This disclosure provides a tissue-engineered transcatheter vein valve and methods of making such a tissue-engineered transcatheter vein valve. Methods of making the valve include casting or molding a polymer into a tubular structure having a first end and a second end, where the first end of the tubular structure is cast or molded around a tubular support structure and where the second end of the tubular structure is cast or molded in the absence of the support structure; everting the polymer at the second end through the support structure; anchoring the second end of the tubular structure to the support structure at a first position and a second position, where the anchored first position and the anchored second position result in commissures, forming leaflets therebetween.

The present application relates to a method of inducing differentiation of stem cells into chondrocytes using an oligopeptide, and a pharmaceutical composition for treating cartilage injury disease containing differentiated chondrocytes obtained by the method.

The subject invention is directed to a mixed cell composition to generate a therapeutic protein at a target site by providing a first population of mammalian cells transfected or transduced with a gene that is sought to be expressed, and a second population of mammalian cells that have not been transfected or transduced with the gene, wherein endogenously existing forms of the second population of mammalian cells are decreased at the target site, and wherein generation of the therapeutic protein by the first population of mammalian cells at the target site stimulates the second population cells to induce a therapeutic effect.

The present invention relates to a biomaterial comprising: —a membrane wound patch (a), made of a nanofibrous polymeric scaffold, —a hydrogel (b) including autologous or allogenic bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, and —a bone wound patch (c) being a nanofibrous scaffold made of polymers, wherein said scaffold has a surface coated with an interrupted coating made of multilayered droplets, said multilayered droplets being droplets composed of at least one layer pair consisting of a layer of polyanions and a layer of polycations, and wherein the bone wound patch (c) further comprises a bone growth factor; wherein the hydrogel (b) is included between the membrane wound patch (a) and the bone wound patch (c).

Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable/expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.

The present invention concerns a method for obtaining an implantable cartilage gel for tissue repair of hyaline cartilage, comprising particles of chitosan hydrogel and cells that are capable of forming hyaline cartilage, said method comprising a step for amplification of primary cells in a three-dimensional structure comprising particles of physical hydrogel of chitosan or a chitosan derivative, then a step for re-differentiation and induction of the synthesis of extracellular matrix by said amplified cells, in the same three-dimensional structure, wherein said cells are primary articular chondrocytes and/or mesenchymal stem cells differentiated into chondrocytes. The present invention also concerns the cartilage gel obtained thereby, and its various uses for cartilage repair following a traumatic lesion or an osteoarticular disease such as osteoarthritis. The invention also concerns a three-dimensional matrix comprising particles of physical hydrogel of chitosan or of chitosan derivative, optionally supplemented with an anionic molecule such as hyaluronic acid or a derivative of hyaluronic acid or a complex of hyaluronic acid.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a 3D printing structure, the method including: producing a molded body by performing 3D printing on paste including printing powder in a coagulation bath including a hydrogel; hardening the molded body produced in the coagulation bath; and removing the hydrogel in the coagulation bath. A method for manufacturing a 3D printing structure, which is provided according to an aspect of the disclosure, does not require printing of a separate support, and thus it is possible to save time and costs. A post-processing process for removing a support is not required. Thus, a process is further simplified, and there is no risk of damage to a structure.

The invention provides a cell binding composition comprising a shear thinning gel wherein the shear thinning gel having attached to it one or more cell selective binding agents, or the shear thinning gel having dispersed therein a plurality of gel beads, the gel beads having attached to them one or more cell selective binding agents. Methods of enriching cells using the compositions and using the cells to treat injury or disease are also provided.

This invention provides coral-based scaffolds for cartilage repair, and instruments for insertion and utilization of same within a site of cartilage repair.

The present invention relates to a method of providing a graft scaffold for cartilage repair, particularly in a human patient. The method of the invention comprising the steps of providing particles and/or fibres; providing an aqueous solution of a gelling polysaccharide; providing mammalian cells; mixing said particles and/or fibres, said aqueous solution of a gelling polysaccharide and said mammalian cells to obtain a printing mix; and depositing said printing mix in a three-dimensional form. The invention further relates to graft scaffolds and grafts obtained by the method of the invention.