Cell-nanofiber composite and cell-nanofiber-hydrogel composite amalgam based engineered intervertebral disc
AssigneeThe United States of America, as represented by the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Servic
InventorsWan-Ju Li, Leon J. Nesti, Rocky S. Tuan
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Abstract
The instant invention is directed to a tissue engineered intervertebral disc comprising at least one inner layer and an exterior layer, wherein: the exterior layer comprises a nanofibrous polymer support comprising one or more polymer nanofibers; the at least one inner layer comprises a hydrogel composition comprising at least one or more hydrogel materials and/or one or more polymer nanofibers; and a plurality of cells which are dispersed throughout the tissue engineered intervertebral disc. Additionally, the instant invention is directed to methods of making such intervertebral discs and methods of treating intervertebral disc damage.
Claims20
1-72. (canceled)
A tissue engineered intervertebral disc comprising at least one inner layer and an exterior layer, wherein:
- the exterior layer comprises a nanofibrous polymer support comprising one or more polymer nanofibers;
- the at least one inner layer comprises a hydrogel composition comprising at least one or more hydrogel materials and one or more polymer nanofibers having a loosened fiber structure having pores with a size distribution ranging from 2 μm to about 600 μm;
- and
- a plurality of cells which are dispersed throughout the tissue engineered intervertebral disc.
A method of preparing a tissue engineered intervertebral disc comprising:
- preparing a nanofibrous biocompatible polymer support comprising a cavity, wherein the cavity contains one or more polymer nanofibers having a loosened fiber structure having pores with a size distribution ranging from 2 μm to about 600 μm;
- contacting a suspension of cells with the surface of the support to form a polymer matrix having cells dispersed therein;
- injecting a hydrogel composition into the cavity;
- and
- culturing the cell-polymer matrix in a bioreactor with a culture medium under conditions conducive to growth of cells into a tissue engineered intervertebral disc.
A method for treating intervertebral disc damage, the method comprising:
- harvesting annulus fibrosus cells, nucleus pulposus cells, mesenchymal stem cells, or embryonic stem cells from a subject;
- preparing tissue engineered intervertebral disc by the method of claim 29, wherein the cells are the annulus fibrosus cells, nucleus pulposus cells, mesenchymal stem cells, or embryonic stem cells harvested from the subject;
- implanting the tissue engineered intervertebral disc in the subject in a locus having damaged intervertebral disc.
A method for cosmetic or reconstructive surgery, the method comprising the steps of
- harvesting annulus fibrosus cells, nucleus pulposus cells, mesenchymal stem cells, or embryonic stem cells from a subject;
- preparing tissue engineered intervertebral disc by the method of claim 29, wherein the cells are the annulus fibrosus cells, nucleus pulposus cells, mesenchymal stem cells, or embryonic stem cells harvested from the subject;
- implanting the tissue engineered intervertebral disc in the subject in a locus having damaged intervertebral disc.
A method of preparing a tissue engineered tissue comprising the steps of:
- preparing a nanofibrous biocompatible polymer support comprising a cavity, wherein the cavity contains one or more polymer nanofibers;
- expanding the nanofibrous polymer support thereby increasing interfiber distance structure thereby creating pores with a size distribution ranging from 2 μm to about 600 μm;
- contacting a suspension of cells with the support to form a polymer matrix having cells dispersed therein;
- injecting a hydrogel composition into the cavity;
- and
- culturing the compressed cell-polymer matrix in a bioreactor with a culture medium under conditions to conducive cell growth and differentiation to tissue engineered tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.