Process and Formulation to Improve Viability of Stored Human Cells and Tissue

There are more than 750,000 tissue and body-part transplants conducted annually, according to the American Association of Tissue Banks. There are many applications that utilize skin grafting: reconstruction after surgery; tissue replacement in burn victims and patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB); treatment of chronic ulcers; and hair restoration to areas of alopecia. Fresh skin can only be stored for 7 days before cryopreservation is required. As such, most skin transplanted in the U.S. is suboptimal frozen tissue. Availability of higher quality viable tissue would result in faster healing and significant savings in treatment costs. Dr. Shelby and colleagues invention encompasses an improved method to increase viability and shelf life of skin up to four weeks, an approach likely to extend to other cells and tissues. An optimized media formulation has been developed as an alternative to serum providing superior viability and functional results.

Benefits
The media, sera and reagent market in the US was estimated to be $915.6 million in 2003 and is expected to grow at an annual rate 13.1%. Both the greater than 1.1 million burn patients and chronic wound patients will benefit from an increase in the shelf life and viability of skin for transplantation. An optimized media for the storage of skin, and other cells and tissues, would fill a needed niche in the growing tissue banking, tissue engineering and cellular therapy industry.

Stage of Development
PCT application number 2005/056763 has been filed for this invention.
This technology is available for developmental research support and licensing under either exclusive or non-exclusive terms.

Additional Info
Jane Shelby � Surgery & Medicinal Chemistry

Inventor(s): Jane Shelby

Type of Offer: Licensing



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