Decellularized muscle matrix

Abstract

Disclosed herein are muscle implants and methods of making muscle implants comprising one or more decellularized muscle matrices. The muscle matrices can, optionally, be joined to one or more decellularized dermal matrices. The muscle implants can be used to enhance muscle volume or to treat muscle damage, defects, and/or disorders. The decellularized muscle matrices in the implants retain at least some of the myofibers found in a muscle tissue prior to processing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A muscle implant comprising at least one sheet of decellularized muscle matrix that contains about 20-80% of the myofibers normally found in an unprocessed muscle sample. 
     
     
         2 . The muscle implant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of decellularized muscle matrix is at least two or at least three sheets of decellularized muscle matrices. 
     
     
         3 . The muscle implant of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet of decellularized muscle matrix lacks substantially all alpha-galactose moieties. 
     
     
         4 . The muscle implant of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one sheet of decellularized dermal matrix joined to the at least one sheet of decellularized muscle matrix. 
     
     
         5 . The muscle implant of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one sheet of decellularized dermal matrix is at least two or at least three sheets of decellularized dermal matrices, and/or the at least one sheet of decellularized muscle matrix is at least two or at least three sheets of decellularized muscle matrices. 
     
     
         6 . The muscle implant of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one sheet of decellularized muscle matrix and the at least one sheet of decellularized dermal matrix are joined with a fibrin glue or with sutures. 
     
     
         7 . The muscle implant of  claim 1 , wherein the muscle implant is lyophilized or in aqueous solution. 
     
     
         8 . The muscle implant of  claim 1 , wherein the muscle implant substantially lacks bioburden. 
     
     
         9 . A method of treatment, comprising implanting into a patient a muscle implant, wherein the muscle implant comprises at least one sheet of decellularized muscle matrix containing about 20-80% of the myofibers normally found in an unprocessed muscle sample. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the muscle implant further comprises at least one sheet of decellularized dermal matrix joined to the at least one sheet of decellularized muscle matrix. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the muscle implant promotes an increased rate and/or overall amount of native muscle regeneration after implantation into a patient, as compared to the rate and/or overall amount of regeneration in the absence of an implant or in the presence of an implant comprising unprocessed muscle or comprising decellularized tissue that lacks all myofibers. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the muscle implant is used to treat a skeletal muscle defect. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the skeletal muscle defect is an abdominal hernia. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the skeletal muscle defect is a gunshot wound or blunt force trauma. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the muscle implant is used after the loss or removal of bulk muscle tissue. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the loss of bulk muscle tissue is due to a muscle wasting disorder. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the removal of bulk muscle is due to surgical removal of native muscle tissue from a patient. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the native muscle tissue is removed as part of a treatment for a sarcoma or osteosarcoma. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the muscle implant is used to enhance the appearance and/or volume of muscle tissue at an implant site.