A method of processing an acellular tissue matrix to give a particulate
acellular tissue matrix includes: cutting sheets of dry acellular tissue
matrix into strips; cryofracturing the dry acellular tissue matrix strips
at cryogenic temperatures; separating the resulting particles by size at
cryogenic temperatures; and freeze drying the fraction of particles
desired size to remove any moisture that may have been absorbed to give a
dry particulate acellular tissue matrix. Rehydration of the dry
particulate acellular tissue matrix may take place just prior to use. The
particulate acellular tissue may be applied to a recipient site, by way
of injection, spraying, layering, packing, in-casing or combinations
thereof. The particulate acellular tissue may further include growth and
stimulating agents selected from epidermal growth factor, fibroblast
growth factor, nerve growth factor, keratinocyte growth factor, platelet
derived growth factor, vasoactive intestinal peptide, stem cell factor,
bone morphogetic proteins, chondrocyte growth factor and combinations
thereof. Other pharmaceutically active compounds may be combined with the
rehydrated particulate material including: analgesic drugs; hemostatic
drugs; antibiotic drugs; local anesthetics and the like to enhance the
acceptance of the implanted particulate material. The particulate
material product may also be combined with stem cells selected from
mesenchymal stem cells, epidermal stem cells, cartilage stem cells,
hematopoietic stem cells and combinations thereof.