Electroprocessed Collagen and Tissue Engineering

Abstract

The invention is directed to formation and use of electroprocessed collagen, including use as an extracellular matrix and, together with cells, its use in forming engineered tissue. The engineered tissue can include the synthetic manufacture of specific organs or tissues which may be implanted into a recipient. The electroprocessed collagen may also be combined with other molecules in order to deliver substances to the site of application or implantation of the electroprocessed collagen. The collagen or collagen / cell suspension is electrodeposited onto a substrate to form tissues and organs.

Description

PRIOR RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 09 / 991,373 filed Nov. 16, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 09 / 714,255, filed Nov. 17, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 09 / 512,081, filed Feb. 24, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 09 / 386,273, filed Aug. 31, 1999. U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 09 / 512,081 also claims priority, in part, from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 121,628, filed on Feb. 25, 1999. This application further claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 384,035, filed May 28, 2002; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 386,612, filed Jun. 6, 2002; U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 396,399, filed Jul. 15, 2002; and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 402,189, file...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The present method includes pre-selecting a mold adapted to make the predetermined shape and filling the mold with electroprocessed material or electrodepositing materials on the outer surface of the mold. Further shaping can be accomplished by manual processing of the formed matrices. For example, multiple formed matrices can be sutured, sealed, stapled, or otherwise attached to one another to form a desired shape. The electroprocessed matrix can be milled into a powder or milled and prepared as a hydrated gel composed of banded fibrils. Alternatively, the physical flexibility of many matrices allow them to be manually shaped to a desired structure. The electroprocessed collagen can be processed further, for example by crosslinking or shaping, or placement in a bioreactor for cell culturing. In this way, cells can be grown in an electroprocessed matrix.

Problems solved by technology

Many such polymers, however, suffer the drawbacks associated with their chemical and structural dissimilarities with natural materials.

Fibrotic encapsulation, lack of cellular infiltration, and rejection are problems experienced by such implants.

Many such polymers, however, suffer the drawback of producing major degradation by-products that, in intimate contact with to individual cells, can produce an inflammatory response and decrease the pH in the cellular microenvironment.

Another complication is that bioabsorbable structural materials are degraded over time, resulting in structural failure of the implant.

Fibrotic encapsulation and lack of cellular infiltration also remain problems.

A problem with these constructs is that they either lack structural strength (as with collagen gels) or lose strength after implantation.

This process causes structurally sound implants to lose integrity after implantation and ultimately to fail.

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