Provided herein are di-functionalized hyaluronic acids, such as molecules including (or that have been functionalized at) a thiol and azide side chain. Also, provided herein are hydrogels of these di-functionalized hyaluronic acids and methods of using these compounds to promote cell (e.g., neuronal cell) growth and development. In some aspects, the present disclosure also provides methods of treating injuries, including brain injuries such as stroke through the use of hydrogels of the compounds described herein and stem cells.

A biocompatible nerve conduit for nerve re-generation, wherein a porous fiber tube is coated with a bioresorbable hydrogel, with the fibers being formed from a polymer that supports nerve regeneration by preferential adsorption of endogenous proteins and braided with pores in the range from 5 to 200 micrometers using a kink-resistant braiding pattern and the hydro gel coating material and thickness being selected to control the overall porosity, so that nutrients and oxygen can diffuse through said hydrogel coating but the infiltration of fibrous tissue through the coating is prevented.

Tissue scaffolds for neural tissue growth have a plurality of microchannels disposed within a sheath. Each microchannel comprises a porous wall having a thickness of about 100 m that is formed from a biocompatible and biodegradable material comprising a polyester polymer. The polyester polymer may be polycaprolactone, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer, and combinations thereof. The tissue scaffolds have high open volume % enabling superior (linear and high fidelity) neural tissue growth, while minimizing inflammation near the site of implantation in vivo. In other aspects, methods of making such tissue scaffolds are provided. Such a method may include mixing a reduced particle size porogen with a polymeric precursor solution. The material is cast onto a template and then can be processed, including assembly in a sheath and removal of the porogen, to form a tissue scaffold having a plurality of porous microchannels.

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for forming a multipurpose membrane in vivo. One step of the method includes obtaining a blood component. Next, a vacuum assembly is operated to remove substantially all of the liquid from the blood component and thereby form a concentrated, substantially dehydrated blood component. The substantially dehydrated blood component is then formed into a non-coagulated injectable composition and administered to a wound of a subject.

Ophthalmic implants and methods of use that provide structural support to the optic nerve are disclosed herein. An adhesive and/or ophthalmic implant may be delivered to an optic nerve of an eye to relieve pressure on the optic nerve. The ophthalmic implant may include a base portion that includes a first surface and a second surface opposing the second surface and a protrusion from the second surface for extending into a cup of an optic nerve in an eye.

A hybrid gel comprising a particulate decellularized tissue (obtained by pulverizing animal-derived biological tissues that are decellularized (decellularized biological tissues)), fibrinogen and thrombin; a cell culture material comprising the hybrid gel; a method for preparing the hybrid gel; and a kit comprising a particulate decellularized tissue and a biological tissue adhesive are provided. The hybrid gel of the present invention exerts the effect to promote differentiation and gain of function of stem cells and the therapeutic effect to a variety of diseases.

Disclosed are methods, devices and materials for the in situ formation of an implant for treating a nerve. A treatment site on a nerve is positioned within a cavity defined by a form. A transformable media is introduced into the form cavity to surround the treatment site. The media is permitted to undergo a transformation from a first, relatively flowable state to a second, relatively non flowable state to form a protective barrier surrounding the treatment site. The implant may be a growth inhibiting nerve cap to inhibit neuroma formation following planned or traumatic nerve injury, a growth permissive conduit for facilitating reconnection of a severed nerve, or an anchor for stabilizing a pain management electrode with respect to a nerve. Access to the nerve treatment site may be open surgical or percutaneous.

A cell sheet for transplantation into a living body, containing MSCs having an average cell density of 3.0?10.sup.4 cells/cm.sup.2 or less on the surface of the sheet is provided. A method for producing a cell sheet for transplantation into a living body, including: a step of seeding MSCs on a cell culture carrier having a three-dimensional structure formed of fibers at a cell number of 3.0?10.sup.5 cells/cm.sup.2 or less; and a step of culturing the MSCs and thereby preparing a cell sheet containing the MSCs having an average cell density of 3.0?10.sup.4 cells/cm.sup.2 or less is also provided.

The present invention aims to provide a method for suppressing differentiation of ganglion cell, amacrine cell, horizontal cell and/or bipolar cell in a neural retina tissue containing photoreceptor precursor and/or photoreceptor, and the like. A method for suppressing differentiation of a ganglion cell, an amacrine cell, a horizontal cell and/or a bipolar cell in a neural retinal tissue containing a photoreceptor precursor and/or a photoreceptor, including a step of culturing a retinal tissue comprising a neural retinal progenitor cell and in any stage between a differentiation stage immediately after emergence of a ganglion cell and a differentiation stage where emergence rate of a cone photoreceptor precursor reaches maximum in a medium containing a thyroid gland hormone signal transduction pathway agonist.

A three-dimensional electrospun biomedical patch includes a first polymeric scaffold having a first structure of deposited electrospun fibers extending in a plurality of directions in three dimensions to facilitate cellular migration for a first period of time upon application of the biomedical patch to a tissue, wherein the first period of time is less than twelve months, and a second polymeric scaffold having a second structure of deposited electrospun fibers. The second structure of deposited electrospun fibers includes the plurality of deposited electrospun fibers configured to provide structural reinforcement for a second period of time upon application of the three-dimensional electrospun biomedical patch to the tissue wherein the second period of time is less than twelve months. The three-dimensional electrospun biomedical patch is sufficiently pliable and resistant to tearing to enable movement of the three-dimensional electrospun biomedical patch with the tissue.