Allografts containing viable cells and methods therof

Abstract

Allograft biomaterials, implants made therefrom, methods of making the biomaterial and implants, methods of promoting cartilage, tissue, bone or wound healing in a mammal by administering the biomaterial or implant to the mammal, and kits that include such biomaterials, implants, or components thereof. For example, the allograft may include viable cells, for example, which were native to intervertebral discs and/or umbilical cords that the allograft was derived from.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preparing an implantable composition for aiding tissue regeneration, the method comprising:
 obtaining intervertebral disc from a human subject;   washing the intervertebral disc with a phosphate buffered saline solution containing antibiotics; and   milling the intervertebral disc into particles to form the implantable composition.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising rinsing the particles with saline. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising combining the particles with a cryoprotectant to form a mixture, and freezing the mixture at a temperature of from −80° C. to −180° C. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising thawing the mixture and decanting the cryoprotectant before use. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising combining the particles with a carrier solution containing one or more of hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen, aggrecan, chondroitin sulfate, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising culturing the particles in a medium to obtain particles with proliferated cells. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising treating the particles with an enzyme. 
     
     
         8 . A method of promoting bone or treating degenerated disc in a mammal, the method comprising:
 providing a composition of allograft particles derived from human intervertebral disc comprising native collagen, native proteoglycan, and native viable cells; and   administering the composition into a target repair site to facilitate repair or regeneration of tissue at the target repair site.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the target repair site is an injury or defect in the spine and the tissue being regenerated is disc or bone. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the native viable cells comprise chondrocytic cells, notochordal cells, nucleus pulposus stem/progenitor cells, fibrocytic cells, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of claim  81 , wherein the native collagen includes collagen I, collagen II, or both. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the intervertebral disc includes nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, or both. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the particles have a particle size ranging from about 250 microns to about 3 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising a cryoprotectant. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising a carrier solution. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the carrier solution includes one or more of hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen, aggrecan, chondroitin sulfate, and polyethylene glycol (PEG).