Methods and articles for delivering viable cells into solid tissue

An article for delivering viable cells into solid GI tissue of a patient, the article comprising:

• a shell configured for penetration into the GI solid tissue, the shell having a tissue penetrating end, a force application end, and a shell wall defining an interior of the shell;
• and
• a mass of viable cells within the interior of the shell;
• wherein the cells are present in a viability-sustaining gel;
• wherein the shell has a shape and material to:
• i) protect the viability of the cells from the external environment, ii) be contained in a swallowable capsule, iii) be delivered from the capsule into solid GI tissue by the application of force on the force application end, and iv) biodegrade within the solid tissue to release the viable cells into the solid GI tissue;
• and
• wherein a viscoelastic property of the gel is selected such that gel acts as a shock absorbing medium to absorb a portion of the force imparted from the force application end when the article is inserted into solid tissue so as to minimize damage to the viable cells.

An article for delivering viable cells into solid GI tissue of a patient, the article comprising:

• a shell configured for penetration into the GI solid tissue, the shell having a tissue penetrating end, a force application end, and a shell wall defining an interior;
• and
• a mass of viable cells within the interior of the shell;
• wherein the cells are present in a viability-sustaining gel at least partially saturated with nitrogen or other inert gas to preserve the viability of the cells;
• and
• wherein the shell has a shape and material to:
• i) protect the viability of the cells from the external environment, ii) be contained in a swallowable capsule, iii) be delivered from the capsule into solid GI tissue by the application of force on the force application end, and iv) biodegrade within the solid tissue to release the viable cells into the solid GI tissue.