Disclosed herein are compositions comprising containers and silk elements. Disclosed herein are methods of regenerating an at least partially severed nerve cell. Disclosed herein are compositions for regenerating an at least partially severed nerve cell.

The instant invention provides electrospun fiber compositions comprising one or more polymers and one or more biologically active agents. In specific embodiments, the biologically active agents are nerve growth factors. In certain embodiments, the electrospun fiber compositions comprising one or more biologically active agents are on the surface of a film, or a tube. The tubes comprising the electrospun fiber compositions of the invention can be used, for example, as nerve guide conduits.

A post-surgical healing accelerator (PSHA) device for tissue and nerve repair at an injury site. The device includes (a) a substrate, (b) a scaffold disposed on a surface of the substrate, and (c) a population of cells attached to the scaffold. The scaffold comprises at least one modified polymer selected from a modified collagen, a modified gelatin, a modified alginate, a modified cellulose, a modified hyaluronic acid, and others, with (i) modifications configured to increase an interaction between the scaffold and the cells, (ii) modifications configured to increase an association of the at least one modified polymer with the substrate, and (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). The cells attached to the scaffold are configured to carry out tissue and/or nerve repair at an injury site of a subject through at least one of growth, differentiation, and migration following an application of the device to the injury site of the subject.

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.

Embodiments described herein relate to restorative solutions for segmental peripheral nerve (PN) defects using allografted PNs for stimulating PN repair. More specifically, embodiments described herein provide for localized immunosuppression (LIS) surrounding PN allografts as an alternative to systemically suppressing a patient's entire immune system. Methods include localized release of immunosuppressive (ISV) agents are contemplated in one embodiment. Methods also include localized application of immunosuppressive (ISV) regulatory T-cells (Tregs) in other embodiments. Hydrogel carrier materials for delivery of ISV agents and are also described herein.

Luminal grafts and methods of making and using the same. An exemplary luminal graft of the present disclosure is configured as a generally tubular element configured for nerve cells to grow therethrough and comprises at least one sheet of biological tissue having elastin fibers and collagen fibers, with the elastin fibers being a dominant component thereof; and a plurality of microchannels formed on a surface of the at least one sheet of biological tissue, each of the microchannels extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end of the at least one sheet of biological tissue and configured to provide intraluminal structural guidance to nerve cells proliferating therethrough.

The present invention relates to a biocompatible and biodegradable tubular guide channel useful as a regenerative nerve interface to assist nerve regeneration and to support thin film electrodes capable of recording and stimulating electrical signals from the regenerated nerve. The invention further relates to a device containing the guide channel and thin film electrode, and to the process of manufacturing the guide channel and the device.

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.

The present disclosure generally relates to nerve grafts (e.g., allografts), particularly to methods of preparing immunologically anonymized nerve segments and methods of preparing personalized nerve grafts. The present disclosure also provides methods of regenerating a nerve defect.

In one aspect, apparatuses for providing chemical gradients are described herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus described herein comprises a conduit having a first end and a second end, one or more microchannels disposed in the conduit and extending from the first end toward the second end, and a fiber coiled around the exterior of at least one microchannel, wherein the fiber comprises an active agent that is operable to diffuse into the interior of the microchannel.