Methods are disclosed for forming tissue engineered, tubular gut-sphincter complexes from intestinal circular smooth muscle cells, sphincteric smooth muscle cells and enteric neural progenitor cells. The intestinal smooth muscle cells and neural progenitor cells can be seeded on a mold with a surface texture that induces longitudinal alignment of the intestinal smooth muscle cells and co-cultured until an innervated aligned smooth muscle sheet is obtained. The innervated smooth muscle sheet can then be wrapped around a tubular scaffold to form an intestinal tissue construct. Additionally, the sphincteric smooth muscle cells and additional enteric neural progenitor cells can be mixed in a biocompatiable gel solution, and the gel and admixed cells applied to a mold having a central post such that the sphinteric smooth muscle and neural progenitor cells can be cultured to form an innervated sphincter construct around the mold post. This innervated sphincter construct can also be transferred to the tubular scaffold such that the intestinal tissue construct and sphincter construct contact each other, and the resulting combined sphincter and intestinal tissue constructs can be further cultured about the scaffold until a unified tubular gut-sphincter complex is obtained.

Disclosed are electrospun scaffolds and methods of making electrospun fibers and electrospun fiber scaffolds. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to electrospun fibrous scaffolds of decellularized muscle tissue and methods of making fibers and fiber scaffolds by electrospinning.

A prosthetic valve comprising a conical shaped ribbon structure comprising an extracellular matrix (ECM) composition. The ribbon structure comprises a plurality of elongated ribbon members that are positioned proximate each other in a joined relationship, wherein the ribbon members are positioned adjacent each other and form a plurality of fluid flow modulating regions that open 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 invention provides for engineered intestinal construct and methods of making these constructs. The invention also provides for methods of treating short bowel syndrome or methods of repairing an intestine after resection comprising inserting an engineered intestinal construct into the intestine of a subject in need.

The present invention relates to preparation and use of biocompatible and electrically conductive 3D hydrogels comprising nanocellulose fibrils, such as disintegrated bacterial nanocellulose, plant derived nanocellulose, tunicate derived nanocellulose, or algae derived nanocellulose, together with carbon nanotubes or graphene oxide, as a biocompatible and conductive 3D hydrogel for diagnostics and intervention to mimic or restore tissue and organ function. Biocompatible conductive 3D hydrogels described in this invention can be extruded, casted or injected. The 3D hydrogels described in this invention are cohesive 3D structures and provide electrical conductivity in wet form. 3D hydrogels described in this invention can be further crosslinked using divalent ions such as Calcium ions which improve mechanical stability. Such crosslinking can take place in an animal or human body in a physiological environment after injection into the tissue. 3D hydrogels are biocompatible and show preferable mechanical properties and electrical conductivity through printed lines (4.10.sup.1 S cm.sup.1). The 3D hydrogels prepared by this invention are suited as bioassays to screen drugs against neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, study brain function, and/or be used to link the human brain with electronic and/or communication devices. They can also be injected to replace neural tissue or stimulate guiding of neural cells. They can also be used to inject into the heart and stimulate the heart by using electrical signaling or to repair myocardial infarction.

The present provides a biomaterial for repairing biological tissues, the biomaterial comprising: a water-soluble polymer having a reactive functional group A; and a cell having tissue-regenerating capacity and having, on the surface thereof, a reactive functional group B that can covalently bind to the reactive functional group A, wherein the biomaterial presents a hydrogel state when the reactive functional group A covalently binds to the reactive functional group B. Thus, the present invention can provide a biomaterial for repairing biological tissues that can exert excellent effect in repairing biological tissues by utilizing a hydrogel encapsulating cells having tissue-regenerating capacity.

Compositions of the invention for regenerating defective or absent myocardium comprise an emulsified or injectable extracellular matrix composition. The composition may also include an extracellular matrix scaffold component of any formulation, and further include added cells, proteins, or other components to optimize the regenerative process and restore cardiac function.

Methods are disclosed for forming tissue engineered, tubular bowel constructs from intestinal circular smooth muscle cells and enteric neural progenitor cells. The intestinal smooth muscle cells and neural progenitor cells can be seeded on a mold with a surface texture that induces longitudinal alignment of the intestinal smooth muscle cells and co-cultured until an innervated aligned smooth muscle sheet is obtained. The innervated smooth muscle sheet can then be wrapped around a tubular scaffold to form an intestinal tissue construct.

Provided herein are scaffolds (e.g., synthetic meshes) having optimized material properties (e.g., initial stiffness, tensile strength) and related uses thereof (e.g., use in cardiac medical procedures).

A cardiac patch for treatment of a mammalian heart including perfusable vessels embedded integratedly between two layers of anisotropically oriented myocardial fibers. The cardiac patch is made using a dual 3D bioprinting technique using stereolithography to form an anisotropic construct and extrusion printing to form perfusion vessels. A nutrient and oxygen containing media can be provided within the perfusion vessels for growth of cells in the cardiac patch. The technique permits larger patches to be made for the treatment of cardiac damage in both small and large mammalian hearts.