Tissue-equivalent rods containing aligned collagen fibrils and schwann cells

US6057137A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Regents of the University of Minnesota · US

Inventors

• Robert Tranquillo · Arden Hills, US
• Daniel L. Mooradian · Eagan, US
• Timothy S. Girton · Maple Grove, US
• Stefano Guido · Napoli, IT

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 4, 1996
• Grant date: May 2, 2000
• Expiry date: Oct 4, 2016

Classification

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

Abstract

Tissue-equivalent and biopolymer tubes and rods include fibrils which are oriented (aligned) by a magnetic field. These oriented fibrils provide enhanced mechanical and cell guidance properties to the tissue-equivalent and biopolymer tubes. One such tissue-equivalent tube includes a body of collagen gel with mammalian tissue cells interspersed therein. The collagen fibrils are circumferentially oriented within the tubular body by a magnetic field, thereby inducing circumferential orientation of the cells. One such biopolymer rod includes collagen fibrils longitudinally oriented along the rod axis by a magnetic field that guides invasion of cells. Methods of making magnetically oriented tissue-equivalent and biopolymer tubes and rods are also disclosed.