Compositions for regenerating tissue that has deteriorated, and methods for using such compositions

A method for making a composition for repairing tissue that has degenerated in a subject as a result of a disease, disorder, or defect in said subject, wherein said method comprises:

• providing a suspension of autologous, passaged fibroblasts;
• providing a biodegradable acellular matrix, wherein said biodegradable acellular matrix, prior to combination with said autologous fibroblasts, comprises one or more substances selected from the group consisting of collagen, glycosaminoglycans, gelatin, polyglycolic acid, cat gut, demineralized bone, hydroxyapatite, and anorganic bone;
• incubating said suspension of autologous passaged fibroblasts with said biodegradable acellular matrix such that said autologous passaged fibroblasts integrate within said biodegradable acellular matrix, wherein sufficient autologous, passaged fibroblasts integrate within said biodegradable acellular matrix to substantially fill the space on and within said biodegradable acellular matrix available for cells, and
• removing substantially all culture medium serum-derived proteins from said biodegradable acellular matrix and said integrated fibroblasts to form a composition for repairing tissue.

An injectable composition for correcting a defect in skin of a subject or augmenting tissue of a subject, said injectable composition comprising:

• a) autologous fibroblasts substantially free of culture medium serum-derived proteins;
• and
• b) a biodegradable, acellular injectable filler material, wherein the acellular injectable material, prior to combination with said autologous fibroblasts, comprises one or more substances selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) an injectable dispersion of autologous collagen fibers;
• (b) collagen;
• (c) solubilized gelatin;
• (d) solubilized polyglycolic acid;
• (e) solubilized cat gut;
• and (f) porcine gelatin powder and amino caproic acid dispersed in sodium chloride solution and an aliquot of plasma from said subject.

A method for correcting a defect in skin of a subject, or augmenting tissue of a subject, the method comprising injecting an effective amount of an injectable composition comprising autologous fibroblasts substantially free of culture medium serum-derived proteins and a biodegradable, acellular injectable filler material, into the subject at the site of the skin defect or desired tissue augmentation so that regeneration of tissue at the site is promoted, wherein the acellular injectable material, prior to combination with said autologous fibroblasts, comprises one or more substances selected from the group consisting of:

• (a) an injectable dispersion of autologous collagen fibers;
• (b) collagen;
• (c) solubilized gelatin;
• (d) solubilized polyglycolic acid;
• (e) solubilized cat gut;
• and (f) bovine gelatin powder and amino caproic acid dispersed in sodium chloride solution and an aliquot of plasma from said subject.

A method for correcting a defect in skin of a subject, or augmenting tissue of a subject, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) injecting autologous fibroblasts substantially free of culture medium serum-derived proteins into the subject at a site of a skin defect or desired skin augmentation;
• and
• b) injecting a biodegradable, acellular injectable filler material into the site, wherein the acellular injectable material, prior to combination with said autologous fibroblasts, comprises one or more substances selected from the group consisting of:
• (a) an injectable dispersion of autologous collagen fibers;
• (b) collagen;
• (c) solubilized gelatin;
• (d) solubilized polyglycolic acid;
• (e) solubilized cat gut;
• and (f) porcine gelatin powder and amino caproic acid dispersed in sodium chloride solution and an aliquot of plasma from said subject.