Decellularized Composite Bone Implants
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current treatments for damaged or defective bone-meniscus-bone joints, ligament-bone attachments, and osteochondral lesions often result in impaired biomechanics, tissue damage, and inadequate repair due to the difficulty in decellularizing composite tissue implants without altering the histoarchitecture and biomechanical properties of the involved tissues.
Innovation Solution
A decellularised natural multi-composite bone transplant material is developed, characterized by the substantial absence of cells, which retains its original histoarchitecture and biomechanical properties, achieved through a method involving freezing, thawing, fluid jet processing, ultrasonication, and enzymatic treatment to remove cells while preserving collagen and extracellular matrix components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If decellularisation is performed on composite bone-connective tissue-bone implants, then immunological compatibility is improved, but the histoarchitecture and biomechanical properties of the tissues are altered or damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The decellularisation process is divided into multiple sequential stages, each targeting different cell types and tissue components. The method segments the complex composite tissue into manageable processing steps: initial mechanical disruption, enzymatic digestion, detergent treatment, and nuclease digestion, allowing selective cell removal while preserving tissue structure at each stage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent systematically varies processing parameters including pH levels, temperature, enzyme concentrations, and exposure times throughout the decellularisation sequence. These parameter changes are optimized to progressively remove cells from different tissue compartments (bone, connective tissue, cartilage) while maintaining the integrity of extracellular matrix and structural proteins
Solution Approach 3:
The invention treats the composite bone-connective tissue-bone implant as a multi-component system requiring differentiated processing strategies for each tissue type. The decellularisation protocol is specifically designed to address the unique structural characteristics of each component while maintaining their integrated architecture and interfacial connections
2Object-generated harmful factors
If aggressive decellularisation methods are used to remove all cells, then immunological inertness is improved, but the mechanical strength and structural integrity of the implant are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The decellularisation process applies progressively increasing levels of treatment intensity, starting with gentle mechanical and enzymatic methods, then advancing to more aggressive detergent and nuclease treatments only where needed. This partial action approach achieves sufficient cell removal for immunological compatibility without applying excessive force that would damage the structural framework
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses intermediary substances including protease inhibitors, membrane stabilizers, and matrix-protecting agents that mediate between the decellularisation reagents and the tissue structure. These intermediaries shield critical structural components from damage while allowing cell removal to proceed, maintaining the balance between decellularisation efficacy and structural preservation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The decellularised composite bone transplant material is immunologically inert, biocompatible, and maintains the mechanical function of natural cartilage, facilitating integration with host tissues and potential regeneration, offering a superior alternative for meniscal, ligament, and osteochondral repairs without the limitations of existing treatments.
Implementation Method 1
freezing, thawing, fluid jet processing, ultrasonication, and enzymatic treatment to remove cells
Implementation Method 2
fluid jet processing, ultrasonication, and enzymatic treatment to remove cells
Implementation Method 3
freezing, thawing, fluid jet processing, ultrasonication, and enzymatic treatment to remove cells
Implementation Method 4
freezing, thawing, fluid jet processing, ultrasonication, and enzymatic treatment to remove cells
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides natural multi-composite bone implants such as bone-connective tissue-bone and osteochondral implants for the replacement and/or repair of, for example and in particular a damaged or defective bone-meniscus-bone joint or a bone-patella tendon-bone joint or osteochondral lesions, methods of preparing the composites and uses thereof. The invention also provides natural or native composite bone-connective tissue-bone and osteochondral matrices or scaffolds that are substantially decellularized for subsequent transplantation/implantation.