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.

This invention relates to a method for generating, repairing and/or maintaining connective tissue in a subject. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for generating, repairing and/or maintaining cartilage tissue in a subject. The present invention also relates to a method of treating and/or preventing a disease in a subject arising from degradation and inflammation of connective tissue.

The present invention relates to a tissue-engineered intervertebral disc (IVD) suitable for total disc replacement in a mammal and methods of fabrication. The IVD comprises a nucleus pulposus structure comprising a first population of living cells that secrete a hydrophilic protein and an annulus fibrosis structure surrounding and in contact with the nucleus pulposus structure, the annulus fibrosis structure comprising a second population of living cells and type I collagen. The collagen fibrils in the annulus fibrosis structure are circumferentially aligned around the nucleus pulposus region due to cell-mediated contraction in the annulus fibrosis structure. Also disclosed are methods of fabricating tissue-engineered intervertebral discs.

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.

The present invention provides an injectable scaffold comprising a plurality of unclad microfibers, and a diluent solution.

An intervertebral fusion device includes a structural ceramic body. The structural ceramic body has a bottom surface, a top surface, a peripheral surface connected between the bottom surface and the top surface, and at least one pore channel penetrating the bottom surface and the top surface. The inner surface of the pore channel is either a convex curved surface or a funnel-shaped surface. For the pore channel having the convex curved surface, the pore diameter of the pore channel gradually expands from the center of the pore channel to the top surface and the bottom surface. The pore diameter can also gradually expand from the bottom surface to the top surface. The peripheral surface of the structural ceramic body is wavy or zigzag.

An intervertebral fusion device includes a structural ceramic body. The structural ceramic body has a bottom surface, a top surface, a peripheral surface connected between the bottom surface and the top surface, and at least one pore channel penetrating the bottom surface and the top surface. The inner surface of the pore channel is either a convex curved surface or a funnel-shaped surface. For the pore channel having the convex curved surface, the pore diameter of the pore channel gradually expands from the center of the pore channel to the top surface and the bottom surface. The pore diameter can also gradually expand from the bottom surface to the top surface. The peripheral surface of the structural ceramic body is wavy or zigzag.

This invention relates to a method for repair and reconstitution of invertebral discs in a subject which involves administration of STRO-1.sup.+ multipotent cells. The method of the invention is useful in the treatment of spinal conditions characterized by degeneration of the invertebral disc.

The present disclosure describes methods of treating an injury in a subject using placental tissue streamers, engineered tissue placental tissue hybrids, suture placental tissue hybrids, placental tissue patch hybrids, and tissue hybrids, and the use of these compositions to repair, treat, or support an injury or degenerative process in a subject.

A composition comprising a glycosaminoglycan component, and one or more extracellular matrix components forming a precipitate with the glycosaminoglycan component, wherein the precipitate has a glycosaminoglycan to hydroxyproline ratio from about 1:10 to about 100:1. In particular, it is a GAG-rich composition with controllable and high glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content that mimics the extracellular matrix (ECM) of GAG-rich native tissues. Also provided is a method of making and using the aforesaid composition. Further provided is a method of treating a tissue disorder in a subject using the aforesaid composition. The composition may be used as scaffolds for applications such as microcarriers, 3D culture substrates, swelling agent, volume filling agent, replacement of nucleus pulposus, cartilage, and other GAG-rich tissues.