Minced Cartilage Systems and Methods

Abstract

Compositions comprising a plurality of cartilage particles from a human adult cadaveric donor, wherein the cartilage particles comprise viable chondrocytes, and a biocompatible carrier are provided. Methods of manufacturing cartilage compositions comprising a plurality of cartilage particles from a human adult cadaveric donor are also provided.

1 . A composition comprising: a plurality of cartilage particles from a human adult cadaveric donor age 15 years or older, wherein the cartilage particles comprise viable chondrocytes; and a biocompatible carrier. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cartilage is articular cartilage. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cartilage is non-decellularized cartilage. 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cartilage particles have an average thickness from about 0.25 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 4 , wherein the cartilage particles have an average thickness from about 0.5 mm to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cartilage particles have an average width from about 1 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cartilage particles have an average diameter from about 1 mm to about 5 mm. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cartilage particles have an average volume of about 0.5 mm 3  to about 100 mm 3 . 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the cartilage particles have an average volume of about 0.5 mm 3  to about 30 mm 3 . 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cartilage particles are from a human donor that is 18 years of age or older at the time of donation. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible carrier comprises a cryopreservation medium. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the cryopreservation medium comprises dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and serum. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a biological adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the biological adhesive is fibrin, fibrinogen, thrombin, fibrin glue, polysaccharide gel, cyanoacrylate glue, gelatin-resorcin-formalin adhesive, collagen gel, synthetic acrylate-based adhesive, cellulose-based adhesive, basement membrane matrix, laminin, elastin, proteoglycans, autologous glue, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising demineralized bone. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a bone or cartilage substrate seeded with stem cells. 
     
     
         17 - 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A method of treating a cartilage or bone defect in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         32 . A method of repairing cartilage in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cartilage particles comprise at least 50,000 viable cells per cm 3 . 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% of the chondrocytes in the cartilage particles are viable. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the cartilage particles are laser cut cartilage particles or mechanically cut cartilage particles. 
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is made by a process comprising:
 obtaining cartilage tissue from a human adult cadaveric donor age 15 years or older;   mincing the cartilage tissue into a plurality of cartilage particles, wherein the cartilage particles comprise chondrocytes native to the cartilage tissue, wherein the cartilage particles comprise viable chondrocytes native to the cartilage tissue;   suspending the plurality of cartilage particles in a biocompatible medium; and   packaging the suspended plurality of cartilage particles into a container for storage and shipping.   
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein mincing step comprises cutting the cartilage tissue with a laser cutter, with a mechanical blade, or with a mechanical press. 
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein mincing step comprises cutting the cartilage tissue with a laser cutter. 
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the mincing comprises cutting the cartilage tissue with a laser cutter at a power of about 3 Watts to about 13.5 Watts and a frequency of about 400 Hz to about 2400 Hz.