The subject invention pertains to materials, including sets of nerve grafts, for performing breast neurotization with xenograft nerves in breast surgeries, such as reconstructive breast surgery. Certain embodiments of the set of nerve grafts comprise at least two nerve grafts prepared from one or more nerves, such as one or more intercostal nerves (ICNs), obtained from one or more animal sources. Such animal-sourced nerve grafts may be used as xenografts in the reconstruction of nerve defects in humans, and in particular, animal-sourced ICN grafts may be used as xenografts in the reconstruction of ICN nerve defects in humans, including through use of the breast neurotization technique described herein. These animal-sourced nerve grafts may also be used in the reconstruction of nerve defects in animal recipients, including as xenografts, allografts and autografts.

Disclosed are methods, devices and materials for the in situ formation of an implant for treating a nerve. A treatment site on a nerve is positioned within a cavity defined by a form. A transformable media is introduced into the form cavity to surround the treatment site. The media is permitted to undergo a transformation from a first, relatively flowable state to a second, relatively non flowable state to form a protective barrier surrounding the treatment site. A hydrophilic characteristic of the media cooperates with a hydrophobic characteristic of the surface of the cavity to facilitate a rapid release of the implant from the cavity following the transformation. The implant may be a growth inhibiting nerve cap to inhibit neuroma formation following planned or traumatic nerve injury, a growth permissive conduit for facilitating reconnection of a severed nerve, or an anchor for stabilizing a pain management electrode with respect to a nerve. Access to the nerve treatment site may be open surgical or percutaneous.

A nerve regeneration device comprising a bioresorbable conduit and a matrix contained therein having elongate pores aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conduit. The matrix comprises collagen, fibronectin, laminin-1, and laminin-2, wherein the amount, by weight, of laminin-1 or laminin-2 is greater than the amount of fibronectin in the matrix.

A three-dimensional electrospun biomedical patch includes a first polymeric scaffold having a first structure of deposited electrospun fibers extending in a plurality of directions in three dimensions to facilitate cellular migration for a first period of time upon application of the biomedical patch to a tissue, wherein the first period of time is less than twelve months, and a second polymeric scaffold having a second structure of deposited electrospun fibers. The second structure of deposited electrospun fibers includes the plurality of deposited electrospun fibers configured to provide structural reinforcement for a second period of time upon application of the three-dimensional electrospun biomedical patch to the tissue wherein the second period of time is less than twelve months. The three-dimensional electrospun biomedical patch is sufficiently pliable and resistant to tearing to enable movement of the three-dimensional electrospun biomedical patch with the tissue.

A material comprising an ionically conducting polymer (ICP) positioned between and in direct contact with two electronically conducting polymers (ECP).

A non-tubular material for nerve regeneration induction, which can be used for the regeneration of a damaged part in a nerve, and which comprises: (A) a crosslinked form produced by crosslinking a low-endotoxin bioabsorbable polysaccharide having a carboxyl group in the molecule with at least one crosslinkable reagent selected from a compound represented by general formula (I) and a salt thereof via covalent bonds; and (B) a bioabsorbable polymer. R.sup.1HN—(CH.sub.2).sub.n—NHR.sup.2 (I) [wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 independently represent a hydrogen atom or a group represented by formula: —COCH(NH.sub.2)—(CH.sub.2).sub.4—NH.sub.2, and n represents an integer of 2 to 18]. Thus, a medical material that can induce the regeneration of a damaged part in a nerve is provided.

Tissue scaffolds for neural tissue growth have a plurality of microchannels disposed within a sheath. Each microchannel comprises a porous wall having a thickness of ≤about 100 μm that is formed from a biocompatible and biodegradable material comprising a polyester polymer. The polyester polymer may be polycaprolactone, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer, and combinations thereof. The tissue scaffolds have high open volume % enabling superior (linear and high fidelity) neural tissue growth, while minimizing inflammation near the site of implantation in vivo. In other aspects, methods of making such tissue scaffolds are provided. Such a method may include mixing a reduced particle size porogen with a polymeric precursor solution. The material is cast onto a template and then can be processed, including assembly in a sheath and removal of the porogen, to form a tissue scaffold having a plurality of porous microchannels.

A differential tissue-engineered nerve including motor-like nerves and sensory-like nerves. The motor-like nerve and the sensory-like nerve respectively includes a motor-like nerve outer tube and a motor-like nerve fiber in the outer tube as well as a sensory-like nerve outer tube and a sensory-like nerve fiber in the outer tube. Schwann cells and/or fibroblasts derived from motor nerves and sensory nerves are respectively contained in surfaces or pores of the motor-like and sensory-like nerve outer tubes. Transsynaptic signal molecules Neuroligin-1 and Neuroligin-2 are contained in surfaces or pores of the motor-like and sensory-like nerve fibers. Neuroligin-1 is selectively used to specifically promote synaptic remodeling of motor neurons, while Neuroligin-2 is selectively used to specifically promote synaptic remodeling of sensory neurons, so that repair efficiency of motor nerve cells and sensory nerve cells is improved.

A post-surgical healing accelerator (PSHA) device for tissue and nerve repair at an injury site. The device includes (a) a substrate, (b) a scaffold disposed on a surface of the substrate, and (c) a population of cells attached to the scaffold. The scaffold comprises at least one modified polymer selected from a modified collagen, a modified gelatin, a modified alginate, a modified cellulose, a modified hyaluronic acid, and others, with (i) modifications configured to increase an interaction between the scaffold and the cells, (ii) modifications configured to increase an association of the at least one modified polymer with the substrate, and (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). The cells attached to the scaffold are configured to carry out tissue and/or nerve repair at an injury site of a subject through at least one of growth, differentiation, and migration following an application of the device to the injury site of the subject.

Described are methods, cell growth substrates, and devices that are useful in preparing cell-containing graft materials for administration to patients. Tubular passages can be defined in cell growth substrates to promote distribution of cells into the substrates. Also described are methods and devices for preparing cell-seeded graft compositions, methods and devices for preconditioning cell growth substrates prior to application of cells, and cell seeded grafts having novel substrates, and uses thereof.