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 regenerating articular cartilage comprising administering to an area in need of regeneration of articular cartilage a composition consisting essentially of
(i) cultured chondrocytic cells, and
(ii) 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 chondrocytic cells are chondrocytes.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the chondrocytic cells are stem cells.
18 . 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.
19 . The method of claim 18 , 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.
20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the BMP is BMP-2.
21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the BMP is a heterodimeric protein comprising one subunit of BMP-2 and one subunit of BMP-6.
22 . A method for regeneration of articular cartilage comprising administering to an area in need of regeneration of articular cartilage a composition consisting essentially of
(i) cultured chondrocytic cells;
(ii) 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
(iii) at least one pharmaceutical carrier material selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, surgical mesh, surgical suture, polyglyconate, temperature-sensitive polymers, demineralized bone, calcium phosphate, ceramic hydroxyapatite, and combinations thereof.
23 . A method for regeneration of articular cartilage comprising administering to an area in need of regeneration of articular cartilage a composition consisting essentially of cultured chondrocytic cells and 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 bone morphogenetic protein is also applied directly to the site in need of tissue repair in conjunction with the composition.
24 . A method for regeneration of articular cartilage comprising administering to an area in need of regeneration of articular cartilage a composition consisting essentially of cultured chondrocytic cells and at least one purified bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) selected from the group consisting of BMP-2, 4, 5, 6, and 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.
25 . A method for regeneration of articular cartilage comprising administering to an area in need of regeneration of articular cartilage a composition consisting essentially of cultured chondrocytic cells and 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 that induces the formation of tendon or ligament tissue selected from the group consisting of BMP-12, BMP-13, and MP-52.