CELL-SUPPORT MATRIX HAVING NARROWLY DEFINED UNIFORMLY VERTICALLY AND NON-RANDOMLY ORGANIZED POROSITY AND PORE DENSITY AND A METHOD FOR PREPARATION THEREOF
A cell-support matrix having narrowly defined uniformly vertically and non-randomly organized porosity and pore density and a method for preparation thereof. The matrix suitable for preparation of cellular or acellular implants for growth and de novo formation of an articular hyaline-like cartilage. A gel-matrix composite system comprising collagen-based matrix having a narrowly defined porosity capable of inducing hyaline-like cartilage production from chondrocytes in vivo and in vitro.
1 - 20 . (canceled)
21 . An implant comprising:
a porous body comprising collagen, wherein the body has a top surface, an opposed basal surface, and a plurality of pores of substantially uniform pore size and orientation extending from the top surface to the basal surface.
22 . The implant of claim 21 , wherein about 95% of the pores have a diameter of about 200 plus or minus 100 microns.
23 . The implant of claim 21 , wherein about 95% of the pores have a diameter of about 200 plus or minus 50 microns.
24 . The implant of claim 21 , wherein about 98% of the pores have a diameter of about 200 plus or minus 100 microns.
25 . The implant of claim 21 , wherein about 98% of the pores have a diameter of about 200 plus or minus 50 microns.
26 . The implant of claim 21 , wherein the collagen comprises one selected from the group consisting of type I collagen, type II collagen, and type IV collagen.
27 . The implant of claim 21 , wherein the collagen is type I collagen.
28 . The implant of claim 21 , further comprising a gel disposed within the pores.
29 . The implant of claim 28 , wherein the gel is a sol-gel.
30 . The implant of claim 29 , wherein the sol-gel has a sol-to-gel transition temperature of about 37 degrees C.
31 . The implant of claim 28 , wherein the gel comprises a plurality of chondrocytes suspended therein.
32 . The implant of claim 31 , wherein the chondrocytes include human articular chondrocytes.
33 . The implant of claim 28 , wherein the gel comprises a collagen solution.
34 . The implant of claim 31 , wherein the porous body and the gel are in the form of a wafer-like construct having a diameter from about 4 mm to about 25 mm and a thickness from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm.
35 . The implant of claim 34 , wherein the wafer-like construct has been cut from a composition cylindrical or rectangular block structure.
36 . The implant of claim 28 , wherein the gel further includes a plurality of chondrocytes suspended therein.
37 . The implant of claim 36 , wherein the gel is a sol-gel that gels at a body temperature.
38 . The implant of claim 36 , wherein the chondrocytes are suspended within the collagen solution at a seeding density of about 75,000-300,000 chondrocytes per 25 microliters of the collagen solution.
39 . The implant of claim 34 , wherein the sol-gel is a collagen solution comprising type I collagen.
40 . A cartilage implant comprising:
a porous body comprising type I collagen disposed between a top surface and an opposed basal surface of the porous body, the porous body having a plurality of pores of substantially uniform pore size and orientation extending from the top surface to the basal surface, wherein about 95% of the pores have a diameter of about 200 plus or minus 100 microns;
a sol-gel that gels at a body temperature disposed within the pores; and
a plurality of chondrocytes suspended within the sol-gel.
41 . The implant of claim 40 , wherein:
the chondrocytes include human articular chondrocytes;
the porous body and the gel are in the form of a wafer-like construct having a diameter from about 4 mm to about 25 mm and a thickness from about 0.5 mm to about 5 mm;
the sol-gel is a collagen solution comprising type I collagen; and
the chondrocytes are suspended within the collagen solution at a seeding density of about 75,000-300,000 chondrocytes per 25 microliters of the collagen solution.