Patent ID: 7931687
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: A61F,A61L,G09B,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for producing in vitro a transplantable osteochondral implant the method comprising: culturing chondrogenic cells in vitro in alginate beads such that the cells develop a membrane-bound cell associated matrix comprising at least one of aggrecan, collagen types II, IX and XI, and hyaluronan; solubilizing the alginate beads to form a suspension comprising the cultured cells with the membrane-bound cell associated matrix; centrifuging the suspension to separate the cultured cells with the membrane-bound cell associated matrix from an extracellular matrix compartment that is further removed from the cells; recovering the cultured cells with the membrane-bound cell associated matrix; providing a biocompatible support scaffold, wherein the support scaffold consists of at least one of calcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite, the support scaffold having a plurality of pores, a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein pores associated with the bottom surface of the support scaffold are filled with a biocompatible filler agent comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of purified hyaluronan, collagen, and alginate; seeding the cultured chondrogenic cells with the membrane-bound cell associated matrix on the top surface of the support scaffold as a phenotypically stable culture such that the cells attach to the support scaffold; and further culturing the seeded cells on the support scaffold in the presence of culture medium, such that the cells seeded on the top surface of the scaffold infiltrate into pores associated with the top surface of the support scaffold, yet the biocompatible filler agent substantially prevents infiltration of the cells into pores associated with the bottom surface, thereby forming a cohesive cartilage matrix in a layer on top of the support scaffold of the bone substitute material.