A nitric oxide gas-releasing conduit configured for surgical implantation through a patient's tympanic membrane. The nitric oxide gas-releasing conduit comprises a gas-permeable cured resin material configured for releasably sequestering therein gas. The gas-permeable cured resin material is charged with nitric oxide gas. The nitric oxide gas-releasing conduit may be optionally coated with an antimicrobial gas-releasing composition. The gas-releasing coating composition may be configured to release nitric oxide.

Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta that possess good adhesion to biological tissues and are useful in wound healing applications. In one aspect, the tissue graft includes (1) two or more layers of amnion, wherein at least one layer of amnion is cross-linked, (2) two or more layers of chorion, wherein at least one layer of chorion is cross-linked, or (3) one or more layers of amnion and chorion, wherein at least one layer of amnion and/or chorion is cross-linked. In another aspect, the grafts are composed of amnion and chorion cross-linked with one another. In a further aspect, the grafts have one or more layers sandwiched between the amnion and chorion membranes. The amnion and/or the chorion are treated with a cross-linking agent prior to the formation of the graft. The presence of the cross-linking agent present on the graft also enhances adhesion to the biological tissue of interest. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts.

Otologic materials and methods are provided. For example, a cell-adhesive, biodegradable hydrogel scaffold loaded with time-released drugs for repairing chronic tympanic membrane perforations is disclosed, methods of making same and administering same are provided. This hydrogel may promote vascular in-growth and epithelial cell growth of the tympanic membrane with the purpose of closing the perforation and providing a barrier between the external and middle ear. The hydrogel is initially a liquid polymer that only gels upon exposure to specific conditions, such as exposure to light. This scaffold may simultaneously induce repair of the tympanic membrane while preventing or alleviating middle ear infection, thus filling a void in current tympanic membrane perforation therapies.

The present invention provides a three-dimensional bioprinter for fabricating cellular constructs such as tissues and organs using electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at or above 405 nm. The bioprinter includes a material deposition device comprising a cartridge for receiving and holding a composition which contains biomaterial that cures after exposure to EMR. The bioprinter also includes an EMR module that emits EMR at a wavelength of about 405 nm or higher. Also provided is a bioprinter cartridge which contains cells and a material curable at a wavelength of about 405 nm or greater. The cells are present in a chamber and arc extruded through an orifice to form the cellular construct.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods for making resorbable ear tubes including the steps of providing a silk fibroin solution, and forming a silk ear tube from the silk fibroin solution, wherein the silk ear tube is less than 2 mm in length and has an outer diameter of less than 1.5 mm, and wherein the silk ear tube is resorbable. In some embodiments, the present invention also provides methods for treating otitis media including the step of introducing a silk ear tube into the ear canal of a subject, wherein the silk ear tube is less than 2 mm in length and has an outer diameter of less than 1.5 mm, and wherein the silk ear tube is resorbed by the subject.

A tissue or organ replacement includes a tissue-engineered construct that includes one or more bio ink compositions and a biocompatible support structure. The support structure includes one or more external supports, one or more internal supports, or combinations thereof of a biocompatible material. The composition has a three-dimensional (3D) shape, and the biocompatible material is present in an amount of about 1% to about 100% by weight of the biocompatible support structure.

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a material as a scaffold used to prevent poor skin grafting when there is a defect in the perichondrium or periosteum or a defect in subcutaneous tissue. As a solution, there is provided a dry amniotic membrane manufactured according to a specific drying process. In more detail, a raw amniotic membrane placed in a processing tank (10) is continuously heated by a far-infrared heater (14) provided inside the processing tank (10), while performing a decompression operation where the interior of the processing tank (10) is placed in a decompressed state and irradiation of the raw amniotic membrane with microwaves from a microwave generating device (30) provided inside the processing tank (10) to apply energy to water molecules present inside the amniotic membrane and cause drying during a pressure recovery operation that slightly raises the pressure inside the depressurized processing tank (10) toward atmospheric pressure. By providing amniotic membrane, which has been dried by repeating the above process a plurality of times to retain its cellular and tissue structure, as a scaffold used to prevent poor skin grafting when there is a defect in the perichondrium or periosteum or a defect in the subcutaneous tissue, it is possible to enhance the healing effect of a skin graft.

A device having a structured coating for adhering to rough, in particular biological, surfaces, includes a carrier layer, wherein a plurality of protrusions is arranged on the carrier layer, which protrusions each comprise at least a shaft having an end face pointing away from the surface, and wherein a further layer is arranged at least on the end face, wherein the layer has a different modulus of elasticity than the protrusion in question. The further layer can also fill the intermediate spaces between the protrusions such that an internal structured coating is produced.

A tympanic construct fabricated from at least one amniotic membrane, at least one chorionic membrane, or at least one amniotic membrane and at least one chorionic membrane obtained from human birth tissue is provided. Methods of preparing a tympanic construct, methods of repairing tympanic membrane defects and surgical sites, as well as kits for the same are also provided.

The present invention provides a three-dimensional bioprinter for fabricating cellular constructs such as tissues and organs using electromagnetic radiation (EMR) at or above 405 nm. The bioprinter includes a material deposition device comprising a cartridge for receiving and holding a composition which contains biomaterial that cures after exposure to EMR. The bioprinter also includes an EMR module that emits EMR at a wavelength of about 405 nm or higher. Also provided is a bioprinter cartridge which contains cells and a material curable at a wavelength of about 405 nm or greater. The cells are present in a chamber and are extruded through an orifice to form the cellular construct.