511 results about "Amnion" patented technology

The present invention relates to collagenous membranes produced from amnion, herein referred to as a collagen biofabric. The collagen biofabric of the invention has the structural integrity of the native non-treated amniotic membrane, i.e., the native tertiary and quaternary structure. The present invention provides a method for preparing a collagen biofabric from a placental membrane, preferably a human placental membrane having a chorionic and amniotic membrane, by decellularizing the amniotic membrane. In a preferred embodiment, the amniotic membrane is completely decellularized. The collagen biofabric of the invention has numerous utilities in the medical and surgical field including for example, blood vessel repair, construction and replacement of a blood vessel, tendon and ligament replacement, wound-dressing, surgical grafts, ophthalmic uses, sutures, and others. The benefits of the biofabric are, in part, due to its physical properties such as biomechanical strength, flexibility, suturability, and low immunogenicity, particularly when derived from human placenta.

The present invention relates to a method for isolating stem / progenitor cells from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord, wherein the method comprises separating the amniotic membrane from the other components of the umbilical cord in vitro, culturing the amniotic membrane tissue under conditions allowing cell proliferation, and isolating the stem / progenitor cells from the tissue cultures. The isolated stem cell cells can have embryonic stem cell-like properties and can be used for various therapeutic purposes. In one embodiment, the invention relates to the isolation and cultivation of stem cells such as epithelial and / or mesenchymal stem / progenitor cells under conditions allowing the cells to undergo mitotic expansion. Furthermore, the invention is directed to a method for the differentiation of the isolated stem / progenitor cells into epithelial and / or mesenchymal cells.

The invention is directed to substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, compositions comprising the substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, and to methods of creating such substantially purified amnion-derived cell populations, as well as methods of use. The invention is further directed to antibodies, in particular, monoclonal antibodies, that bind to amnion-derived cells or, alternatively, to one or more amnion-derived cell surface protein markers. The invention is further directed to methods for producing the antibodies, methods for using the antibodies, and kits comprising the antibodies.

The present invention provides methods for culturing, expanding and differentiating stem cells, particularly human embryonic stem cells. The methods comprise culturing the stem cells for a period of time on a collagen biofabric, particularly a collagen biofabric derived from the amniotic membrane, chorion, or both, from mammalian placenta.

Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta. The grafts are composed of at least one layer of amnion tissue where the epithelium layer has been substantially removed in order to expose the basement layer to host cells. By removing the epithelium layer, cells from the host can more readily interact with the cell-adhesion bio-active factors located onto top and within of the basement membrane. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts. The laminin structure of amnion tissue is nearly identical to that of native human tissue such as, for example, oral mucosa tissue. This includes high level of laminin-5, a cell adhesion bio-active factor show to bind gingival epithelia-cells, found throughout upper portions of the basement membrane.

Cells which may be differentiated at least into nerve cells, which are useful for therapies of brain metabolic diseases, are disclosed. The cells are side population cell separated from human amniotic mesenchymal cell layer, in which expressions of Oct-4 gene, Sox-2 gene and Rex-1 gene are observed by RT-PCR, and which are vimentin-positive and CK19-positive in immunocytostaining.

Provided herein is a placental product comprising an immunocompatible amniotic membrane. Such placental products can be cryopreserved and contain viable therapeutic cells after thawing. The placental product of the present invention is useful in treating a patient with a tissue injury (e.g. wound or burn) by applying the placental product to the injury. Similar application is useful with ligament and tendon repair and for engraftment procedures such as bone engraftment.

The present invention relates to a skin equivalent and a method for producing the same, wherein the skin equivalent comprises a scaffold and stem / progenitor cells isolated from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord. These stem / progenitor cells may be mesenchymal (UCMC) and / or epithelial (UCEC) stem cells, which may then be further differentiated to fibroblast and keratinocytes. Further described is a method for isolating stem / progenitor cells from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord, wherein the method comprises separating the amniotic membrane from the other components of the umbilical cord in vitro, culturing the amniotic membrane tissue under conditions allowing cell proliferation, and isolating the stem / progenitor cells from the tissue cultures. The invention also refers to therapeutic uses of these skin equivalents. Another aspect of the invention relates to the generation of a mucin-producing cell using stem / progenitor cells obtained from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord and therapeutic uses of such mucin-producing cells. In yet another aspect, the invention relates to a method for generating an insulin-producing cell using stem / progenitor cells isolated from the amniotic membrane of umbilical cord and therapeutic uses thereof. The invention further refers to a method of treating a bone or cartilage disorder using UCMC. Furthermore, the invention refers to a method of generating a dopamin and tyrosin hydroxylase as well as a HLA-G and hepatocytes using UCMC and / or UCEC. The present invention also refers to a method of inducing proliferation of aged keratinocytes using UCMC.

Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta that possess good adhesion to biological tissues and are useful in would healing applications. In one aspect, the tissue graft includes (1) two or more layers of amnion, wherein at least one layer of amnion is cross-linked, (2) two or more layers of chorion, wherein at least one layer of chorion is cross-linked, or (3) one or more layers of amnion and chorion, wherein at least one layer of amnion and / or chorion is cross-linked. In another aspect, the grafts are composed of amnion and chorion cross-linked with one another. In a further aspect, the grafts have one or more layers sandwiched between the amnion and chorion membranes. The amnion and / or the chorion are treated with a cross-linking agent prior to the formation of the graft. The presence of the cross-linking agent present on the graft also enhances adhesion to the biological tissue of interest. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts.

Described herein are tissue grafts derived from the placenta. The grafts are composed of at least one layer of amnion tissue where the epithelium layer has been substantially removed in order to expose the basement layer to host cells. By removing the epithelium layer, cells from the host can more readily interact with the cell-adhesion bio-active factors located onto top and within of the basement membrane. Also described herein are methods for making and using the tissue grafts. The laminin structure of amnion tissue is nearly identical to that of native human tissue such as, for example, oral mucosa tissue. This includes high level of laminin-5, a cell adhesion bio-active factor show to bind gingival epithelia-cells, found throughout upper portions of the basement membrane.

A packaging cell line capable of complementing recombinant adenoviruses based on serotypes from subgroup B, preferably adenovirus type 35. The cell line is preferably derived from primary, diploid human cells (e.g., primary human retinoblasts, primary human embryonic kidney cells and primary human amniocytes) which are transformed by adenovirus E1 sequences either operatively linked on one DNA molecule or located on two separate DNA molecules, the sequences being operatively linked to regulatory sequences enabling transcription and translation of encoded proteins. Also disclosed is a cell line derived from PER.C6 (ECACC deposit number 96022940), which cell expresses functional Ad35 E1B sequences. The Ad35-E1B sequences are driven by the E1B promoter or a heterologous promoter and terminated by a heterologous poly-adenylation signal. The new cell lines are useful for producing recombinant adenoviruses designed for gene therapy and vaccination. The cell line can also be used for producing human recombinant therapeutic proteins such as human growth factors and human antibodies. In addition, the cell lines are useful for producing human viruses other than adenovirus such as influenza virus, herpes simplex virus, rotavirus, measles virus.

The invention concerns the identification of proteomes of biological fluids and their use in determining the state of maternal / fetal conditions, including maternal conditions of fetal origin, chromosomal aneuploidies, and fetal diseases associated with fetal growth and maturation. In particular, the invention concerns a comprehensive proteomic analysis of human amniotic fluid (AF) and cervical vaginal fluid (CVF), and the correlation of characteristic changes in the normal proteome with various pathologic maternal / fetal conditions, such as intra-amniotic infection, pre-term labor, and / or chromosomal defects. The invention further concerns the identification of biomarkers and groups of biomarkers that can be used for non-invasive diagnosis of various pregnancy-related disorders, and diagnostic assays using such biomarkers.

It is described a construct for use in surgical repair of tendon. The construct contains at least one layer of human amnion and chorion tissues and is generally cylindrical with a C-shaped cross-section to allow for ease of implantation over the tendon. Methods for preparing the construct is described. In addition, an improved method for surgical repair of a damaged or diseased tendon using the construct is also described. The improved method reduces adhesions, scar formation, inflammation and risk of post-operative infection.

The present invention relates to a composition for implantation in the subretinal space of an eye, the composition including amniotic membrane, which may be cryopreserved human amniotic membrane, and a plurality of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells or RPE equivalent cells present at the amniotic membrane. The amniotic membrane may be intact, epithelially denuded, or otherwise treated. The invention includes the use of amniotic membrane for the culturing of RPE cells thereon, forming a surgical graft for replacement of Bruch's membrane as a substrate, and for the transplanting of RPE cells to the subretinal space. The composition does not elicit immunological reactions to alloantigens or to RPE specific autoantigens; and exerts anti-inflammatory, anti angiogentic, and anti-scarring effects. The invention includes methods and kits for making or using composites including amniotic membrane and RPE cells. Also disclosed is a device for harvesting RPE cells.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing a contact lens-shaped amniotic dressing and a contact lens-shaped amniotic dressing prepared therefrom for treating ocular surface diseases, which does not require the use of sutures or an adhesion material. The inventive contact lens-shaped amniotic dressing is capable of solving the problems associated with suturing an amniotic membrane, e.g., highly delicate surgical techniques of suturing, long surgery time, stitch abscess, granuloma formation, tissue necrosis, and discomfort of patients; and the problems associated with the use of a support, e.g., the elimination of the support by eye blinking, breaking of the support, and discomfort.

Described are methods for isolating / purifying and expanding animal stem cells and stem-cell-like cells. Isolation methods include conditions comprising preferentially digesting non-stem cells and non-stem-cell-like cells in a population and preferentially adhering stem cells and stem-cell-like cells in a population. Expansion methods include culturing such cells under conditions comprising modulation of TGF-β signaling, inhibition of cell signaling mediated by p38 MAP kinase using small molecular weight inhibitors, expansion of the cells on human amniotic epithelial cells as feeder layers, control of cell seeding density, control of levels of Ca2+ in the culture media, rapid adhesion on a substrate or by a combination of such conditions. More particularly, what is disclosed relates to methods and systems for expanding animal cells in ex vivo cell cultures, while preventing cellular differentiation, and selectively enriching stem cells. The embodiments also disclose a culture system for ex vivo expansion of limbal epithelial cells or mesenchymal cells, as well as surgical grafts made there from.

The present invention relates to a biopolymer covering for a tissue surface including, for example, a dressing, a bandage, a drape such as a bandage contact lens, a composition or covering to protect tissue, a covering to prevent adhesions, to exclude bacteria, to inhibit bacterial activity, or to promote healing or growth of tissue. An example of such a composition is an amniotic membrane covering for an ocular surface. Use of a covering for a tissue surface according to the invention eliminates the need for suturing. The invention also includes devices facilitating the fastening of a membrane to a support, culture inserts, compositions, methods, and kits for making and using coverings for a tissue surface and culture inserts. Compositions according to the invention may include cells grown on a membrane or attached to a membrane, and such compositions may be used as scaffolds for tissue engineering or tissue grafts. A method of preparing and using an amniotic membrane covering for a tissue surface as a controlled release drug delivery vehicle is also disclosed.

A method of preparing an amniotic membrane extract including the steps of obtaining a healthy amniotic membrane from a pregnant mammal, such as a pig, cow, horse or human, homogenizing the membrane to obtain a homogenate solution, freezing the homogenate solution, and lyophilizing the frozen homogenate solution to dryness is disclosed. Preferably, the lyophilized homogenate is pulverized to a powder. The lyophilized homogenate is then reconstituted before use, e.g., in a liquid, such as a balanced salt solution or fresh amniotic fluid, or in another substance, such a gel, an ointment, a cream or a soap, depending on the intended use. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition prepared according to the method of the invention, for prophylaxis and / or treatment of a disease or condition, especially of the eye or the skin. Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for the composition of the invention include an ophthalmic solution for eye drops, a gel, an ointment, an emulsion, a cream, a powder and a spray.

The present invention discloses a method of cross-linking amnion to be an improved biomedical material. The present invention adopts the amnion cross-linked by EDC (N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethyl-carbodiimide HCI) or NHS (N-hydroxysuccinimide), and the cross-linked amnion not only has more resistance to protease, but also binds specific extracellular matrix (ECM) such as heparin by using cross-linked functional group. Further, by using the affinity of the ECM with specific growth factors, the amnion can be an efficient carrier for specific growth factor. Hence, some specific diseases may be treated.

It is our intention to provide a transplantation material applicable to the treatment of various diseases that require corneal endothelium transplantation. Corneal endothelial cells are collected, proliferated and then sown on amnion and cultured. Thus, a corneal endothelium-like sheet, which has a cell layer made up of the corneal endothelium-origin cells formed on the amnion, can be obtained.

The present invention relates to a dermal substitute comprising the biodegradable polymer such as collagen and the biomaterial such as amnion, the preparation method and the use thereof. Specifically, the present invention provides with an amnion-collagen sponge complex structure prepared by attaching, inserting or incorporating an amnion obtained from placenta to / in collagen. Inventive dermal substitute can be applied to surgery and wound requiring skin graft, for example, severe burns such as second-degree burn, without rejection by immune system. Further, inventive dermal substitute with amnion instead of silicone membrane has several advantages, such as better biocompatibility, anti-inflammatory activity and promoting activity of wound healing and commercial utilization as basement membrane. Also, inventive complex structure can be used as the basic matrix of bio-artificial skin for culturing cells and the biodegradable basic matrix for preparing artificial organs.

A stent scaffold combined with amniotic tissue provides for a biocompatible stent that has improved biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. The amnion tissue can be variously modified or unmodified form of amnion tissue such as non-cryo amnion tissue, solubilized amnion tissue, amnion tissue fabric, chemically modified amnion tissue, amnion tissue treated with radiation, amnion tissue treated with heat, or a combination thereof. Materials such as polymer, placental tissue, pericardium tissue, small intestine submucosa can be used in combination with the amnion tissue. The amnion tissue can be attached to the inside, the outside, both inside and outside, or complete encapsulation of the stent scaffold. In some embodiments, at least part of the covering or lining comprises a plurality of layers of amnion tissue. The method of making the biocompatible stent and its delivery and deployment are also discussed.

A biological tissue sheet which is expected as exerting a favorable therapeutic effect and a high safety in transplantation. The biological tissue sheet formed by (a) preparing in vivo-derived cells; (b) sowing the in vivo-derived cells on amniotic membrane; and (c) culturing and proliferating the in vivo-derived cells in the absence of any xenogeneic animal cells. As the cells of a biological origin, for example, cells originating in corneal epithelium, conjunctival epithelium, skin epidermis, hair follicle epithelium, oral mucosa, respiratory tract mucosa, or intestinal tract mucosa.

A method of preparing an amniotic membrane extract including the steps of obtaining a healthy amniotic membrane from a pregnant mammal, such as a pig, cow, horse or human, homogenizing the membrane to obtain a homogenate solution, freezing the homogenate solution, and lyophilizing the frozen homogenate solution to dryness is disclosed. Preferably, the lyophilized homogenate is pulverized to a powder. The lyophilized homogenate is then reconstituted before use, e.g., in a liquid, such as a balanced salt solution or fresh amniotic fluid, or in another substance, such a gel, an ointment, a cream or a soap, depending on the intended use. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical composition prepared according to the method of the invention, for prophylaxis and / or treatment of a disease or condition, especially of the eye or the skin. Exemplary pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for the composition of the invention include an ophthalmic solution for eye drops, a gel, an ointment, an emulsion, a cream, a powder and a spray.

A method for making, storing and using a surgical graft from equine amniotic membrane in veterinary ophthalmology. The amniotic membrane is obtained from equine placenta, from which the chorion has been separated. Sheets of the amniotic membrane are cut to size and mounted on filter paper. The cells of the amniotic membrane are killed, preferably while being frozen and thawed in the storage solution. The equine amniotic membrane can be used in a variety of ocular surgeries in horses but also other species such as food animals, dogs and cats. It represents a strong biomaterial that will give a good physical support to the ocular tissues while inducing a minimal amount of scarring which is primordial in ocular surgeries in order to obtain the best visual outcome.

The premature rupture of amniotic fluid (PROM) may be discovered through a number of inventive means. Methods of evaluating whether PROM is present include; a) through the testing of the pH of vaginal fluids using an irreversible pH test; b) through the detection of analytes (e.g. enzymes) specific to amniotic fluid in the vaginal fluids; c) though the detection of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the vaginal fluid; and d) through the detection of cholesterol in vaginal fluid. While individually indicative of PROM, it is desirable to combine at least two of these techniques to yield a powerful tool of even greater reliability. Test devices and feminine hygiene pads into which the test methods may be incorporated are also included herein.

The invention is directed to methods for the treatment of wounds. Such methods utilize novel compositions, including but not limited to amnion-derived multipotent cells (herein referred to as AMP cells), conditioned media derived therefrom (herein referred to as amnion-derived cellular cytokine suspension or ACCS), cell lysates derived therefrom, cell products derived therefrom, each alone or in combination.

The present invention relates to placenta tissue-derived multipotent stem cells and cell therapeutic agents containing the same. More specifically, to a method for producing placenta stem cells having the following characteristics, the method comprising culturing amnion, chorion, decidua or placenta tissue in a medium containing collagenase and bFGF and collecting the cultured cells: (a) showing a positive immunological response to CD29, CD44, CD73, CD90 and CD105, and showing a negative immunological response to CD31, CD34, CD45 and HLA-DR; (b) showing a positive immunological response to Oct4 and SSEA4; (c) growing attached to plastic, showing a round-shaped or spindle-shaped morphology, and forming spheres in an SFM medium so as to be able to be maintained in an undifferentiated state for a long period of time; and (d) having the ability to differentiate into mesoderm-, endoderm- and ectoderm-derived cells. Also the present invention relates to placenta stem cells obtained using the production method. The inventive multipotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into muscle cells, vascular endothelial cells, osteogenic cells, nerve cells, satellite cells, fat cells, cartilage-forming cells, osteogenic cells, or insuline-secreting pancreatic β-cells, and thus are effective for the treatment of muscular diseases, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, nervous diseases, diabetes and the like, and are useful for the formation of breast tissue.

It is intended to provide an amnion-origin medical material which can be easily handled and fully sterilized and, moreover, favorably acts as a base material for forming a cell layer thereon. This material is prepared by: (i) removing the epithelial layer from the amnion while remaining at at leaset a part of the base membrane thereof; and (ii) drying it under such conditions that the remaining base membrane can sustain a structure allowing the adhesion and proliferation of cells thereon in using.