Omentum based scaffold and delivery system

Abstract

Compositions of matter comprising decellularized omentum are disclosed. The compositions may be scaffolds, hydrogels or hydrogel precursor compositions. Methods of generating the compositions are disclosed as well as uses thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hydrogel comprising solubilized decellularized omentum. 
     
     
         2 . The hydrogel of  claim 1 , wherein said decellularized omentum is devoid of lipids. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrogel of  claim 1 , wherein said omentum is human omentum. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrogel of  claim 1 , comprising collagen, laminin, elastin, fibronectin and glycosaminoglycans. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrogel of  claim 1 , wherein said omentum is decellularized by:
 (a) exposing the omentum to a hypotonic solution;   (b) dehydrating said omentum following step (a);   (c) extracting fat from the dehydrated omentum using polar and non-polar extraction agents following step (b);   (d) rehydrating the dehydrated omentum following step (c); and   (e) extracting cells from said rehydrated omentum following step (d).   
     
     
         6 . The hydrogel of  claim 1 , comprising less than 50 ng DNA per dry weight. 
     
     
         7 . The hydrogel of  claim 1 , comprising greater than 1 μg sulfated GAG per dry weight. 
     
     
         8 . A precursor composition comprising solubilized decellularized omentum which is capable of forming a gel on heat activation. 
     
     
         9 . The precursor composition of  claim 8 , further comprising cells. 
     
     
         10 . A method of generating a 3D structure comprising extruding the precursor composition of  claim 8  through an aperture thereby generating the 3D structure. 
     
     
         11 . The precursor composition of  claim 8 , wherein said omentum is decellularized by:
 (a) exposing the omentum to a hypotonic solution;   (b) dehydrating said omentum following step (a);   (c) extracting fat from the dehydrated omentum using polar and non-polar extraction agents following step (b);   (d) rehydrating the dehydrated omentum following step (c); and   (e) extracting cells from said rehydrated omentum following step (d).   
     
     
         12 . A method of treating a cardiac disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the hydrogel of  claim 1 , thereby treating the cardiac disease or disorder. 
     
     
         13 . A method of treating a cardiac disease or disorder in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of the precursor composition of  claim 8 , thereby treating the cardiac disease or disorder. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said omentum of the hydrogel is autologous to the subject. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said omentum of the hydrogel is non-autologous to the subject. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said omentum of the precursor composition is autologous to the subject. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said omentum of the precursor composition is non-autologous to the subject.