University of Pittsburgh

Jingming Chen

Juan M Taboas

Alejandro Jose Almarza

Patrick Eugene Donnelly

Tyler Swenson

Herbert L Ray

Biomaterials disclosed herein can comprise a hydrogel comprising PEG, gelatin, and a glycosaminoglycan with sulfated moiety; and chondrogenic, osteogenic, and immunomodulatory cytokines; wherein the biomaterial is capable of potentiating bone regeneration in a compromised wound while reducing inflammatory response. The glycosaminoglycan with sulfated moiety can comprise heparin, heparan sulfate, keratin sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, dermatan sulfate, and/or similar materials. The biomaterial can further comprise mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a crosslinking initiator, microparticles and nanoparticles, and or other materials. The biomaterial can be injectable into a wound, or the biomaterial can be loaded in, or further comprise a porous scaffold providing mechanical support for other components of the biomaterial, such that it can be implanted into a wound.

Bone regeneration in compromised wounds

Methods of regenerating vital tooth tissue in situ after endodontic therapy include introducing a hydrogel scaffold into a root canal of a tooth in a patient after native pulp has been removed from the root canal. The hydrogel scaffold may comprise a sponge scaffold, and can be acellular. The hydrogel scaffold can contain chemotactic, angiogenic, neurogenic, and/or immunomodulatory biofactors that cause infiltration of endogenous cells from the patient into the root canal. Alternatively, such biofactors/drugs can be administered to the patient separately from the hydrogel scaffold. The hydrogel scaffold can fill the periapical space of an abscessed root.

Regeneration of vital tooth pulp

Described herein are biomaterials, systems, and methods for guiding regeneration of an epiphyseal growth plate or similar interfacial tissue structures. In one aspect, the disclosed technology can include a biologic material that can comprise one or more of a hydrogel carrier for growth factors and MSCs, chondrogenic and immunomodulatory cytokines, microparticles for prolonged and spatially controlled growth factor delivery; and/or porous scaffold providing mechanical support. The implanted material can be applied via various different modalities depending on the nature of the physeal injury. One modality is an injectable hydrogel and another modality is an implantable hydrogel infused scaffold.

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Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Jingming Chen