Disrupted cartilage products

Abstract

This invention provides disrupted cartilage products, methods of manufacturing disrupted cartilage products, and methods of treating a subject comprising administering a cartilage product. The cartilage products are manufactured by a method comprising disrupting a collagen matrix, e.g. to produce a flexible cartilage product. Optionally, the cartilage products comprise viable chondrocytes, bioactive factors such as chondrogenic factors, and a collagen type II matrix. Optionally, the cartilage products are non-immunogenic.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cartilage product comprising a disrupted collagen matrix. 
     
     
         2 . The cartilage product of  claim 1 , wherein the collagen matrix comprises enzymatic disruptions. 
     
     
         3 . The cartilage product of  claim 2 , wherein the collagen matrix is collagenase-digested, optionally wherein the collagen matrix is collagenase II-digested. 
     
     
         4 . The cartilage product of  claim 1 , wherein the collagen matrix comprises mechanical disruptions. 
     
     
         5 . The cartilage product of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical disruptions are partial mechanical disruptions, wherein the collagen matrix is substantially intact. 
     
     
         6 . The cartilage product of  claim 5 , wherein the mechanical disruptions are selected from: spiral cut, grooves, scores, fenestrations, and pores. 
     
     
         7 . The cartilage product of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical disruptions are full mechanical disruptions, optionally wherein the collagen matrix minced. 
     
     
         8 . The cartilage product of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical disruptions are of the tissue-removal type. 
     
     
         9 . The cartilage product of  claim 4 , wherein the mechanical disruptions are of the tissue-non-removal type. 
     
     
         10 . The cartilage product of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical disruptions extend through the entire thickness of the collagen matrix. 
     
     
         11 . The cartilage product of  claim 10 , wherein the mechanical disruptions are selected from: spiral cut, scores, intersecting scores, radial scores, hoop-cut, and pores. 
     
     
         12 . The cartilage product of  claim 8 , wherein the mechanical disruptions extend through less than the entire thickness of the collagen matrix. 
     
     
         13 . The cartilage product of  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical disruptions are selected from: spiral cut, scores, intersecting-scores, and radial scores. 
     
     
         14 . The cartilage product of  claim 1 , wherein the collagen matrix has a thickness of about 0.2 mm to about 2.0 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The cartilage product of  claim 14 , wherein the collagen matrix has a thickness of about 1 mm to about 1.5 mm. 
     
     
         16 . The cartilage product of  claim 1 , wherein the collagen matrix contains viable cells, optionally wherein the viable cells are native to the collagen matrix. 
     
     
         17 . The cartilage product of  claim 1 , wherein the collagen matrix is decellularized. 
     
     
         18 . The cartilage product of  claim 15 , further comprising a layer of bone, optionally wherein the layer of bone is native to the collagen matrix. 
     
     
         19 . The cartilage product of  claim 18 , wherein the layer of bone has a surface area substantially less than that of the collagen matrix. 
     
     
         20 . The cartilage product of  claim 19 , wherein the layer of bone is a plug, a shelled plug, or a shelled layer or bone.