Reinforced tissue graft

Abstract

A biocompatible tissue graft is provided. The tissue graft includes an extracellular matrix patch and a means for reinforcing the patch.

1 . A biocompatible tissue graft comprising:
 an extracellular matrix patch; and   a means for reinforcing the patch to mitigate tearing and/or improve fixation retention of the patch, wherein the reinforcing means comprises at least one fiber stitched into the patch in a reinforcement pattern.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The tissue graft of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing means comprises fibers stitched into the patch in a concentric pattern. 
     
     
         4 . The tissue graft of  claim 3 , wherein the reinforcing means comprises multiple concentric patterns of fibers stitched into the patch. 
     
     
         5 . The tissue graft of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing means comprises fibers stitched into the patch in a cross-hatched configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The tissue graft of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber is selected from the group consisting of silk, sericin free silk, modified silk fibroins, polyesters like polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), polyethyleneglycol (PEG), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), blends thereof, and copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The tissue graft of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the patch and the fiber is modified to improve adhesion between the patch and the fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The tissue graft of  claim 1 , wherein the patch is decellularized. 
     
     
         9 . The tissue graft of  claim 1 , wherein the patch further comprises at least one progenitor cell. 
     
     
         10 . The tissue graft of  claim 1 , wherein the patch further comprises at least one biologically active molecule selected from the group consisting of enzymes, hormones, cytokines, colony-stimulating factors, vaccine antigens, antibodies, clotting factors, angiogenesis factors, regulatory proteins, transcription factors, receptors, and structural proteins and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . A biocompatible tissue graft comprising:
 a fascia patch; and   at least one fiber stitched into the patch in a reinforcement pattern to mitigate tearing and/or improve fixation retention of the patch.   
     
     
         12 . The tissue graft of  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing means comprises fibers stitched into the patch in a concentric pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The tissue graft of  claim 12 , wherein the reinforcing means comprises multiple concentric patterns of fibers stitched into the patch. 
     
     
         14 . The tissue graft of  claim 11 , wherein the reinforcing means comprises fibers stitched into the patch in a cross-hatched configuration. 
     
     
         15 . The tissue graft of  claim 11 , wherein the fiber is selected from the group consisting of silk, sericin free silk, modified silk fibroins, polyesters like polyglycolic acid (PGA), polylactic acid (PLA), polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA), polyethyleneglycol (PEG), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene (PE), ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), blends thereof, and copolymers thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The tissue graft of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the patch and the fiber is modified to improve adhesion between the patch and the fiber. 
     
     
         17 . The tissue graft of  claim 11 , wherein the patch is decellularized. 
     
     
         18 . The tissue graft of  claim 11 , wherein the patch further comprises at least one progenitor cell. 
     
     
         19 . The tissue graft of  claim 11 , wherein the patch further comprises at least one biologically active molecule selected from the group consisting of enzymes, hormones, cytokines, colony-stimulating factors, vaccine antigens, antibodies, clotting factors, angiogenesis factors, regulatory proteins, transcription factors, receptors, and structural proteins. 
     
     
         20 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A method for repairing tissue in a subject comprising:
 administering to the tissue a tissue graft comprising an extracellular matrix patch and at least one fiber stitched into the patch to mitigate tearing and/or improve fixation retention of the patch.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the step of administering the tissue graft comprises securing the tissue graft in or on recipient tissue. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the step of securing the tissue graft in or on recipient tissue comprises suturing, stitching, or screwing.