1255 results about "Cells fibroblast" patented technology

Normal cells, such as fibroblasts or other tissue or organ cell types, are genetically engineered to express biologically active, therapeutic agents, such as proteins that are normally produced in small amounts, for example, MIS, or other members of the TGF-beta family Herceptin(TM), interferons, andanti-angiogenic factors. These cells are seeded into a matrix for implantation into the patient to be treated. Cells may also be engineered to include a lethal gene, so that implanted cells can be destroyed once treatment is completed. Cells can be implanted in a variety of different matrices. In a preferred embodiment, these matrices are implantable and biodegradable over a period of time equal to or less than the expected period of treatment, when cells engraft to form a functional tissue producing the desired biologically active agent. Implantation may be ectopic or in some cases orthotopic. Representative cell types include tissue specific cells, progenitor cells, and stem cells. Matrices can be formed of synthetic or natural materials, by chemical coupling at the time of implantation, using standard techniques for formation of fibrous matrices from polymeric fibers, and using micromachining or microfabrication techniques. These devices and strategies are used as delivery systems via standard or minimally invasive implantation techniques for any number of parenterally deliverable recombinant proteins, particularly those that are difficult to produce in large amounts and / or active forms using conventional methods of purification, for the treatment of a variety of conditions that produce abnormal growth, including treatment of malignant and benign neoplasias, vascular malformations (hemangiomas), inflammatory conditions, keloid formation, abdominal or plural adhesions, endometriosis, congenital or endocrine abnormalities, and other conditions that can produce abnormal growth such as infection. Efficacy of treatment with the therapeutic biologicals is detected by determining specific criteria, for example, cessation of cell proliferation, regression of abnormal tissue, or cell death, or expression of genes or proteins reflecting the above.

A stromal cell-based three-dimensional cell culture system is provided which can be used to culture a variety of different cells and tissues in vitro for prolonged periods of time. The stromal cells along with connective tissue proteins naturally secreted by the stromal cells attach to and substantially envelope a framework composed of a biocompatible non-living material formed into a three-dimensional structure having interstitial spaces bridged by the stromal cells. Living stromal tissue so formed provides support, growth factors, and regulatory factors necessary to sustain long-term active proliferation of cells in culture and / or cultures implanted in vivo. When grown in this three-dimensional system, the proliferating cells mature and segregate properly to form components of adult tissues analogous to counterparts in vivo, which can be utilized in the body as a corrective tissue. The three-dimensional cultures can be used to form tubular tissue structures, like those of the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, as well as blood vessels; tissues for hernia repair and / or tendons and ligaments. A three-dimensional filamentous tissue having tendon or ligament function is prepared containing fibroblasts and collagen naturally secreted by the fibroblasts attached to and substantially enveloping a three-dimensional filamentous framework.

A cultured skin and a grafting cultured skin sheet are provided, each of which is a cultured reconstructive skin with a high take rate using cells collectable from cells originated from tissue included in an umbilical cord such as tissue included in an umbilical cord originated from a human fetus. The grafting cultured skin stratified sheet is prepared by placing an epithelium sheet on the top surface of a cultured dermis. The cultured dermis includes as components a cultured skin containing cells originated from a tissue included in an umbilical cord, such as umbilical cells, more concretely, umbilical fibroblast cells, being separated and cultured, preferably in a collagen nonwoven fabric. On the other hand, the epithelium sheet is prepared by culturing and stratifying the umbilical cord epithelium cells.

An apparatus for delivering a bioactive material to a subterranean layer of a skin architecture is provided that includes a head including one or more needles that are operable to penetrate a stratum corneum of a skin. A bioactive material is disposed on one or more of the needles, whereby movement of the head operates to pick up the bioactive material and to deliver a portion of the bioactive material to a selected location, the selected location being a dermis, or an epidermis, or both the dermis and the epidermis. In more particular embodiments, the bioactive material is a macromolecule substance that is part of a group of substances, the group consisting of a protein, a vitamin, a gene, a growth agent, a drug, and a peptide. The needles create an injury that triggers collagen production from one or more fibroblasts in the skin.

Flexible, bioactive glass meshes and scaffolds made therefrom are provided. The meshes comprise interwoven bioactive glass fibers that can be coated with resorbable polymers. Meshes can also be woven from glass fibers and resorbable polymers. Scaffolds can be constructed by a plurality of meshes, which can have varying porosities to create porosity gradients in the scaffold. Methods of making scaffolds are provided which can comprise pulling bioactive glass fibers, winding the fibers, forming the fibers into bundles, coating the fibers with a resorbable polymer, and creating a biaxial weave with the bundles. Soft tissue engineering methods are also provided for creating scaffolds for incubating cells such as fibroblasts and chondroblasts. Meshes and scaffolds are suitable for tissue engineering, such as bone tissue engineering and cartilage tissue engineering.

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.

The present invention provides defined serum-free cell culture media useful in culturing fibroblasts, especially articular chondrocytes, that avoids problems inherent in the use of serum-containing media. The defined media comprise platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and chemically defined lipids, or combinations of these compounds. In another aspect, the present invention also provides tissue culture methods that comprise incubating chondrocytes in the defined serum free media. The methods enhance attachment and proliferative expansion of chondrocytes seeded at low density while maintaining their redifferentiation potential.

The present methods and compositions are of use for treatment of conditions involving fibrosis, such as Peyronie's disease plaque, penile corporal fibrosis, penile veno-occlusive dysfunction, Dupuytren's disease nodules, vaginal fibrosis, clitoral fibrosis, female sexual arousal disorder, abnormal wound healing, keloid formation, general fibrosis of the kidney, bladder, prostate, skin, liver, lung, heart, intestines or any other localized or generalized fibrotic condition, vascular fibrosis, arterial intima hyperplasia, atherosclerosis, arteriosclerosis, restenosis, cardiac hypertrophy, hypertension or any condition characterized by excessive fibroblast or smooth muscle cell proliferation or deposition of collagen and extracellular matrix in the blood vessels and / or heart. In certain embodiments, the compositions may comprise a PDE-4 inhibitor, a PDE-5 inhibitor, a compound that elevates cGMP and / or PKG, a stimulator of guanylyl cyclase and / or PKG, a combination of a compound that elevates cGMP, PKG or NO with an antioxidant that decreases ROS, or a compound that increases MMP activity.

An improved system for screening a multiple of candidate therapeutic or chemotherapeutic agents for efficacy as to a specific patient, in which a tissue sample from the patient is harvested, cultured and separately exposed to a plurality of treatments and / or therapeutic agents for the purpose of objectively identifying the best treatment or agent for the particular patient. Specific method innovations such as tissue sample preparation techniques render this method practically as well as theoretically useful. One particularly important tissue sample preparation technique is the initial preparation of cohesive multicellular particulates of the tissue sample, rather than enzymatically dissociated cell suspensions or preparations, for initial tissue culture monolayer preparation. With respect to the culturing of malignant cells, for example, it is believed (without any intention of being bound by the theory) that by maintaining the malignant cells within a multicellular particulate of the originating tissue, growth of the malignant cells themselves is facilitated versus the overgrowth of fibroblasts or other cells which tends to occur when suspended tumor cells are grown in culture. Practical monolayers of cells may thus be formed to enable meaningful screening of a plurality of treatments and / or agents. Growth of cells is monitored to ascertain the time to initiate the assay and to determine the growth rate of the cultured cells; sequence and timing of drug addition is also monitored and optimized. By subjecting uniform samples of cells to a wide variety of active agents (and concentrations thereof), the most promising agent and concentration for treatment of a particular patient can be determined. For assays concerning cancer treatment, a two-stage evaluation is contemplated in which both acute cytotoxic and longer term inhibitory effect of a given anti-cancer agent are investigated.

The present disclosure relates generally to novel methods and compositions for using engineered reprogramming factor(s) for the creation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) through a kinetically controlled process. Specifically, this disclosure relates to establishing combinations of reprogramming factors, including fusions between conventional reprogramming factors with transactivation domains, optimized for reprogramming various types of cells. More specifically, the exemplary methods disclosed herein can be used for creating induced pluripotent stem cells from various mammalian cell types, including human fibroblasts. Exemplary methods of feeder-free derivation of human induced pluripotent stem cells using synthetic messenger RNA are also disclosed.

The invention provides an overexpression porcine co-stimulatory 4-1BB vector and application thereof. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification is performed on a left homologous arm and a right homologous arm of an intron 1 of a rosa26 gene, a 4-1BB regulatory sequence and an OCT4 specific promoter; the left homologous arm, a 4-1BB expression cassette, LoxP locus-contained Cre and Neo expression cassettes, the right homologous arm and negative selection DTA diphtheria toxin are connected in sequence to obtain a 4-1BB homologous recombinant vector p4BOCNDR; the vector and a CRISPR / Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats / CRISPR-associated) targeting vector of sgRNA (small guide ribonucleic acid) containing the intron 1 of the specific targeting porcine rosa26 gene are transferred together into a porcine fetus fibroblast; by taking a positive cell as a donor cell and an oocyte as a recipient cell, a cloned embryo is obtained through a somatic cell nuclear transfer technique; the cloned embryo is transplanted into a porcine uterus for fetation to obtain a transgenic pig integrating a 4-1BB gene at the fixed point of a first intron of the rosa26 gene and automatically deleting a marker gene.

A protein which inhibits osteoclast diffraction and / or maturation and a method for producing the protein. The protein is produced by human embryonic lung fibroblasts and has a molecular weight of about 60 kD and about 120 kD under non-reducing conditions and about 60 kD under reducing conditions an SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein can be isolated and purified from the culture medium of fibroblasts. Furthermore, the protein can be produced by gene engineering. The present invention includes cDNA for producing the protein by gene engineering, antibodies having specific affinity for the protein or a method for determining protein concentration using these antibodies.

Methods and compositions for the biological repair of cartilage using a hybrid construct combining both an inert structure and living core are described. The inert structure is intended to act not only as a delivery system to feed and grow a living, core component, but also as an inducer of cell differentiation. The inert structure comprises concentric internal and external and inflatable / expandable balloon-like bio-polymers. The living core comprises the cell-matrix construct comprised of HDFs, for example, seeded in a scaffold. The method comprises surgically removing a damaged cartilage from a patient and inserting the hybrid construct into the cavity generated after the foregoing surgical intervention. The balloons of the inert structure are successively inflated within the target area, such as a joint, for example. Also disclosed herein are methods for growing and differentiating human fibroblasts into chondrocyte-like cells via mechanical strain.

Normal cells, such as fibroblasts or other tissue or organ cell types, are genetically engineered to express biologically active, therapeutic agents, such as proteins that are normally produced in small amounts, for example, MIS, or other members of the TGF-beta family Herceptin(TM), interferons, andanti-angiogenic factors. These cells are seeded into a matrix for implantation into the patient to be treated. Cells may also be engineered to include a lethal gene, so that implanted cells can be destroyed once treatment is completed. Cells can be implanted in a variety of different matrices. In a preferred embodiment, these matrices are implantable and biodegradable over a period of time equal to or less than the expected period of treatment, when cells engraft to form a functional tissue producing the desired biologically active agent. Implantation may be ectopic or in some cases orthotopic. Representative cell types include tissue specific cells, progenitor cells, and stem cells. Matrices can be formed of synthetic or natural materials, by chemical coupling at the time of implantation, using standard techniques for formation of fibrous matrices from polymeric fibers, and using micromachining or microfabrication techniques. These devices and strategies are used as delivery systems via standard or minimally invasive implantation techniques for any number of parenterally deliverable recombinant proteins, particularly those that are difficult to produce in large amounts and / or active forms using conventional methods of purification, for the treatment of a variety of conditions that produce abnormal growth, including treatment of malignant and benign neoplasias, vascular malformations (hemangiomas), inflammatory conditions, keloid formation, abdominal or plural adhesions, endometriosis, congenital or endocrine abnormalities, and other conditions that can produce abnormal growth such as infection. Efficacy of treatment with the therapeutic biologicals is detected by determining specific criteria, for example, cessation of cell proliferation, regression of abnormal tissue, or cell death, or expression of genes or proteins reflecting the above.

The invention discloses single guide ribonucleic acid (sgRNA) capable of effectively editing a pig ROSA26 gene, and application of the sgRNA. Based on the sgRNA capable of specifically identifying the pig ROSA26 gene in a pig genome, a cell line of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) site-specific integrated porcine fetal fibroblasts is successfully established by using a CRISPR / Cas9-mediated gene knock-in technique; the results show that the cell line can stably and efficiently express an EGFP gene; furthermore, in the preparation process of the cell line, exogenous promoter genes and positive and negative screening marker genes are not introduced into the cell line. Therefore, the sgRNA greatly improves the safety of transgenic pigs, and has important significance for eliminating the biological and food potential safety hazards of agricultural products of the transgenic pigs.

A biomedical material for transplant to a subject is provided according to embodiments of the present invention which includes an isolated donor tissue enzyme-treated to reduce the amount of proteoglycans in the donor tissue compared to untreated tissue. Isolated cells are optionally added to the enzyme-treated donor tissue, including leukocytes, particularly monocytes; macrophages; platelets; cells derived from an intervertebral disc such as chondrocyte-like nucleus pulposus cells; fibrocytes; fibroblasts; mesenchymal stem cells; mesenchymal precursor cells; chondrocytes; or a combination of any of these. The isolated donor tissue is articular cartilage or an intervertebral disc tissue such as nucleus pulposus tissue and / or annulus fibrosis tissue enzyme-treated to remove proteoglycans normally present in these tissues. A biomedical material of the present invention is administered to a subject to treat a disorder or injury, such as a disorder or injury to connective tissue.

Dosage units consist of an autologous cell therapy product composed of fibroblasts grown for each individual to be treated for augmentation or regeneration of vocal cords. The suspension of autologous fibroblasts, grown from a biopsy of each individual's own buccal mucosa or skin using current good manufacturing practices (CGMP) and standard tissue culture procedures, is supplied in vials containing cryopreserved fibroblasts or precursors thereof, having a purity of at least 98% fibroblasts and a viability of at least 85%, for administration of from one to six mL, preferably two mL administered three times approximately three to six weeks apart, of cells at a concentration of from 1.0-2.0×107 cells / mL.

The present invention relates to a population of blood borne mammalian cells that express a unique profile of surface markers that includes certain markers typical of connective tissue fibroblasts, and are referred to herein as "blood-borne mesenchymal cells." In particular, it relates to the isolation, characterization and uses of such blood-borne mesenchymal cells. The cells of the present invention can be distinguished from peripheral blood leukocytes by their distinct size, morphology, cell surface phenotype and biologic activities, and are likewise distinguishable from connective tissue fibroblasts by other surface phenotypic markers. These cells proliferate in culture, and in vivo, as demonstrated in animal models, are capable of migrating into wound sites from the blood. Therefore, such blood-borne mesenchymal cells may have a wide range of applications, including, but not limited to, the promotion of wound healing, tissue remodeling, and for gene therapy.

To control cardiac arrhythmias, various conduction-modifying agents include biopolymers, fibroblasts, neurotoxins, and growth factors are introduced either epicardially or endocardially to the fat pads in proximity to the ganglia therein. Any desired technique may be used for injection, including injection from a catheter inserted percutaneously, or direct injection through the epicardial during open heart surgery. Preferably the patient's heart is beating throughout the Injection.

The present invention provides a novel method to isolate and expand pure progenitor / stem cells from a primary tissue explant, which produces a population enriched in multipotent functional progenitor / stem cells free of contaminating fibroblasts and other cell types. Cardiac progenitor / stem cells isolated by this method maintain their self-renewal and clonogenic character in vitro and differentiate into normal cells in myocardium, including cardiomyocytes, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, after transplantation into ischemic hearts. The present invention also includes substantially pure populations of multipotent progenitor / stem cells, e.g., cardiac progenitor / stem cells, and their use to treat and prevent diseases and injuries, including those resulting from myocardial infarction.

The present invention relates to a population of blood borne mammalian cells that express a unique profile of surface markers that includes certain markers typical of connective tissue fibroblasts, and are referred to herein as "blood-borne mesenchymal cells." In particular, it relates to the isolation, characterization and uses of such blood-borne mesenchymal cells. The cells of the present invention can be distinguished from peripheral blood leukocytes by their distinct size, morphology, cell surface phenotype and biologic activities, and are likewise distinguishable from connective tissue fibroblasts by other surface phenotypic markers. These cells proliferate in culture, and in vivo, as demonstrated in animal models, are capable of migrating into wound sites from the blood. Therefore, such blood-borne mesenchymal cells may have a wide range of applications, including, but not limited to, the promotion of wound healing, tissue remodeling, and for gene therapy.

C-glycoside compounds are suited for stimulating the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans containing a D-glucosamine and / or N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residue, advantageously hyaluronic acid, and / or proteoglycans, advantageously proteoglycans containing hyaluronic acid, by fibroblasts and / or keratinocytes.

The invention relates to bioactive surface coatings deposited on selected substrates. Surface nanostructured film coatings deposited on most metal or nonmetal substrates to provide surfaces can be engineered to promote enhanced tissue / cell adhesion. Attached cells, including osteoblasts, fibroblasts and endothelial cells, retain viability and will readily differentiate and proliferate under appropriate conditions. Fibroblasts and endothelial cells exhibit good attachment and growth on most coated substrates, except on nano surfaced structured silicone.

Described herein are engineered multilayered vascular tubes comprising at least one layer of differentiated adult fibroblasts, at least one layer of differentiated adult smooth muscle cells, wherein any layer further comprises differentiated adult endothelial cells, wherein said tubes have the following features: (a) a ratio of endothelial cells to smooth muscle cells of about 1:99 to about 45:55; (b) the tube is compliant; (c) the internal diameter of the tube is about 6 mm or smaller; (d) the length of the tube is up to about 30 cm; and (e) the thickness of the tube is substantially uniform along a region of the tube; provided that the engineered multilayered vascular tube is free of any pre-formed scaffold. Also described herein are methods of forming said tubes and uses for said tubes including methods for treating patients, comprising providing such a tube into to a patient in need thereof.

Methods for wound healing or tissue regeneration by means of cell and tissue engineering, including using three-dimensional matrices with cells therein. A three-dimensional matrix, optionally containing cells such as fibroblasts, is inserted Into the wound of a subject. An anti-inflammatory factor may also be used to reduce or suppress the immune response. The wound may be covered to limit exposure to gaseous oxygen, for example, using a membrane. An anticoagulant may also be applied. In addition, cells, such as fibroblasts or stem cells, when cultured within a three-dimensional matrix, under certain conditions, can be induced to form non-fibroblast multipotent cells. When stem cells are cultured in the three-dimensional matrix, at least some of the stem cells remain as stem cells and do not differentiate. Kits for promoting the control of cells within three-dimensional matrices are also disclosed.

The invention discloses a bionic vascularized soft tissue with a multilayer vascular structure and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method comprises the steps of: employing a moulding process or 3D printing way to obtain a sacrificial membrane with a branched structure; coating or spraying a polymer solution containing a pore-foaming agent on the surface of the sacrificial membrane toobtain a polymer film; removing the treated sacrificial membrane of the structure and the pore-foaming agent to obtain a vascular channel-like structure with surface pores; conducting perfusion planting of endothelial cells in the channel of the vascular channel-like structure; planting smooth muscle cells or fibroblasts in the surface pores of the vascular channel-like structure; and placing thetreated vascular channel-like structure in a mold, adding an aquogel solution containing parenchymal cells, and conducting moulding so as to obtain the bionic vascularized soft tissue. The method provided by the invention can construct bionic blood vessels with a multilayer structure in artificial tissues.

The current subject matter includes methods, systems, articles, and techniques to deliver material to anucleate cells, such as red blood cells. Using a rapid deformation based microfluidic system, loading of red blood cells with macromolecules of different sizes has been shown. Although delivery to some mammalian cells, such as cancer cell lines and fibroblasts had been previously demonstrated using this technique, those designs were incompatible with RBCs that have dramatically different physical properties. Through the use of smaller constriction sizes, high speeds and different buffers successful delivery to red blood cells can be achieved. By enabling robust delivery to red blood cells in a simple, scalable manner, the current subject matter can be implemented in a diversity of applications that deliver material to study red blood cell diseases and / or use red blood cells as a therapeutic platform. Related apparatus, systems, techniques, and articles are also described.

Provided are a method for inducing the transdifferentiation of somatic cells into neural stem cells and application for same. Using a combination of a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, a glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3) inhibitor, and a transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signal pathway inhibitor, in a low-oxygen normal physiological environment, induce somatic cells such as fibroblasts and epithelial cells to form into neural stem cells having good pluripotency and passage stability.

A method for corrective surgery in a human subject of a vocal cord defect amenable to rectification by the augmentation of tissue subadjacent to the vocal cord defect, the method comprising: placing an effective amount of autologous in vitro cultured cells into a vocal cord tissue of the subject in a position subadjacent to the vocal cord defect, wherein the vocal cord tissue is selected from the group consisting of a scar, Reinke's space, a muscle of the vocal cord, and the lamina propria, wherein the in vitro cultured cells are obtained by culturing a plurality of viable cells retrieved from the subject, and wherein the cultured cells are suspended in a collagen or modified collagen solution prior to injection of the cultured cells. The in vitro cultured cells can be fibroblasts, e.g., fibroblasts derived from dermis, fascia, connective tissue, or lamina propria.