The present invention provides a medical film material which comprises a flat-plate-like or film-like demineralized dentin matrix (DDM) that is derived from a removed bovine tooth and completely demineralized, and which has an area falling within the range front 2 to 50 cm.sup.2. The present invention also provides a method for surgerizing a non-human animal using the medical film material. The present invention also provides a method for producing the medical film material, which comprises thinning and demineralizing a removed bovine tooth to produce a demineralized dentin matrix (DDM) film that is completely demineralized, wherein either one of the thinning procedure and the demineralization procedure may be carried out first.

Provided herein are methods for directing differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into a three-dimensional multilayered skin composition comprising an epidermal layer, a dermal layer, and a plurality of cells capable of forming a functional hair follicle. Also provided herein are three-dimensional, multilayered engineered skin compositions and methods of using the same for drug screening, for screening compounds for effects on hair growth, and for other applications.

A method includes covering or contacting a portion of a parathyroid of a subject with a shield including extraembryonic tissue and/or a stem cell. The covering or contacting occurs during a neck or reconstructive surgery of the subject.

Various embodiments of biocompatible textile mesh and tissue constructs from Manicaria saccifera, methods of growing cells and tissues using the Manicaria saccifera-based textile mesh/tissue scaffolds, and methods of treating subjects with the biocompatible textile mesh and tissue constructs are described. The mesh, constructs and methods can include a biocompatible textile mesh made from a naturally woven fiber mat from a Manicaria saccifera palm bract that has been treated to remove oils and lignin from the surface of palm fibers in the mat and seeded with a population of cells. An engineered, biocompatible tissue construct, a method of growing mammalian tissue in vivo, and a method of treating a subject are also described.

Provided herein is an injectable composition including, in some embodiments, a soft-tissue augmenting agent and a vehicle for the soft-tissue augmenting agent formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a soft-tissue augmenting kit including, in some embodiments, a syringe and the injectable composition formulated for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal. Also provided herein is a method for augmenting one or more soft tissues of a human or animal including, in some embodiments, injecting the injectable composition into the one or more soft tissues of the human or animal.

The present invention relates to methods of inducing the self-renewal of stem/progenitor supporting cells, including inducing the stem/progenitor cells to proliferate while maintaining, in the daughter cells, the capacity to differentiate into hair cells. Specifically, the invention relates to methods of using compounds comprising a 2-pyrimidinylaminoethylamino-2-pyridyl moiety having a Formula I

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and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

Compositions including a first soft tissue-derived matrix and a second soft tissue-derived matrix are provided, as well as methods of making such compositions. In some embodiments, the composition comprises dilapidated, decellularized adipose tissue-derived matrix and dilapidated, decellularized fascial tissue-derived matrix, which may be combined in various proportions. Such adipose-fascia matrix compositions provide improved volume retention when implanted into a patient. The composition may further include exogenous cells or other substances, and/or a carrier. The composition is suitable for use inplastic surgery procedures, including reconstructive or cosmetic surgery procedures, as well as procedures for wound treatment and tissue regeneration. The methods for making the compositions may involve separation of first and second soft tissues from one another, followed by performing one or more treatments on the separated soft tissues, then combining the treated soft tissues and, optionally, performing one or more additional treatments on the combined soft tissues.

Provided is a composition for liver tissue regeneration, in particular, a composition for liver tissue regeneration for prevention or treatment of a liver disease. The composition for liver tissue regeneration includes a human dental pulp stem cell as an effective component.

Methods for preparation of decellularized corneal matrix-based hydrogel and bioink. The process involves decellularization of corneal samples, digestion of the corneal samples, adjustment of the pH and finally preparation of the hydrogel. The hydrogels produced by the method are extremely useful for treatment of various pathological conditions pertaining to cornea.

Shape-stabilized collagen scaffolds and methods of obtaining such stabilized scaffolds are disclosed. Stroma can be harvested, for example, from human or porcine corneal stroma. The stroma can be shaped during excision or in a separate step after excision. Following shaping (and preferably decellularization), the excised stroma portion is subject to pressure, force or vacuum to reduce fluid content and then irradiated or otherwise treated to induce crosslinking of collagen chains or fibrils. Various sources of energy can be employed to induce peptide bond crosslinking of collagen including, for example, ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The scaffolds can also be selectively densified or patterned. The invention is particularly useful in forming stable lenticules for intracorneal implantation in additive ocular surgery.