Engineered tissue scaffolds and supports therefor
Inventors
Assignees
Hugo Sachs Elektronik Harvard Apparatus GmbH • Harvard Apparatus Regenerative Technology Inc
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Publication Number
US-9877822-B2
Publication Date
2018-01-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
According to some aspects, supports are provided for producing artificial tissue scaffolds.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to producing an artificial tissue scaffold by obtaining a support having a first solid tubular region, a second solid tubular region connected to the first solid tubular region, and an intermediate region located between the first solid tubular region and the second solid tubular region. The first solid tubular region includes a substantially flat perimeter region, and the second solid tubular region has a transverse cross-section with radial symmetry. The intermediate region has a cross-sectional size between the first region and the second region.
A transverse cross-section of the first region has a convex curvilinear outer perimeter region interrupted by the substantially flat perimeter region, such that the first region has bilateral symmetry but not radial symmetry. An axis of bilateral symmetry passes perpendicularly through a midpoint of the substantially flat perimeter region. The support is made partially or entirely of conductive metal, and a synthetic or natural material is deposited on the obtained support so that the synthetic or natural material forms a scaffold having an inner size and shape corresponding to an outer surface of the support.
The synthetic or natural material is deposited on the support by electrospinning, and the method further includes removing the support from the formed scaffold. In dependent refinements, cells are seeded onto the removed scaffold and maintained on the scaffold to partially or completely cellularize the scaffold. Further refinements include depositing structural ribs on the support relative to the convex curvilinear outer perimeter region and the substantially flat perimeter region, and providing a support with a rotating pin projecting from the first or second region with a diameter smaller than the support outer perimeter at the projection location.
Claims Coverage
The document’s independent claim defines a complete method of producing an artificial tissue scaffold using a specially shaped tubular support with defined first, second, and intermediate regions, including bilateral symmetry via a convex curvilinear perimeter interrupted by a substantially flat perimeter, and using electrospinning of a synthetic or natural material on a conductive-metal support followed by removing the support. Dependent claims add optional cellularization, structural ribs, and a rotating pin dimension constraint.
Bilaterally symmetric first tubular region with interrupted convex curvilinear perimeter
A first solid tubular region having a substantially flat perimeter region, where a transverse cross-section has a convex curvilinear outer perimeter region interrupted by the substantially flat perimeter region, the first region has bilateral symmetry but not radial symmetry, and an axis of bilateral symmetry passes perpendicularly through a midpoint of the substantially flat perimeter region.
Second tubular region with radial symmetry and intermediate region size gradient
A second solid tubular region connected to the first solid tubular region, where the second region has a transverse cross-section with radial symmetry, and an intermediate region located between the first solid tubular region and the second solid tubular region, wherein the intermediate region has a cross-sectional size between the first region and the second region.
Conductive-metal support for electrospinning deposition
The support is made partially or entirely of conductive metal, and a synthetic or natural material is deposited on the obtained support by electrospinning such that the synthetic or natural material forms a scaffold having an inner size and shape corresponding to an outer surface of the support.
Removing the support after electrospinning scaffold formation
After depositing the synthetic or natural material by electrospinning to form the scaffold, removing the support from the formed scaffold.
Optional cellularization by seeding and maintaining cells
Seeding cells onto the removed scaffold and maintaining the seeded cells on the scaffold during construction so as to partially or completely cellularize the scaffold.
Structural ribs relative to convex curvilinear outer perimeter and flat perimeter
Depositing or forming structural ribs on the scaffold obtained from the support, including a plurality of ribs spaced along a length of the support, with ends of the ribs positioned relative to the maximum outer dimension of the convex curvilinear outer perimeter region and the substantially flat perimeter region.
Rotating pin projecting with diameter smaller than outer perimeter
Providing the support with a rotating pin projecting from either the first or second region, where the rotating pin has a diameter smaller than the support’s outer perimeter at the projection location.
Overall, the claims focus on producing a scaffold by electrospinning a synthetic or natural material onto a partially or entirely conductive-metal tubular support that has distinct first and second regions with bilateral symmetry (non-radial) in the first region and radial symmetry in the second region, separated by an intermediate region. The scaffold is formed to match the support’s outer surface geometry and then is obtained by removing the support, with dependent refinements for cellularization, structural ribs, and a rotating pin with a diameter constraint.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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