The present disclosure provides tissue supports and methods for preparing a cartilage composition for repairing cartilage defects, which is prepared by expanding and integrating small cartilage tissue pieces derived from donor or engineered tissue. The methods and supports described herein promote cell migration and integration of neighboring tissue pieces in culture to form the cartilage composition. Methods of cartilage repair using the cartilage composition are also described.

Disclosed is a method for preparing a cell growth scaffold having a structural memory feature, comprising a step of preparing a micro-fibrous or flocculent acellular tissue matrix material; a step of preparing an acidification-treated hydrogel-like acellular tissue matrix particles; proportionally mixing the micro-fibrous or flocculent acellular tissue matrix material with the acidification-treated hydrogel-like acellular tissue matrix particles, followed by injection-molding, freezing treatment, radiation treatment, and ultimately preparing a porous cell growth scaffold that can be stored at room temperature. The prepared cell growth scaffold is a porous cell growth scaffold that has no chemical crosslinking, and has a biological activity, a stable three-dimensional structure and a structural memory feature. The cell growth scaffold has an excellent biocompatibility and complete biodegradability, and supports the growth of cells and the growth of tissues and organs in vitro and in vivo, thereby being suitable for repair of human soft tissue traumas and defects.

Disclosed herein is a method of producing acellular cartilage grafts. The method includes steps of, subjecting a cartilage matrix derived from an animal to alkaline, disinfection and decelluarization treatments. The thus produced cartilage graft is devoid of any cellular matters, while maintaining the porosity and integrity of collagen fibers therein, thus is suitable as a xenograft for host cells to grown thereon. Also disclosed herein is a method for treating osteochondral disease of a subject, in which the present acellular cartilage graft is applied to a lesion site of the subject.

The present invention relates to a removable implantable device intended for the production of articular cartilage, comprising: a first support portion (2) made of biocompatible material, a second support portion (3) made of biocompatible material and movably mounted on the first support portion (2), the first support portion (2) and the second support portion (3) defining therebetween a cavity that forms a cell-growth space provided for receiving osteochondrogenic cells which multiply in the cell-growth space, and operable external mobilisation means (5A, 5B) which can be configured to move the second support portion (3) relative to the first support portion (2) so as to generate shear inside the cell-growth space.

The present invention relates to a biomaterial comprising a cartilage graft scaffold substantially free of viable cells, wherein the cartilage graft scaffold exhibits a plurality of notches in form of lamellae or grids.

The invention provides a device, a kit for repairing and fixing articular cartilage, and a method for the same. The device comprises a costal cartilage rod, an outer sleeve, a drilling part, and an auxiliary implantation component; the drilling part comprises a drill sleeve and a drill bit matching an inner diameter of the drill sleeve; the auxiliary implantation component comprises a cartilage rod sleeve and an auxiliary pushing element, the costal cartilage rod has a rod-shaped structure with a diameter ranging from 3 mm to 8 mm and less than an inner diameter of the cartilage rod sleeve, and the costal cartilage rod is obtained from processing of costal cartilage. The costal cartilage is selected from the group consisting of autologous costal cartilage, allogeneic costal cartilage, or xenogeneic costal cartilage. Costal cartilage is processed into a costal cartilage rod by using the device provided in the present invention.

Hard-tissue implants are provided that include a bulk implant, a face, pillars, and slots. The pillars are for implantation into a hard tissue. The slots are to be occupied by the hard tissue. The hard-tissue implant has a Young's modulus of elasticity of at least 10 GPa, has a ratio of the sum of (i) the volumes of the slots to (ii) the sum of the volumes of the pillars and the volumes of the slots of 0.40:1 to 0.90:1, does not comprise any part that is hollow, and does not comprise any non-pillar part extending to or beyond the distal ends of any of the pillars. Methods of making and using hard-tissue implants are also provided.

The present invention provides a novel way to replenish the disc using retooled disc compositions to repair degenerative discs. There is no better source of proteoglycans than the actual disc material (6) itself. To this end, there has been developed a technique to remove the nucleus pulposus and retool the morphology of the nucleus pulposus to create a powder material (10) that is dry and can be stored at room temperature for long periods of time. This powder (10) can then be reconstituted with a variety of fluids, the most suitable being normal saline or lactated ringers to form a flowable mixture (20).

Products, processes, compositions, kits, and methods are provided for cartilage-derived implants. The implants can exhibit resistance to enzyme (e.g., collagenase, protease, etc.) digestion compared to the source tissue from which they were derived while still having one or more mechanical properties comparable to the source tissue from which they were derived. The implants can also have a plurality of molecular bridges between molecules of the cartilaginous material. The molecular bridges can connect one or more collagen fibrils and/or/with one or more glycosaminoglycans. The implants can also be treated with cationic detergent, packaged and sterilized with or without additional components, and surgically implanted into subjects.

The present invention provides a novel way to replenish the disc using retooled disc compositions to repair degenerative discs. There is no better source of proteoglycans than the actual disc material (6) itself. To this end, there has been developed a technique to remove the nucleus pulposus and retool the morphology of the nucleus pulposus to create a powder material (10) that is dry and can be stored at room temperature for long periods of time. This powder (10) can then be reconstituted with a variety of fluids, the most suitable being normal saline or lactated ringers to form a flowable mixture (20).