A poroelastic biomaterial including a polyaryletherketone (PAEK) matrix polymer and a plurality of tortuous channels extending from one surface to another surface of the biomaterial is disclosed. Advantageously, the poroelastic biomaterial can have a porosity from about 5% to about 40% and high mechanical properties. The poroelastic biomaterials can be fabricated into orthopedic implant devices and can be used as a tissue scaffolds.

The present invention is a bone growth stimulating and promoting cytokine type biological implant preferably comprising PTH coated with a controlled release biodegradable coating that is implanted preferably in the concave side of a scoliotically curved spine in combination with a bone growth inhibiting type biological implant preferably comprising methotrexate or like anti-metabolite coated with a controlled release biodegradable coating that is implanted preferably in the convex side of a scoliotically curved spine. The insertion of the biological implant is highly non-invasion, especially as compared to more conventional spine surgical methods, and the biological implant does not decrease spinal mobility or spinal range of motion.

Methods of treating spinal cord injuries are disclosed. The method comprises implanting scaffolds comprising a protruding scaffold and a supporting scaffold, wherein at least a portion of the protruding scaffold is inserted into a lesioned area of the spinal cord so as to contact the injury or diseased site, wherein the supporting scaffold does not protrude into the injury or diseased site and is in contact with the rostral and/or caudal dura of the spinal cord.

A method of treating a spinal cord injury in a subject in need thereof is disclosed. The method comprises implanting a scaffold into the spinal cord of a subject, wherein the scaffold is seeded with oral mucosa stem cells (OMSC) and/or cells that have been ex vivo differentiated from said OMSCs, thereby treating the spinal cord injury.

A demineralized bone matrix (DBM) scaffold product comprising a plurality of elongate demineralised bone fibres mechanically interconnected with one another in a regular and repeating pattern.

Provided herein is a 3D printing system and related compositions, and method of using such, that can produce a polymeric microfiber having embedded microspheres encapsulating an active agent with micron precision and high spatial and temporal resolution.

A fetal-origin decellularized nucleus pulposus (NP) allogenic material to regenerate a host's Intervertebral Disc (IVD). The decellularized NP material, obtained from a vertebrate fetus and characterized by comprising high levels of collagen 12 and 14, is used in a pharmacological composition for the treatment of IVD degeneration. The advance is based on the increased ability of the fetal decellularized NP material to stimulate the host constituent cell's to increase the expression of collagen 2 and aggrecan, promoting intrinsic IVD regeneration. A related method includes preparing the pharmaceutical compositions of fetal decellularized material in the form of fragments/microparticles and hydrogel for an injectable mode of administration. The involved material, pharmaceutical compositions and methods may be advantageously used for the prevention and treatment of IVD degeneration and back pain in human and veterinary settings.

A method of treating a spinal disk according to the present invention can include inserting an alloplastic bulking agent into the spinal disk to treat the defect. The alloplastic bulking agent has a plurality of microparticles and a suspending agent comprising hyaluronic acid. The bulking agent results in at least one of sealing the defect, increasing a pressure of the disk, increasing a height of the disk, improving stability of the disk and improving structural integrity of the disk.

Described herein are compositions and methods related to derivation of human notochordal cells differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The inventors have developed a two-step process for generating these iPSC-derived notochordal cells (iNCs), which can provide a renewable source of therapeutic material for use in degenerative disc disease (DDD). As iNCs are capable of reversing DDD and supporting regeneration of intervertebral disc (IVD) tissue based on the understanding that NC cells maintain homeostasis and repair of other IVD cell types such as nuclear pulposus (NP).

A biomaterial, particularly for tissue regeneration, includes an open, porous bioresorbable first material portion and a second material portion that is stiffer than the first material portion, wherein the volume fraction of the stiffer material is less than 30% of the total volume of the biomaterial, and the structural stiffness of the second material portion is at least 10 times greater than that of the first material portion.