Method for using tropoelastin and for producing tropoelastin biomaterials

Abstract

It is a general object of the invention to provide a method of effecting repair or replacement or supporting a section of a body tissue using tropoelastin, preferably crosslinked tropoelastin and specifically to provide a tropoelastin biomaterial suitable for use as a stent, for example, a vascular stent, or as conduit replacement, as an artery, vein or a ureter replacement. The tropoelastin biomaterial itself can also be used as a stent or conduit covering or coating or lining.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent Ser. No. 08 / 797,770 filed Feb. 7, 1997 (pending) which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,989,244 issued Nov. 23, 1999 and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 5,990,379 issued Nov. 23, 1999.GOVERNMENT LICENSE RIGHTS [0002] This invention was made with Government support under Grant No. DAMD 17-96-1-6006 awarded by U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity. The U.S. Government has certain rights in the invention.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention relates to a method for using tropoelastin, and more particularly to a method for producing tropoelastin biomaterials. [0004] Elastic fibers are responsible for the elastic properties of several tissues such as skin and lung, as well as arteries, and are composed of two morphologically distinct components, elastin and microfibrils. Microfibrils make up the quantitatively smaller component of the fibers and play ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0042] A drug can be incorporated into the layer of tropoelastin material thereby decreasing the need for systemic intravenous or oral medications. Also, photodynamic therapy drugs (“PTD”) which are activated with light can be employed herein.

Problems solved by technology

Autologous vein replacements for damaged arteries also tend to be only a temporary measure since they can deteriorate in a few years in high pressure arterial circulation.

Incomplete healing is also due, in part, to a compliance mismatch between currently used synthetic biomaterials and native tissues.

However, metal stents or scaffolds being deployed presently in non-surgical catheter based systems to scaffold damaged arteries are inherently thrombogenic and their deployment can result in catastrophic thrombotic closure.

Metal stents have also been well demonstrated to induce a significant intimal hyperplastic response within weeks which can result in restenosis or closure of the lumen.

Damage to the arterial wall through disease or injury can involve the endothelium, internal elastic lamina, medial smooth muscle and adventitia.

However, elastin does not undergo extensive post-developmental remodelling and the capacity for elastin synthesis declines with age.

Therefore, once damaged, elastic fibers are not substantially reformed.

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