Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc.

The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research

North Shore University Hospital Research Corporation

Morphogen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Other

North Shore-long Island Jewish Research Institute

Abt Holding Company

North Shore University Hospital

Daniel A Grande

James M Mason

Arnold S Breitbart

Robert E Schwartz

Paul A Lucas

Provided are tissue scaffolds colonized by vertebrate cells expressing, a transgenic bioactive molecule, where the vertebrate cells are unable to undergo mitosis. Also provided are methods of growing tissue in a mammal and methods of delivering a transgenic bioactive molecule to a tissue of a mammal, using the tissue scaffolds. Additionally, methods of making the tissue scaffolds are provided.

Bioactive scaffolds

Provided are tissue scaffolds colonized by vertebrate cells expressing a transgenic bioactive molecule, where the vertebrate cells are unable to undergo mitosis. Also provided are methods of growing tissue in a mammal and methods of delivering a transgenic bioactive molecule to a tissue of a mammal, using the tissue scaffolds. Additionally, methods of making the tissue scaffolds are provided.

A bio-absorbable cartilage repair system is provided for regenerating damaged or destroyed articular cartilage on a joint surface of a bone by establishing a chondrogenic growth-supporting matrix between an area of damaged or destroyed articular cartilage that has been removed and an adjacent healthy area of articular cartilage and subchondral cancellous bone. The system is an assembly of a delivery unit and a porous insert. The delivery unit is formed of bio-absorbable material and configured and dimensioned to be mounted in both an area of damaged or destroyed articular cartilage that has been removed and an adjacent healthy area of articular cartilage and cancellous bone. The delivery unit has a central body and a plurality of radially extending, flexible support arms projecting outwardly from the central body and configured and dimensioned to support the insert at least partially thereover. The insert is supported by the delivery unit, formed of bio-absorbable material, and establishes communication between the removed area and the adjacent healthy area for a chondrogenic growth-supporting matrix.

Cartilage repair unit

A method for enhancing and/or increasing the efficiency of repair of tissues, primarily bone or cartilage, using genetically engineered cells has been developed. In the preferred embodiment, mesenchymal stem cells are isolated from periosteum tissue, and transfected with the gene encoding a growth factor for the particular cell type to be repaired. For example, for repair of bone, a gene (or genes) encoding bone morphogenic protein is transfected into periosteal cells. The transfected periosteal cells then express the bone morphogenic protein in culture to promote bone repair as a function of the expressed bone morphogenic protein. Cells can be transfected using any appropriate means, including viral vectors, as shown by the example, chemical transfectants, or physico-mechanical methods such as electroporation and direct diffusion of DNA. Genes can encode any useful protein, for example, a specific growth factor, morphogenesis factor, a structural protein, or a cytokine which enhances the temporal sequence of wound repair, alters the rate of proliferation, increases the metabolic synthesis of extracellular matrix proteins, or directs phenotypic expression in endogenous cell populations. Representative genes encoding proteins include bone growth factor genes, cartilage growth factor genes, nerve growth factor genes, and general growth factors important in wound healing, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), epidermal growth factor (EGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), endothelial derived growth supplement.

Genetic engineering of cells to enhance healing and tissue regeneration

It has been discovered that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a polymeric carrier implanted into a cartilage and/or bone defect will differentiate to form cartilage and/or bone, as appropriate. Suitable polymeric carriers include porous meshes or sponges formed of synthetic or natural polymers, as well as polymer solutions. A presently preferred material is a polyglycolic acid mesh.

Mesenchymal stem cells for cartilage repair

Periosteal cells have been grown in cell culture and have been shown to have an osteoblastic phenotype, with production of osteocalcin and glycosaminoglycan. When seeded into polymeric implants, repair of critical size cranial defects was demonstrated and was confirmed by histology, biochemical assays, and radiodensitometry.

Tissue-engineered bone repair using cultured periosteal cells

A grafting technique entailing the transplantation of chondrocytes for promoting the healing of lesions in articular cartilage, use being made for this purpose of in vitro autologous cultured chondrocytes prior to transplantation. The chondrocytes are preferably seeded in a three-dimensional collagen matrix which serves as the graft material. In order to internally fix the graft during the healing process, use is made of a periosteal flap which is sutured to the cartilage after the graft material is implanted therein.

Growing community of inventors

Sea Cliff, NY, United States of America

Daniel A Grande