Biomaterial derived from vertebrate liver tissue

Patent Number: 7,482,025

This patent teaches the use of a decellularized liver matrix for induction of tissue growth, the tissue growth being mediated by the cells already residing in the patient, such as stem or progenitor cells. 

The first independent claim covers "A method for inducing the formation of endogenous tissue at a site in need of endogenous tissue growth in a warm-blooded vertebrate, the method comprising the step of implanting a graft composition comprising an extracellular matrix in an amount effective to induce endogenous tissue growth at the site in need of the tissue growth wherein the matrix comprises gelled liver basement membrane tissue of a warm-blooded vertebrate and wherein the liver basement membrane is substantially free of endogenous cells associated with said liver basement membrane"

The dependent claims include the addition of cytokines and use as a wound dressing.  The examples teach how to make the composition but do not appear to show efficacy.

The space of decellularized matrices is interesting, for example, see patent # 7,217,294 which teaches use of such matrices for treatment of articular injuries, or patent #7,326,571 which teaches use of decellularized bone marrow as a matrix.

View this patent on the USPTO website.