Methods and compositions for promoting the structural integrity of scaffolds for tissue engineering
Inventors
Sostek, Ron • Green, David • Meng, Linghui • Soliman, Sherif • Consiglio, Joseph
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10449026-B2
Publication Date
2019-10-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
Aspects of the disclosure relate to synthetic tissue or organ scaffolds and methods and compositions for promoting or maintaining their structural integrity. Aspects of the disclosure are useful to prevent scaffold damage (e.g., delamination) during or after implantation into a host. Aspects of the disclosure are useful to stabilize tissue or organ scaffolds that include electrospun fibers.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to enhancing the mechanical properties and structural integrity of a synthetic or natural tubular organ scaffold made of electrospun nanofiber materials by integrating electrically conductive support structures. The support structures are coiled and captured within a tubular electrospun nanofiber structure that has two or more layers of electrospun polymeric nanofiber, and the scaffold is seeded with cells.
A central aspect is electrically conductive coiled support structures that include a plurality of anchors with specified nanoscale dimensions, embedded within the electrospun polymer layers. In the tubular organ scaffold, the coiled support structure is captured within the electrospun nanofiber structure, thereby improving mechanical properties while enabling cellularization. The support structure is integrated so that it remains within the multi-layer electrospun polymeric scaffold.
For the synthetic trachea scaffold, the invention further specifies integrating a continuous coiled metallic support structure with a plurality of anchors within an electrospun nanofiber structure. The metallic support structure is heated to melt one or more layers of the electrospun nanofiber structure, followed by seeding the scaffold with cells. In related embodiments, electrical heating is used to heat the metallic support structure.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes two independent method claims. Across these claims, the coverage focuses on integrating an electrically conductive coiled support structure within an electrospun multi-layer tubular scaffold, capturing it within electrospun nanofiber layers, including nanoscale anchors, and then seeding with cells, with an additional heating/melting step specifically in the synthetic trachea embodiment.
Electrically conductive coiled support captured within an electrospun tubular scaffold
Integrating one or more support structures that are electrically conductive within a tubular structure, wherein the support structure is a coiled structure and wherein the support structure is captured within an electrospun nanofiber structure.
Multi-layer electrospun polymeric nanofiber tubular scaffold
The tubular organ scaffold has two or more layers of electrospun polymeric nanofiber wherein the electrospun polymeric nanofiber is polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene.
Nanoscale anchors integrated with the conductive coiled support
Wherein the support structure includes a plurality of anchors, the anchors having a diameter between 1 and 5 nm and a length between 5 and 50 nm.
Seeding the scaffold with cells
Seeding the scaffold with cells.
Continuous coiled electrically conductive metallic support in a synthetic trachea
Integrating a continuous coiled metallic support structure that is electrically conductive within the electrospun nanofiber structure of the synthetic trachea scaffold wherein the continuous coiled metallic support structure includes a plurality of anchors.
Heating the metallic support to melt electrospun nanofiber layers
Heating the metallic support structure to melt one or more layers of the electrospun nanofiber structure.
Overall, the independent claims cover enhancing mechanical properties of tubular organ scaffolds by embedding an electrically conductive coiled support structure with nanoscale anchors inside electrospun multi-layer nanofiber scaffolds, and then seeding with cells. The synthetic trachea embodiment additionally heats the metallic support to melt one or more electrospun nanofiber layers.
Stated Advantages
Enhancing the mechanical properties of a synthetic or natural tubular organ scaffold.
Enhancing the mechanical properties of a synthetic trachea scaffold.
Documented Applications
A synthetic or natural tubular organ scaffold, including a synthetic trachea scaffold, that is seeded with cells.
Cell-seeded tubular organ scaffold constructs, including trachea scaffold constructs, intended for cellularization.
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