Loading patent…
OwnerLimin Guan, Chantal E. Holy +2inventors
InventorsLimin Guan, Chantal E. Holy, Molly S. Shoichet, John E. Davies
Estimating the term…
A polymer scaffold is provided comprising an extensively interconnected macroporous network. The polymer scaffold embodies macropores having a diameter in a range of 0.5-3.5 mm, and preferably in a range of about 1.0-2.0 mm. The polymer scaffold is prepared using a novel process which advantageously combines the techniques of particulate leaching and phase inversion to render a process that provides amplified means by which to control the morphology of the resulting polymer scaffold. The polymer scaffold has utility in the area of tissue engineering, particularly as a scaffold for both in vitro and in vivo cell growth. The polymer scaffold may be produced using pure polymer or alternatively a composite material may be formed consisting of a macroporous polymer scaffold and osteoclast-resorbable calcium phosphate particles with a binding agent binding the calcium phosphate particles to the polymer scaffold.
A composite material formed of a macroporous polymer scaffold and calcium phosphate particles, said macroporous polymer scaffold comprising essentially non-membraneous pore walls, said pore walls consisting of microporous polymer struts defining macropores which are interconnected by macroporous passageways, said microporous polymer struts containing calcium phosphate particles dispersed therethrough and a binding agent for binding said calcium phosphate particles to a polymer making up said macroporous polymer scaffold, microporous passageways extending through said microporous polymer struts so that macropores on either side of a given microporous polymer strut are in communication through said given microporous polymer strut, said macropores having a mean diameter in a range from about 0.5 to about 3.5 mm, and said macroporous polymer scaffold having a porosity of at least 50%.
A process for synthesizing a composite material formed of a macroporous polymer scaffold and calcium phosphate particles, said macroporous polymer scaffold comprising essentially non-membraneous pore walls, said pore walls consisting of microporous polymer struts defining macropores which are interconnected by macroporous passageways, said microporous polymer struts containing calcium phosphate particles dispersed therethrough and a binding agent for binding said calcium phosphate particles to a polymer making up said macroporous polymer scaffold, microporous passageways extending through said microporous polymer struts so that macropores on either side of a given microporous polymer strut are in communication through said given microporous polymer strut, said macropores having a mean diameter in a range from about 0.5 to about 3.5 mm. and said macroporous polymer scaffold having a porosity of at least 50%, comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.