Collagen/glycosaminoglycan compositions for use as terminally sterilizable matrices

Abstract

Compositions of cross-linked collagen and a glycosaminoglycan are provided which retain characteristics rendering them useful as tissue engineering matrices or scaffolds following terminal sterilization. Also provided are methods for producing these compositions and terminally sterilized matrices or scaffolds from these compositions as well as methods of using these matrices or scaffolds as tissue engineering devices.

Description

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 002,653, filed Oct. 19, 2001, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.[0002] This invention was supported in part by funds from the U.S. government (NIH Grant No DK56504-01) and the U.S. government may therefore have certain rights in the invention.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates to compositions comprising collagen and a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) which are useful in terminally sterilized tissue engineering matrices or scaffolds. Collagen / GAG compositions are easily damaged by conventional sterilization techniques. However, matrices or scaffolds comprising the collagen / GAG compositions of the present invention are resistant to damage from terminal sterilization techniques, retaining their function as structural supports, frameworks for tissue formation, cell contact surfaces and therapeutic delivery systems following sterilization via ionizing radiation such as electr...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022] An object of the present invention is to provide a composition comprising collagen and a glycosaminoglycan which can be used in a terminally sterilized matrix or scaffold. In a preferred embodiment, the composition is produced via a method that has been modified to increase the cross-link density of the collagen and glycosaminoglycan composition.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide methods for producing collagen and glycosaminoglycan compositions and matrices or scaffolds comprising these compositions which retain their function as structural supports for cells, frameworks for tissue formation, surfaces for cell contact and therapeutic delivery systems following terminal sterilization of the compositions or matrices or scaffolds comprising these compositions. In these methods, preparation of the collagen and glycosaminoglycan composition is modified to increase the cross-link density of the matrix to an amount that stabilizes the composition toward ionizing radiation while retaining the physical and biological properties necessary to achieve optimal biological performance of the composition as a matrix or scaffold.

[0024] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide methods for using these terminally sterilized collagen / glycosaminoglycan matrices or scaffolds as tissue engineering devices. In a preferred embodiment, the terminally sterilized matrices are used as skin substitutes. Moreover, terminal sterilization of these matrices allows for their use in sub-dermal applications as well.

Problems solved by technology

However, compositions comprising collagen and GAG are sensitive to the sterilization normally applied to medical products.

However, under current Federal and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations, IPA-packaged collagen / GAG matrix materials cannot be labeled as sterile.

As a result, under FDA regulations, collagen / GAG matrix materials cannot be used sub-dermally.

Further, packaging the collagen / GAG matrix materials in IPA is inconvenient for the end user because IPA must be treated as a hazardous chemical waste that must be disposed of properly.

In addition the shipping costs for IPA packaged materials are substantially higher.

However, heating results in coagulation of collagen containing soft tissues.

However, these agents also cross-link collagen, thereby increasing its stiffness, while decreasing its remodeling ability following implantation (Kato et al.

Accordingly, chemical sterilization methods are not applicable to terminal sterilization since materials with chemical residuals cannot be implanted in the body.

Further, chemical sterilants such as ethyl and isopropyl alcohol are not suitable for collagen sterilization as these agents are not sporicidal.

The chemical sterilant ethylene oxide is also not suitable for wet aqueous materials as the hydrolysis of ethylene oxide becomes a concern.

However, since matrices with residual periacetic acid cannot be implanted in the body, this method is also not practical for terminal sterilization.

However studies have shown that collagen is damaged by gamma-irradiation at 1 mega-rad (Chueng et al. J. Biomedical Material Research 1990 24:581-590), and at sterilizing doses it is damaged to a degree that compromises the desired function of the present matrices.

Accordingly, attempts to sterilize collagen alone have been relatively unsuccessful.

However, this method cannot be applied to wet collagen / GAG samples of any significant thickness which are often required in medical applications.

The original systems were inferior compared to gamma irradiation.

However, this material is not intended for use in promoting tissue regeneration nor has that use for it been demonstrated.

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