Methods and compositions for particulated and reconstituted tissues

Abstract

Particulated and reconstituted tissues comprising small, densely packed tissue microparticles encapsulated in a tissue specific promoting gel packed at a percolation threshold that can be transplanted into damaged tissue thereby facilitating regeneration following trauma to the tissue. The engineered microparticle construct for tissue replacement and repair, as taught herein, provides numerous benefits including (1) encouraging a regenerative response in damaged tissue regions, (2) mimicking the structural support of native tissue, (3) establishing an environment that promotes attachment, migration, and differentiation of infiltrating stem cells, and (4) providing a source of growth factors and other anti-catabolic growth factors and cytokines. Tissue specific microparticles packed together at, or past, their percolation threshold will provide the necessary mechanical environment and to best recapitulate and integrate with native tissue. The packing of microparticles, derived from the ECM of native tissue, to a concentration past the percolation point will yield both the necessary biochemical and biomechanical properties necessary for reconstituting a specific tissue.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.