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.

There are provided tissue repair laminates containing at least two biodegradable polyurethane foam layers and a polyurethane structural layer. The biodegradable polyurethane is derived from biodegradable polyols. The laminates resist shrinkage under in vivo conditions and possess desirable mechanical properties such as high tensile strength. The laminates find use in, for example, the repair of tissue or muscle wall defects.

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 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.

The present invention is directed to a composition comprising a matrix suitable for implantation in humans, comprising defatted, shredded, allogeneic human muscle tissue that has been combined with an aqueous carrier and dried in a predetermined shape. Also disclosed is a tissue graft or implant comprising a matrix suitable for implantation in humans, comprising defatted, shredded, allogeneic human muscle tissue that has been combined with an aqueous carrier and dried in a predetermined shape. The composition and/or tissue graft or implant of the invention is usable in combination with seeded cells, a tissue growth factor, and/or a chemotactic gent to attract a desired cell.

Disclosed are a bifunctional peptide having the capability to permeate cells and the capability to regenerate muscles and the use thereof. Advantageously, the bifunctional peptide has a function of regenerating muscle cells and thus is useful for the prevention or treatment of diseases affecting muscle regeneration, and additionally has the capability to permeate cells and thus eliminates the necessity to adhere an additional peptide or add other agent or drug for cell permeation of the peptide, thereby finally exerting an efficient muscle generation effect. Thus, the bifunctional peptide can be easily applied to various surgical regenerative treatments and can shorten the treatment period.

An implantable drug-loaded device, including a zinc-containing matrix and an active drug layer attached to the zinc-containing matrix. In the zinc-containing matrix per unit area, the content of an active drug is (g.Math.mm.sup.2). The content of zinc corroded from the zinc-containing matrix per unit area in a guaranteed grade acetic acid aqueous solution at 8.3 vol % within unit time is p (g.Math.mm.sup.2.Math.min.sup.1). The value of and the value of p satisfy the following relation: 0.115p+3.5, where p is greater than or equal to 0.005 and less than or equal to 0.14. The zinc release rate of the implantable drug-loaded device is matched with the content of the active drug, so after the implantable drug-loaded device is implanted into a body, the zinc and the drug work synergistically to effectively inhibit smooth muscle cell proliferation, and cannot kill cells and cause necrosis in tissues.

A high molecular weight polyethylene polymer is formulated so that the polymer is capable of being injection molded. The polyethylene polymer has a Viscosity Number of greater than about 400 ml/g and has a melt flow rate of greater than about 0.9 g/10 min. The polyethylene polymer is of high purity and is particularly well suited for producing medical products.

Described are methods for producing tissue constructs, tissue constructs produced by the methods, and their use. The described method of producing a tissue construct comprises providing a granular tissue, depositing one or more filaments on or in the granular tissue, each filament comprising an ink, and gelling or fusing the granular tissue, thereby producing the tissue construct.

A device for producing a trabecular fiber within a ventricle of a heart. The device includes a substrate and a first tissue anchor connected to the substrate. The substrate is formed of a non-rigid material.