Patent ID: RE39298

Claim:
A method of localized sustained delivery of a supplement to promote generation or regeneration of bone and/or cartilage, said method comprising: (a) preparing a biocompatible, supplemented tissue sealant composition comprising: (i) at least one supplement selected from the group consisting of a cytotoxin or cell proliferation inhibiting compound, an osteogenic compound, an osteo-conductive compound, a cartilage inducing compound, an oligonucleotide or polynucleotide, a compound that inhibits the differentiation of cells involved in the formation or metabolism of bone, a compound that induces the differentiation of cells involved in the formation or metabolism of bone, and a compound that prevents resorption of bone, in an amount which promotes generation or regeneration of bone and/or cartilage; and (ii) fibrinogen, or a derivative or metabolite thereof selected from the group consisting of fibrin I and fibrin II, in an amount which forms a fibrin matrix in the presence of thrombin and Ca ++ and water; and (b) applying said composition of step (a) to a site in need of newly formed bone and/or cartilage under conditions which induce formation of a fibrin matrix at a concentration which provides sustained delivery of an amount of said supplement effective to promote the generation or regeneration of bone and/or cartilage, wherein said amount of said supplement is greater than the amount which is soluble in said fibrin matrix; and wherein said fibrin matrix provides a scaffold that determines the shape and location of said newly formed bone and/or cartilage; and further wherein said sustained delivery is for a period greater than the period obtained according to simple diffusion kinetics.