From Autografts to Allografts — and beyond.

Amniotic Products

What are Amniotic Products?

Amniotic products are derived from the amniotic membrane — commonly referred to as Amnion and Extracellular Matrix (ECM) — and amniotic fluid donated after the delivery of a healthy baby. They can contain as many as 250× the growth factors of PRP/PRFM. Amniotic products are anti-inflammatory by nature, so amniotic fluid helps reduce inflammation, increase epithelial cell reproduction, and increase angiogenesis. Amnion/ECM is particularly powerful in orthopedic and aesthetic applications due to the preponderance of growth factors and proteins organized and supported by a cellular matrix that supports regeneration of healthy tissue.

Amniotic Fluid

Amniotic fluid is the protective liquid contained by the amniotic membrane that cushions the growing fetus and facilitates the exchange of nutrients, water, and biochemical products between mother and fetus. It contains a substantial number of growth factors and immune components. Purified amniotic fluid has had extraneous cells removed and is immediately frozen to preserve the potency of its growth factors and nucleic acids. Because there are no cells and therefore no need for a diluting cryopreservant, purified amniotic fluid can deliver twice the number of factors (anti-bacterial defensins, anti-inflammatory cytokines, and neo-natal growth factors) as offered in standard amniotic products.

Amnion / Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

Amniotic membrane, or amnion, is the innermost layer of the placenta and consists of a thick basement membrane and an avascular stromal matrix. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral properties as well as low immunogenicity. Clinicians have used amnion for over a century as a biologic dressing across a broad range of therapeutic applications. Amnion is an abundant source of collagen, other proteins, and cytokines; its collagens provide a structural tissue matrix for cellular attachment while the ECM assists in the migration and proliferation of the patient's own cells to the site of injury or defect.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs)

Pure life delivered from Mother to Child.

What are MSCs?

MSCs are multipotent stromal cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types. They come from the donated umbilical cords of healthy, full-term deliveries and can be obtained in two different forms: Cord Blood or Wharton's Jelly. Donated MSCs derived from the umbilical cord after a live birth are more robust, younger, and contain a greater level of the growth factors and cytokines necessary for tissue regeneration than MSCs from other sources. The applications of Cord Blood MSCs and Wharton's Jelly MSCs vary dramatically, as Wharton's Jelly contains an even greater degree of cellular matrix and growth factors than Amnion/ECM.

Structural Wharton's Jelly

The umbilical cord — often considered the cord of life — is largely composed of Wharton's Jelly. The cushioning and protective elements of Wharton's Jelly consist of a network of structural proteins, pericytes, MSCs, cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and components such as collagen and hyaluronic acid (HA) that work together to dampen the physical stresses encountered during development.

Cord Blood

Cord blood refers to blood from the umbilical cord and placenta. It contains a mixed population of cells including hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). These cells have the capacity to self-renew, release growth factors, and further develop into more specialized cells. They have also been associated with contributing to tissue homeostasis, anti-inflammatory responses, and antioxidant effects. This collection of cells can work together to provide a synergistic effect that offsets the naturally occurring processes typically derived from age and environmental factors.