Treating degenerative disc disease through transplantion of extracellular nucleus pulposus matrix and autograft nucleus pulposus cells

摘要

Living nucleus pulposus cells are combined with nucleus pulposus extracellular matrix obtained from recently deceased human or animal donors to restore disc function and eliminate pain in patients with disc disease. In the preferred embodiment, the engineered nucleus is morselized to allow insertion through a small puncture in the annulus fibrosis with a needle and syringe. Additional therapeutic substances like culture medium, growth factors, differentiation factors, hydrogels polymers, antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications, or immunosuppressive medications could be added to the transplanted nucleus pulposus tissue.