METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS FOR HEALING AND REPAIR OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE
Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of articular cartilage defects and disease involving the combination of tissue, such as osteochondral grafts, with active growth factor. The active growth factor is preferably a composition containing at least one bone morphogenetic protein and a suitable carrier. The method results in the regeneration of functional repair of articular cartilage tissue.
1 - 14 . (canceled)
15 . A method for treating a full thickness defect of articular cartilage comprising administering to the area of the defect an osteochondral graft having applied thereto a composition consisting essentially of at least one purified bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) in an amount effective for the regeneration of articular cartilage.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the graft is an autograft.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the autograft is obtained by mosaicplasty.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the graft is an allograft.
19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the BMP is selected from the group consisting of BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-12, BMP-13, and heterodimers and mixtures thereof.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising administering to the area in need of articular cartilage regeneration a protein that induces the formation of tendon or ligament tissue selected from the group consisting of BMP-12, BMP-13, MP-52, and heterodimers and/or mixtures thereof.
21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the BMP is BMP-2.
22 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the BMP is a heterodimer, comprising one subunit of BMP-2, and one subunit of BMP-6.
23 . A method for treating a full thickness defect of articular cartilage comprising administering to the area of the defect an osteochondral graft having applied thereto a composition consisting essentially of:
(i) at least one purified bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) selected from the group consisting of BMP-2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and heterodimers and mixtures thereof in an amount effective for the regeneration of articular cartilage; and
(ii) at least one pharmaceutical carrier selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, surgical mesh or sutures, polyglyconate, temperature-sensitive polymers, demineralized bone, mineral, calcium phosphate, a ceramic, hydroxyapatite, and combinations thereof.
24 . A method for treating a full thickness defect of articular cartilage comprising administering to the area of the defect an osteochondral graft and a composition consisting essentially of at least one purified bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) selected from the group consisting of BMP-2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and heterodimers and mixtures thereof, in an amount effective for the regeneration of articular cartilage, wherein said composition is applied directly to the osteochondral graft and/or administered directly to the site in need of tissue repair in conjunction with the graft.
25 . A method for treating a full thickness defect of articular cartilage comprising administering to the area of the defect an osteochondral graft having applied thereto a composition consisting essentially of at least one purified bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) selected from the group consisting of BMP-2, 4, 5, 6, 7, and heterodimers and mixtures thereof, in an amount effective for the regeneration of articular cartilage, wherein the area in need of regeneration of articular cartilage is selected from the group consisting of the hip and the knee.
26 . A method for treating a full thickness defect of articular cartilage comprising administering to the area of the defect an osteochondral graft having applied thereto a composition consisting essentially of a heterodimeric protein in an amount effective for the regeneration of articular cartilage, wherein the heterodimeric protein comprises one purified bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) selected from the group consisting of BMP-2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 and one protein which induces the formation of tendon or ligament tissue selected from the group consisting of BMP-12, BMP-13, and MP-52.