| abstract |
The present invention provides wound dressings, optionally surgically implantable, containing biodegradable, polymers and hydrogels having allogenic or autologous precursor cells, such as stem cells and progenitor cells dispersed within. Alternatively, the wound dressings can have conditioned medium obtained from the precursor cells dispersed within. The wound dressings promote tissue restoration processes at a site of application or implantation. Additional bioactive agents can also be dispersed within the polymer/hydrogel matrix, which can be formulated to biodegrade at a controlled rate by adjusting the composition. Methods are also provided for using such biodegradable wound dressings as a delivery device or carrier for the precursor cells, conditioned medium and bioactive agents, or as coatings on implantable medical devices, to promote tissue restoration at a lesion site. |