Abstract: A bone graft material comprising about 50-90% quickly bioresorbable porogen particles and about 10-50% of a calcium matrix material. A bioactive substance can be included in the matrix material, the porogen particles, or both. Commercial packages containing the bone graft materials and methods for repairing bone therewith are also claimed.

Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides methods for forming a target tissue substitute. The methods of the invention comprise the following steps: (a) providing a scaffold comprising one or more layers of one or more arrays of microfibers, wherein one or more of the arrays of microfibers is designed to mimic the configuration of one or more structural elements in a target tissue; and (b) culturing cells on the scaffold to form a target tissue substitute. In another aspect, the invention provides implantable medical devices. The implantable medical devices of the invention comprise a scaffold comprising one or more layers of one or more arrays of microfibers, wherein one or more of the arrays of microfibers is arranged to mimic the configuration of one or more structural elements in a target tissue. Typically, cells are cultured on the scaffold to form a target tissue substitute.

Abstract: Methods and compositions for detection of microbial contaminants in peritoneal dialysis solutions are provided. The methods and compositions employ modified bioburden testing and the detection of peptidoglycan. A novel cause of aseptic peritonitis is provided—aseptic peritonitis associated with gram positive microbial contamination of a dialysis solution. Peptidoglycan is a major component of a gram positive bacterial cell wall and thus can serve as a marker for gram positive bacteria. In this regard, testing for peptidoglycans can be utilized to effectively prevent peritonitis in patients that use the peritoneal dialysis solutions, such as peritoneal dialysis solutions that contain a glucose polymer including an icodextrin and the like.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing a three-dimensional circular muscle body from a carrier substance and from cell cultures incorporated therein comprising a cell culture dish (1) and at least one element (2) placed inside said cell culture dish (1). The invention also relates to a multi-well plate constructed of a number of devices, which are arranged side by side and/or one behind the other, for producing a three-dimensional circular muscle body. The invention additionally relates to a solution for cultivating mammal cardiomyocytes, to a method for cultivating a cell culture, to a device for measuring isometric force parameters of cell cultures, and to a method for following, in a measurable manner, contractions of a cell tissue incorporated in a carrier substance. Finally, the invention relates to an artificially produced three-dimensional muscle tissue, in particular, a heart muscle tissue.

Abstract: A vaginal treatment composition that employs a therapeutic agent to inhibit and/or treat vaginal infection is provided. The therapeutic agent is capable of inhibiting and/or killing Gardnerella (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis), Candida (e.g., Candida albicans), and/or Trichomonas (e.g., Trichomonas vaginalis) pathogens. Desirably, such antimicrobial efficacy is achieved without substantially inhibiting the growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus. For instance, sugars and/or sugar alcohols may be employed in the present invention as a therapeutic agent for inhibiting and/or treating vaginal infection. In one particular embodiment, D-xylitol is used as the therapeutic agent.

Abstract: A modified reconstituted extracellular matrix composition is provided herein. The composition includes an extracellular matrix and at least one exogenous component selected from heparin, fibronectin and laminin. The composition may have a basic pH. Additionally, provided herein is a cell culturing system including a substrate and a coating thereon of the composition to assess potential stimulators and/or inhibitors for their effects on various cell cultures while increasing the signal dynamic range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a preparation of an active enamel matrix substance, such as an amelogenin, for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for modulating an immune response. The composition can be used in preventing and/or treating a condition or disease in a mammal that is characterised by said mammal presenting an imbalance in its native immune response to an internal and/or external stimuli, i.e. wherein at least a part of said mammal's immune system is stimulated non-discriminatingly, reacts hypersensitively to said immunogen, or fails to react to said stimuli. Said condition can typically either be systemic or local, such as a systemic and/or post-traumatic whole-body inflammation or an autoimmune disease.

Abstract: The present invention describes devices, solutions, and methods for the ex-vivo assessment, resuscitation, triage, and maintenance of human candidate cadaveric hearts.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for detecting target microorganisms in a sample. In particular, the present invention relates to compositions comprising a conditionally detectable maker and an enzyme substrate that provides detection of the target microorganism as well as methods of use thereof. With the invention disclosed herein, a widely applicable approach is revealed which utilizes a presumptive indicator for the target microorganism and non-target microorganisms capable of growth and detection in a medium followed by a confirmation indicator, which is substantially only reacted upon by the non-target microorganisms.

Abstract: Biocompatible bone graft material having a biocompatible, resorbable polymer and a biocompatible, resorbable inorganic material exhibiting macro, meso, and microporosities.

Abstract: A pliable bone restorative having an osteoconductive foam that at least partially surrounds a biocompatible mesh and the foam comprises a biocompatible, resorbable polymer and calcium phosphate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a three dimensional, malleable cell culture composition and method of forming the same comprising hyaluronic acid, chitosan and a polyelectrolytic complex of hyaluronic acid and chitosan. These three components in combination constitute an initial microenvironment for support of stromal cells, and their undifferentiated mesenchymal cell progeny. The tissue engineering device and method of forming the same comprising hyaluronic acid and chitosan and the use of said device with compositions of pluripotent cells and various formulations of cell culture media for repair of tissues is disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to inorganic bone graft materials and a method for preparing the bone graft materials. Particularly, the present invention relates to a method for preparing bone graft materials comprises the following steps: collecting cancellous bones from an animal; removing lipids and organic materials from the cancellous bones using organic solvent, sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide; and sterilizing the cancellous bones wherefrom the lipids and the organic materials are removed. The bone graft materials prepared by the method of the present invention meet requirements for use in bone grafting, including biocompatibility, sterilization, osteoinductivity and osteoconductivity with free from immunogenecity and toxicity to tissue and are suitable for use in osteogenesis and have morphogenesis.

Abstract: A method for repairing damaged or diseased urinary tract tissue includes providing a urinary tract tissue graft composition that includes a distal ileal segment of small intestinal submucosa. The distal ileal segment of small intestinal submucosa may be utilized as an unseeded tissue graft composition, or the distal ileal segment of small intestinal submucosa may be positioned in a tissue culture frame, and smooth muscle and urothelial cells isolated from a tissue specimen of a subject and cultured are then seeded upon the distal ileal segment of small intestinal submucosa, thereby forming a urinary tract tissue graft.

Abstract: A method for improving the health and viability of pancreatic islets and improving the outcome of pancreatic islet transplantations is described. The method includes incubating the islets with an IKVAV-containing laminin A chain peptide, such as PA22-2, either before or during the culturing of the islets in an RCCS bioreactor.

Abstract: A tissue graft composition comprising liver basement membrane is described. The graft composition can be implanted to replace or induce the repair of damaged or diseased tissues.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cultured, stratified cartilage tissue that comprises a tissue-engineered, cohesive cartilage construct comprised of two or more cartilage layers, wherein each cartilage layer comprises chondrogenic cells having a chondrocytic phenotype corresponding to chondrocytes present in: a superficial-tangential zone of natural cartilage; a middle-transitional zone of natural cartilage; a deep-radial zone of natural cartilage; or a calcified cartilage zone of natural cartilage.

Abstract: Methods of determining rate of biosynthesis or breakdown of biological molecules from metabolic derivatives and catabolic products are disclosed herein. In particular, methods of measuring the rates of biosynthesis and breakdown of biological molecules inaccessible or not easily accessible to direct sampling by sampling metabolic derivatives and catabolic products in accessible biological samples are disclosed herein.

Abstract: The invention concerns the use of dermal sheath tissue and/or cells derived therefrom in wound healing systems. Specifically, the relevant features of this tissue type have been exploited to provide a novel wound healing material that has application in the provision of new therapeutic compositions and new surgical dressings where wound closure and minimal scarring is desirable.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an in vitro method for producing T lymphocytes. The method involves culturing bone marrow cells on a matrix seeded with keratinocytes and fibroblasts.