The present invention relates to the field of regenerative medicine, and more particularly to the improvement of the in vivo engraftment potential of biological material to be administered to a subject in need thereof.

A tendon repair implant for treatment of a partial thickness tear in the supraspinatus tendon of the shoulder is provided. The implant may incorporate features of rapid deployment and fixation by arthroscopic surgery that compliment current procedures; tensile properties that result in desired sharing of anatomical load between the implant and native tendon during rehabilitation; selected porosity and longitudinal pathways for tissue in-growth; sufficient cyclic straining of the implant in the longitudinal direction to promote remodeling of new tissue to tendon-like tissue; and, may include a bioresorbable construction to provide transfer of additional load to new tendon-like tissue and native tendon over time.

A system and method for nonsurgical penile girth enhancement. Hydro-dissection creates a space along a length of the penis between Buck's Fascia and Darte's fascia. The filler material, such as hyaluronic acid, is injected into the space created and is modeled after injection. During the same procedure or a later procedure, additional spaces can be created and injected with the filler material, until the desired girth is obtained. The amount of filler material injected during any given procedure is limited to avoid challenging the lymphatics of the penis. By staging the girth enhancing injections, the risk of penile granulomas can be minimized, if not eliminated.

A tendon repair implant for treatment of a partial thickness tear in the supraspinatus tendon of the shoulder is provided. The implant may incorporate features of rapid deployment and fixation by arthroscopic surgery that compliment current procedures; tensile properties that result in desired sharing of anatomical load between the implant and native tendon during rehabilitation; selected porosity and longitudinal pathways for tissue in-growth; sufficient cyclic straining of the implant in the longitudinal direction to promote remodeling of new tissue to tendon-like tissue; and, may include a bioresorbable construction to provide transfer of additional load to new tendon-like tissue and native tendon over time.

The present invention relates to a cell therapy product which is intended for regenerating a sphincter muscle and which contains stem cells derived from amniotic fluid, and more particularly, to a cell therapy product which is intended for regenerating the sphincter vesicae and which contains stem cells derived from amniotic fluid. Also, the cell therapy product of the present invention can be provided in the form of a formulation for administration through injection, said formulation being injected into a hydrogel complex to thereby improve the effects thereof. The composition including stem cells derived from amniotic fluid according to the present invention enables stem cells to be differentiated into muscles in the body of individual suffering from urinary incontinence by directly injecting the composition into the individual, thus effectively controlling urinary incontinence by recovering muscle functions. That is, the stem cells derived from amniotic fluid of the present invention are differentiated into muscles in-situ, and the differentiation into muscles can thus be achieved only with cells in order to recover muscle functions.

The disclosure is directed to scaffolds comprising nanofibers of graphene nanoplatelets and a biocompatible polymer, as well as methods for making and using such scaffolds.

Disclosed are compositions and methods of treating muscular dystrophies, including Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) through administration of fibroblasts and modified fibroblasts systemically and locally. In certain embodiments, fibroblast cells are utilized for replacement of dystrophin through fusion and/or other means of horizontal gene transfer. In other embodiments, the disclosure teaches the use of fibroblasts for reduction of inflammatory reactions and/or immunological reactions which propagate and enhance myodestructive aspects of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. In other embodiments, fibroblasts are utilized as vectors for gene therapy and/or gene modifications approaches.

Methods of generating an innervated muscle structures are disclosed as well as bioengineered structures for tissue repair or regeneration. The methods can include the steps of obtaining populations of smooth muscle cells and neuronal progenitor cells and then seeding the cells together onto a matrix material, followed by culturing the seeded cells to form an innervated smooth muscle cell construct of directionally oriented smooth muscle cells. In one embodiment, the neuronal progenitor cells can be seeded first as neurospheres in a biocompatiable solution, e.g., a collagen/laminin solution, and allowed to gel. Next, a second suspension of smooth muscle cells can be deposited as separate layer. Multiple layer structures of alternating muscle or neuron composition can also be formed in this manner. Differentiation of the neuronal progenitor cells can be induced by exposure to a differentiation medium, such as Neurobasal A medium and/or exposure to a differentiating agent, such as B-27 supplement. The innervated muscle structures can be disposed around a tubular scaffold, e.g., a chitosan-containing tube and further cultured to form tubular, bioengineered structures and two or more innervated muscle structures can be joined together to form an elongate composite structure.

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.

Provided herein are scaffolds and methods useful to promote the formation of functional clusters on a tissue, for example, motor endplates (MEPs) or a component thereof on skeletal muscle cells or tissue, as well as the use of scaffolds so produced for repairing a tissue injury or defect.