Amnion putty for cartilage repair

Abstract

There are disclosed compositions for achieving reverse phase characteristics, methods of preparation thereof, and the use of amniotic tissue for cartilage repair. In an embodiment, a biocompatible articular tissue repair composition may have a therapeutic material and a carrier configured for achieving reverse phase characteristics, and methods for using the composition. In various embodiments, the therapeutic material may be amniotic tissue. In various embodiments, the carrier may be a poloxamer such as poloxamer 407. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A biocompatible articular cartilage tissue repair composition, comprising:
 components of amniotic tissue, and the components of the amniotic tissue including at least one of cut amniotic tissue, blended amniotic tissue, chopped amniotic tissue, and mixed amniotic tissue; and   a reverse phase mixture of poloxamer and amniotic fluid, the reverse phase mixture configured as a carrier of the amniotic tissue, and the carrier configured to resorb after a first period of time at a cartilage defect site while leaving the amniotic tissue at the cartilage defect site to allow ingrowth of the amniotic tissue into the cartilage defect site;   wherein the composition exhibits reverse phase behavior, wherein the composition is non-liquid at ambient and body temperatures, and wherein the composition supports the amniotic tissue with the carrier at the cartilage defect site for the first period of time for the carrier to resorb.   
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the components of the amniotic tissue include growth factors configured to regenerate cartilage at the cartilage defect site in an articulating joint containing synovial fluid. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 19 , wherein the composition further supports the amniotic tissue with ingrowth during and subsequent to the first period of time so as to maintain the growth factors configured to regenerate cartilage at the cartilage defect site for a second period of time, the second period of time being longer than the first period of time, as the amniotic tissue is kept in place within the articulating joint containing synovial fluid. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the poloxamer is poloxamer 407. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the mixture of poloxamer and amniotic fluid is 25 percent weight poloxamer and 75 percent weight amniotic fluid. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the composition is 30 percent weight amniotic fluid and 70 percent weight poloxamer. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the composition is 50 percent weight amniotic fluid and 50 percent weight poloxamer. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the amniotic tissue is xenogeneic, allogeneic or autogenic. 
     
     
         26 . A method to repair cartilage tissue, the method comprising:
 providing a biocompatible cartilage repair composition, comprising:
 amniotic tissue, the amniotic tissue including at least one of cut amniotic tissue, blended amniotic tissue, chopped amniotic tissue, and mixed amniotic tissue, and 
 a reverse phase mixture of poloxamer and a liquid, wherein the composition exhibits reverse phase behavior and is non-liquid at ambient and body temperatures; and 
   placing the composition in a cartilage defect of a mammal.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of placing the composition in the cartilage defect of a mammal includes placing the composition in a liquid state at a given temperature below the ambient and body temperatures. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the step of placing the composition in the cartilage defect of a mammal includes allowing the composition to transition to a non-liquid at the ambient and body temperatures so as to resist displacement from the cartilage defect. 
     
     
         29 . A biocompatible articular cartilage tissue repair composition, comprising:
 amniotic tissue, the amniotic tissue including at least one of cut amniotic tissue, blended amniotic tissue, chopped amniotic tissue, and mixed amniotic tissue, and   a reverse phase mixture of poloxamer and amniotic fluid;   wherein the composition exhibits reverse phase behavior and is non-liquid at ambient and body temperatures.   
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the amniotic tissue includes growth factors configured to regenerate cartilage at the cartilage defect site in an articulating joint containing synovial fluid. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the composition further supports the amniotic tissue with ingrowth so as to maintain the growth factors configured to regenerate cartilage at the cartilage defect site for a period of time as the amniotic tissue is kept in place within the articulating joint containing synovial fluid. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the poloxamer is poloxamer 407. 
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the mixture of poloxamer and amniotic fluid is 25 percent weight poloxamer and 75 percent weight amniotic fluid. 
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition is 30 percent weight amniotic fluid and 70 percent weight poloxamer. 
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition is 50 percent weight amniotic fluid and 50 percent weight poloxamer. 
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the amniotic tissue is xenogeneic, allogeneic or autogenic.