Knorpelersatz und Biomatrix zur Kultivierung von Zellen

DE 20019809 U UPAB: 20051027 NOVELTY - Cartilage replacement (A) prepared by (i) incorporating dedifferentiated cartilage cells (B) into a three-dimensional, gel-like biomatrix containing at least 1.5 mg/ml collagen in buffered, serum-containing cell culture medium and (ii) culturing (B) so that they redifferentiate and/or replicate to a form a transplantable (A). DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for the following: (a) similar material in which the biomatrix is seeded with differentiated (B) and these cultured for replication, while remaining differentiated; (b) similar material in which (B) are checked for function, morphology and/or differentiation status simultaneously with production of (A) or afterwards; and (c) biomatrix for culturing cells, particularly (B). USE - (A) are used for treating, by transplantation, cartilage disorders, particularly degenerative, inflammatory and/or traumatic disorders, such as osteochondrosis dissecans; hip or knee defects, arthritis etc. Also cells containined in the biomatrix can be screened for physiological, morphological and/or molecular-biological properties, especially for diagnosis of degenerative or traumatic joint disorders or or determining the effects of potential pharmaceuticals, pathogens, antigens etc. ADVANTAGE - Compared with known transplants, (A) provide better ealing and regeneration of cartilage defects. In the biomatrix, (B) recover their natural metabolic activities, and even a small amount of cartilage tissue can provide enough cells for a transplant. The biomatrix can be shaped mechanically; can bear loads and contains a defined number of cells; can be made in any required shape or size; there is no need for taking periosteum from the tibia, and the cells can be tested before transplantation.