Nerve repair scaffolds having high microchannel volume and methods for making the same

US11110207B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN · US
• The Regents of the University of California · US
• United States Government as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs · US

Inventors

• Jeffrey Sakamoto · Ann Arbor, US
• Dena Shahriari · Ann Arbor, US
• Mark H. Tuszynski · Village of La Jolla, US
• Wendy M. Campana · Village of La Jolla, US
• Yacov Koffler · San Diego, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 20, 2019
• Grant date: Sep 7, 2021
• Expiry date: Aug 20, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61L2430/32
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Tissue scaffolds for neural tissue growth have a plurality of microchannels disposed within a sheath. Each microchannel comprises a porous wall having a thickness of ≤about 100 μm that is formed from a biocompatible and biodegradable material comprising a polyester polymer. The polyester polymer may be polycaprolactone, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) polymer, and combinations thereof. The tissue scaffolds have high open volume % enabling superior (linear and high fidelity) neural tissue growth, while minimizing inflammation near the site of implantation in vivo. In other aspects, methods of making such tissue scaffolds are provided. Such a method may include mixing a reduced particle size porogen with a polymeric precursor solution. The material is cast onto a template and then can be processed, including assembly in a sheath and removal of the porogen, to form a tissue scaffold having a plurality of porous microchannels.