, the sheet structure having a closed distal end and a plurality of elongated ribbon members that are positioned proximate each other in a joined relationship, whereby the ribbon members form a plurality of fluid flow modulating regions that close when fluid flow through the valve exhibits a negative flow pressure and open when fluid flow through the valve exhibits a positive flow pressure, the support structure having at least one elongated cardiovascular structure engagement member that is associated with one of the ribbon members and adapted to engage a cardiovascular structure.

A method of making an organ or tissue comprises: (a) providing a first dispenser containing a structural support polymer and a second dispenser containing a live cell-containing composition; (b) depositing a layer on said support from said first and second dispenser, said layer comprising a structural support polymer and said cell-containing composition; and then (c) iteratively repeating said depositing step a plurality of times to form a plurality of layers one on another, with separate and discrete regions in each of said layers comprising one or the other of said support polymer or said cell-containing composition, to thereby produce provide a composite three dimensional structure containing both structural support regions and cell-containing regions. Apparatus for carrying out the method and composite products produced by the method are also described.

Scaffolds for use in bone tissue engineering include a skeleton and a host component. Methods of preparation of scaffolds include identification of biodegradation properties for the skeleton and the host component. The skeleton is constructed to form a three-dimensional shape. The skeleton is constructed of a first material and has a first rate of biodegradation. The host component fills the three-dimensional shape formed by the skeleton. The host component is constructed of a second material and has a second rate of biodegradation. The first rate of biodegradation is slower than the second rate of biodegradation.

A method of preparing a porous protein scaffold for supporting the growth of biological tissue is described. The method comprises: providing an oil-in water emulsion comprising oil droplets dispersed in a continuous phase comprising a pH-buffered aqueous protein solution, wherein the oil-in-water emulsion comprises a non-ionic surfactant in an amount of 0.01 to 10 volume % of the total volume of the oil phase in the oil-in-water emulsion; gelling the protein around the oil droplets, such as by enzymatic activity or by non-enzymatic activity chemical reaction or by thermally controlled gelation; and removing the oil droplets from the continuous phase. A porous protein scaffold and its uses are also described.

Embodiments of the invention include instruments (100, 200, 400, 1100, 1400, 2100, 2400, 3400) and methods useful in delivering graft material (1) to a surgical site. Some embodiments may particularly be directed to forming a graft (1) and accurately and effectively handling and delivering the graft (1) to a surgical site arthroscopically. Graft material (1) may include blood components such as clotted fibrin derived from a patient's or a donor's blood.