Three-dimensional scaffold and method of manufacturing the same
Inventors
Cho, Dong-Woo • Kim, Jong Young • Shim, Jin-Hyung
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-9018008-B2
Publication Date
2015-04-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
A scaffold having a reinforced tissue regeneration ability and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The scaffold is formed in a lattice form by alternately stacking biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layers. In this case, the biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layer is formed by disposing a plurality of biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel units including a biodegradable synthetic polymer and a hydrogel at a predetermined gap.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a three-dimensional scaffold formed in a lattice form by alternately stacking a plurality of biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layers. After stacking one biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layer, a next biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layer is stacked by rotating the next layer by 90 degrees to form a lattice pattern.
Each biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layer is formed by disposing biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel units spaced apart from each other at a pre-determined gap. Each of the biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel units includes a biodegradable synthetic polymer and a hydrogel, and is formed by interposing a single hydrogel line between a pair of a plurality of biodegradable synthetic polymer lines stacked upon each other and fusing the single hydrogel line and the pair of stacked biodegradable synthetic polymer lines.
The scaffold is described as enabling reinforced tissue regeneration using alternating biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layers stacked into a lattice pattern, including options where growth factors and regenerating cells are sealed within the hydrogel. Example embodiments specify biodegradable synthetic polymers selected from PLA, PGA, polycaprolactone, and PLGA, and hydrogels selected from collagen, gelatin, chitosan, alginic acid, and hyaluronic acid.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim defines 4 inventive features centered on a lattice scaffold architecture using biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layers and rotated layer stacking. Dependent claims further refine the materials and inclusion of sealed bioactive content in the hydrogel.
Alternately stacked biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel lattice layers
A scaffold is formed in a lattice form by alternately stacking a plurality of biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layers.
90-degree rotated layer stacking for lattice pattern formation
After one biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layer is stacked, the next biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layer is stacked by rotating the next biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layer by 90 degrees to form a lattice pattern.
Spaced biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel units at a predetermined gap
Each of the biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layers is formed by disposing a plurality of biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel units spaced apart from each other at a pre-determined gap, where each unit comprises a biodegradable synthetic polymer and a hydrogel.
Interposed single hydrogel line fused between stacked polymer lines
Each of the plurality of biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel units is formed by interposing a single hydrogel line between a pair of a plurality of biodegradable synthetic polymer lines stacked upon each other and fusing the single hydrogel line and the pair of the stacked plurality of biodegradable synthetic polymer lines.
Claim coverage centers on a lattice scaffold architecture made from alternating biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel layers. The claim requires 90-degree rotation between successive layers and each layer to be composed of spaced polymer-hydrogel units formed by fusing an interposed hydrogel line between stacked polymer lines. Dependent claims narrow polymer and hydrogel selections and allow sealed growth factors and regenerating cells within the hydrogel.
Stated Advantages
Improved cell deposition/propagation and mechanical strength with polymer-hydrogel scaffolds, especially when cell and growth factor are included.
Documented Applications
Reinforced tissue regeneration using the described lattice-form biodegradable synthetic polymer-hydrogel scaffold, including embodiments with growth factors and regenerating cells sealed in the hydrogel.
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