[Object]

Provided is a method of producing a nerve bundle including efficiently extending axons of neural cells.

[Solution]

Neural cells are cultivated in the presence of feeder cells including at least one type of cells selected from vascular component cells and perivascular cells.

A prosthetic heart valve includes a support structure and a valve assembly disposed within the support structure, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet includes a sewing edge and a free edge. The leaflet is formed from a sheet of leaflet material which is processed so that the resulting leaflet has a non-uniform thickness. Various methods may be used to form the leaflet with a non-uniform thickness.

The present invention provides methods of regenerating muscle tissue and methods of treating volumetric muscle loss comprising administering decellularized fetal matrix scaffold. Also provided are methods for treating soft tissue injury and improving reconstructive surgery.

The present invention relates to compositions, methods, and devices for preventing irregular electromechanical waves in the myocardium that lead to pathological conditions as arrhythmia. In particular, the invention relates to compositions and methods to increase the conductivity of the myocardium to restore an impairment of the electrical conduction system of the heart. To that end substances with high conductivity, as carbon nanotube suspensions or metal nanowire suspensions, are injected in the myocardium at closely adjacent locations on circular or open lines or are introduced in patches of cardiomyocytes that are subsequently placed on the myocardium.

A prosthetic heart valve includes a support structure and a valve assembly disposed within the support structure, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets. Each leaflet includes a sewing edge and a free edge. The leaflet is formed from a sheet of leaflet material which is processed so that the resulting leaflet has a non-uniform thickness. Various methods may be used to form the leaflet with a non-uniform thickness.

Disclosed herein are contractile cell constructs, methods for using them to treat disease, and methods for making them.

Provided herein are inks including decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) particles and scaffolds made from the inks. Also provided are methods of making the scaffolds and applications for the scaffolds. In an embodiment, a porous scaffold comprises dECM particles and an elastomer, wherein the scaffold is planar having a thickness of about 100 μm or greater, the scaffold comprises irregularly shaped pores having a random orientation and distribution throughout the scaffold, and the scaffold is free of crosslinking between the molecular components of the scaffold.

The invention is directed to products and methods for preparing self-seeding vascular constructs generated as a bi-layered electrospun matrices, conjugated with EPC-specific antibodies and anti-thrombogenic agents on the inner surfaces of their lumens.

Described are methods, cell growth substrates, and devices that are useful in preparing cell-containing graft materials for administration to patients. Tubular passages can be defined in cell growth substrates to promote distribution of cells into the substrates. Also described are methods and devices for preparing cell-seeded graft compositions, methods and devices for preconditioning cell growth substrates prior to application of cells, and cell seeded grafts having novel substrates, and uses thereof.

Tubular prostheses are provided for use in airways, upper digestive, and urinary tracts. Each of these uses has its own specific sets of biological specifications, based on what it must contain and exclude and the physical and chemical pressures and stresses to which it is subjected. The prostheses may be made from allogeneic cells. Thus they can be manufactured and stored prior to an individual's personal need arising.