The present invention provides: a lubricin-localized cartilage-like tissue characterized in that, when in an arbitrary cross section passing a first center of mass of a cartilage-like tissue derived from pluripotent stem cells or a center-of-mass region, which is a portion inside a concentric sphere being centered at the first center of mass and having a diameter of [first major diameter×0.2], the expression level of lubricin per unit area contained in a central region, which is a portion inside a concentric circle being centered at a second center of mass that is the center of mass of the cross section and having a diameter of [major diameter of cross section (second major diameter)×(0.4 to 0.9)] is referred to as the central lubricin level and the expression level of lubricin per unit area contained in the non-central region is referred to as the non-central lubricin level.

An object of the invention is to provide a cartilage regenerative material that is capable of regenerating bone and cartilage using cells. Provided is a cartilage regenerative material including a cell construct, which includes biocompatible polymer blocks and stem cells, in which a plurality of the biocompatible polymer blocks are disposed in gaps between a plurality of the stem cells.

A method for making a porous devitalised scaffold suitable for use in repair of osseous, chondral, or osteochondral defects in a mammal comprises the steps of providing micronized extracellular matrix (ECM) tissue, mixing the micronized extracellular matrix with a liquid to provide a slurry, and freeze-drying the slurry to provide the porous scaffold. A porous scaffold suitable for use in repair of osseous, chondral, or osteochondral defects in a mammal and comprising a porous freeze-dried matrix formed from micronised decellularised extracellular matrix tissue is also described.

The present invention resides in a method for producing jellyfish collagen hydrogels and kits for producing the same. The jellyfish collagen hydrogels can be used in the culture of cells. According to the invention, there is a process for producing jellyfish collagen hydrogels comprising jellyfish collagen fibrils, said process comprising the steps of: mixing a solution of purified jellyfish collagen and an aqueous neutralisation buffer; and incubating the mixture for a sufficient time to enable jellyfish collagen fibrils to form, wherein a cross-linking agent is either added during to mixing step or during or after the incubation of the mixture.

Disclosed is a cell which enables the reproduction of a cartilage tissue and has a proliferative ability. Also disclosed is a technique for providing a cell supply source which can be used in a definitive treatment of osteochondrosis deformans. A chondrocyte-like cell which has the same properties as those of a chondrocyte and can proliferate can be produced by selecting a combination of an Myc family gene and/or a Klf family gene and a SOX9 gene and introducing the combination into a somatic cell. The chondrocyte-like cell can be used for a medical purpose of cartilage regeneration.

The invention relates to implantable systems for repairing and restoring cartilage. The invention provides methods and products for cartilage repair that use universal chondrocytes. A universal cell line includes cells such as universal chondrocytes that are not immunogenic or allergenic and can be grown in products suitable for use in a number of different people. Use of the universal chondrocytes allows for new processes and products. Where prior art autologous neocartilage constructs required many small reactors (e.g., at least one culture dish per patient to grow one 34 mm disc per patient), using a universal cell line allows, for example, one large batch of cartilage or neocartilage to be made under uniform conditions.

Provided is a magnetically actuated microscaffold for minimal invasive osteochondral regeneration. More particularly, provided is a composition for cartilage regeneration, a microscaffold for cartilage regeneration, in which magnetic particles and cartilage regeneration cells are loaded on the surface of or within a 3-dimensional porous microstructure composed of a biodegradable polymer and having a diameter of 200-300 μm; and a microscaffold for bone regeneration, in which magnetic particles and bone regeneration cells are loaded on the surface of or within a 3-dimensional porous microstructure composed of a biodegradable polymer and having a diameter of 700-900 μm.

A fresh tissue allograft having at least one tissue portion maintained above a predetermined temperature to reduce the rate of cell death. A storage media having at least one free-radical scavenger is applied to the allograft to further slow the rate of cell death.

This disclosure is directed to a resilient interpositional arthroplasty implant for application into a joint to pad cartilage defects, cushion, and replace or restore the articular surface, which may preserve joint integrity, reduce pain and improve function. The implant may endure variable joint compressive and shear forces and cyclic loads. The implant may repair, reconstruct, and regenerate joint anatomy, and thereby improve upon joint replacement alternatives. The walls of this invention may capture, distribute and hold living cells until aggregation and hyaline cartilage regrowth occurs. The implant may be deployed into debrided joint spaces, molding and conforming to surrounding structures with sufficient stability so as to enable immediate limb use after outpatient surgery. Appendages of the implant may repair or reconstruct tendons or ligaments, and menisci by interpositional inflatable or compliant polymer arthroplasties that promote anatomic joint motion.

Compositions comprising a condensed mesenchymal cell body and a hydrogel are provided. The compositions may further include drugs or growth factors. The condensed mesenchymal cell body may include a connective tissue cell, or even a progenitor cell capable of producing connective tissue extracellular matrices such collagen and glycosaminoglycan. Also provided are methods of treating connective tissue defects, cartilage injury, and cartilage degradation.