Abstract: An adhesive tissue covering may include a base membrane and a biodegradable and biocompatible adhesive configured to bond to tissue. The adhesive may be located along one or more edges of the base membrane. In some aspects, an adhesive tissue strip may include a base membrane formed of at least one of a tissue-based material or a resorbable polymer, and a biodegradable and biocompatible adhesive configured to bond to tissue. The adhesive may be located on one side of the base membrane of the adhesive tissue strip.

Abstract: A barbed suture may include a body and a plurality of barbs. The body may include a substantially flat surface extending along a longitudinal axis of the body, and the plurality of barbs may be formed on a surface of the body that is not the substantially flat surface. The body may have a non-circular cross-sectional shape, and the plurality of barbs may be formed along a longitudinal axis of the body on a corner of the cross-sectional shape. A tissue repair device may include a base membrane and a plurality of barbed sutures attached to the base membrane.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of promoting asymmetric nerve growth and/or regeneration are described herein. In some embodiments, such a method comprises exposing a population of transected or severed nerves to a first molecular growth cue and to a second molecular growth cue. The population of transected nerves comprises one or more nerves of a first nerve type and one or more nerves of a second nerve type differing from the first nerve type. Additionally, the first molecular growth cue preferentially promotes growth of the first nerve type, as compared to the second nerve type. Similarly, the second molecular growth cue preferentially promotes growth of the second nerve type, as compared to the first nerve type. Moreover, the first molecular growth cue is spatially separated from the second molecular growth cue.

Abstract: A barbed suture may include a suture body and at least one multi-directional barb formed on an outer surface of the suture body. The at least one multi-directional barb includes a first projection and a second projection, the first projection and the second projection extending in two different directions. In another embodiment, a barbed suture may include a suture body and at least two barbs formed on an outer surface of the suture body. Each of the at least two barbs has a first projection pointing in a first direction, and a second projection pointing in a second direction, the first direction being different than the second direction. The invention also relates to methods of forming barbed sutures.

Abstract: A method for conducting an in vitro assay of a biomaterial may include freezing a sample of biomaterial and sectioning the frozen sample of biomaterial into at least one section of biomaterial. The at least one section of biomaterial may have a thickness of about 10 ?m to about 50 ?m. The method may further include placing the at least one section of biomaterial onto a slide; affixing a neuron or a group of neurons to one end portion of the at least one section of biomaterial to create a test construct; incubating the test construct; and determining an amount of neurite growth from the neuron or the group of neurons along the at least one section of biomaterial.

Abstract: A method of preparing an implantable biomaterial film includes inputting a combination of a polymer and a neuro-regenerative agent or an immunosuppressive agent into an extruder. The method includes melting the polymer within the extruder. The method also includes extruding the combined polymer and the neuro-regenerative agent or the immunosuppressive agent to form the implantable biomaterial film.

Abstract: In one aspect, methods of promoting asymmetric nerve growth and/or regeneration are described herein. In some embodiments, such a method comprises exposing a population of transected or severed nerves to a first molecular growth cue and to a second molecular growth cue. The population of transected nerves comprises one or more nerves of a first nerve type and one or more nerves of a second nerve type differing from the first nerve type. Additionally, the first molecular growth cue preferentially promotes growth of the first nerve type, as compared to the second nerve type. Similarly, the second molecular growth cue preferentially promotes growth of the second nerve type, as compared to the first nerve type. Moreover, the first molecular growth cue is spatially separated from the second molecular growth cue.