Patent ID: 8486438

Claim:
A method of recruiting progenitor cells to a site in the body of a subject comprising: introducing at the site in the body of the subject an implant comprising an external porous housing having pores of a size sufficient to allow movement into the implant of the progenitor cells to be recruited, wherein the pores have a size ranging from about 15 to about 20 microns, and a drug delivery system contained within the housing, wherein the drug delivery system comprises a plurality of particles, wherein the particles are electrostatic and aggregate, have a diameter ranging from 10 nanometers to 10 microns and wherein at least two different cytokines that recruit progenitor cells are encapsulated in the particles in an effective amount to recruit progenitor cells, wherein the cytokines are not physically attached to the drug delivery system, and wherein the housing is a non-degradable mesh, and wherein the housing is sealed, and allowing sufficient time for the progenitor cells to migrate to and enter the implant.