Engineered extracellular matrices
The invention relates to engineered matrices comprising collagen fibrils with specific characteristics, including, but not limited to, a specific fibril area fraction (i.e., density) and/or a specific elastic or linear modulus (i.e., stiffness). The invention also relates to methods of preparation and use of the matrices.
1. A tissue graft composition comprising a three-dimensional, engineered matrix comprising polymerized collagen fibrils wherein the fibril area fraction of the matrix is about 7% to about 26% and wherein the matrix comprises solubilized extracellular matrix components comprising collagen, glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and glycosaminoglycans; and
wherein the extracellular matrix components have been treated with an acid but have not been digested with an enzyme, and wherein the collagen remains bioactive after treatment with the acid.
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the fibril area fraction is about 16% to about 26%.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the matrix is lyophilized.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the matrix is in an aqueous solution.
5. The composition of claim 2 wherein the matrix is in an aqueous solution.
6. The composition of claim 1 in the form of a kit comprising instructional materials for use of the matrix.
7. The composition of claim 6 in the form of a kit wherein the instructional materials include instructions for injection of the matrix into a patient.
8. The composition of claim 6 in the form of a kit wherein the instructional materials include instructions for growth of cells on or within the matrix.
9. The composition of claim 1 wherein the solubilized extracellular matrix components comprise components from vertebrate submucosa tissue.
10. The composition of claim 9 wherein the submucosa tissue is selected from the group consisting of intestinal submucosa tissue, urinary bladder submucosa tissue, and stomach submucosa tissue.
11. The composition of claim 10 wherein the submucosa tissue is delaminated from the tunica muscularis and at least the luminal portion of the tunica mucosa layer of the submucosa tissue.
12. The composition of claim 1 wherein the solubilized extracellular matrix components comprise basement membrane tissue.
13. The composition of claim 1 further comprising cells.
14. The composition of claim 1 wherein the matrix is sterilized.
15. The composition of claim 14 wherein the matrix is sterilized with a peracid.
16. The composition of claim 15 wherein the peracid is peracetic acid.
17. The composition of claim 6 wherein the kit further comprises cells.
18. The composition of claim 1 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
19. The composition of claim 2 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
20. The composition of claim 3 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
21. The composition of claim 4 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
22. The composition of claim 10 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
23. The composition of claim 11 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
24. The composition of claim 13 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
25. The composition of claim 14 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
26. The composition of claim 15 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
27. The composition of claim 16 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
28. The composition of claim 17 wherein the collagen is cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
29. The composition of claim 1 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
30. The composition of claim 2 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
31. The composition of claim 3 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
32. The composition of claim 4 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
33. The composition of claim 10 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
34. The composition of claim 11 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
35. The composition of claim 13 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
36. The composition of claim 14 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
37. The composition of claim 15 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
38. The composition of claim 16 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.
39. The composition of claim 17 wherein the collagen is not cross-linked with a cross-linking agent.