Surface directed cellular attachment

• US 20050196452A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Kennedy, Stephen J., Boyan, Barbara D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,002,830 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/486
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/16 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/52 Hydrogels or hydrocolloids
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/56 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 19/00 Drugs for skeletal disorders
• CPC Class Codes: B33Y 80/00 Products made by additive manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 29/04 Polyvinyl alcohol; Partially hydrolysed homopolymers or copolymers of esters of unsaturated alcohols with saturated carboxylic acids

Abstract

Implantable biomaterials, particularly hydrogel substrates with porous surfaces, and methods for enhancing the compatibility of biomaterials with living tissue, and for causing physical attachment between biomaterials and living tissues are provided. Also provided are implants suitable for load-bearing surfaces in hard tissue repair, replacement, or augmentation, and to methods of their use. One embodiment of the invention relates to an implantable spinal disc prosthesis.

Claims

1. A biocompatible substrate having thereon a plurality of first substantially uniform superficial pores and a unique plurality of second substantially uniform superficial pores.

2. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the first pores have an average cross-section of between 3 and 1000 micrometers.

3. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the first pores have an average cross-section of between 10 to 300 micrometers.

4. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the first pores have an average cross-section of between 30 and 100 micrometers.

5. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the second pores have an average cross-section of between 0.5 to 20 micrometers.

6. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the second pores have an average cross-section of between 1 to 10 micrometers.

7. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the second pores have an average cross-section of between 2 to 5 micrometers.

8. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the second pores are located within the first pores.

9. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the first pores and the second pores are within 1 millimeter of the surface of the substrate.

10. The substrate of claim 1, wherein the first pores and the second pores are within 200 micrometers of the surface of the substrate.

11. A hydrogel substrate comprising a hydrogel surface having thereon a plurality of first substantially uniform superficial pores and a unique plurality of second substantially uniform superficial pores.

12. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the first pores have an average diameter of between 3 and 1000 micrometers.

13. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the first pores have an average diameter of between 10 to 300 micrometers.

14. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the first pores have an average diameter of between 30 and 100 micrometers.

15. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the second pores have an average diameter of between 0.5 to 20 micrometers.

16. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the second pores have an average diameter of between 1 to 10 micrometers.

17. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the second pores have an average diameter of between 2 to 5 micrometers.

18. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the second pores are located within the first pores.

19. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the first pores and the second pores are within 1 millimeter of the surface of the hydrogel.

20. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the first pores and the second pores are within 200 micrometers of the surface of the hydrogel.

21. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the hydrogel comprises polyvinyl alcohol.

22. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the hydrogel has a moisture content of at least 5% w/w of the overall hydrogel.

23. The hydrogel substrate of claim 11, wherein the hydrogel has a moisture content of at least 30% w/w of the overall hydrogel.

24. A hydrogel substrate which promotes attachment of cartilage comprising a hydrogel surface having thereon a plurality of first substantially uniform superficial pores and a unique plurality of second substantially uniform superficial pores.

25. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the first pores have an average diameter of between 2 and 600 micrometers.

26. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the first pores have an average diameter of between 5 and 200 micrometers.

27. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the first pores have an average diameter of between 20 and 60 micrometers.

28. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the second pores have an average diameter of between 0.1 to 10 micrometers.

29. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the second pores have an average diameter of between 0.2 to 5 micrometers.

30. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the second pores have an average diameter of between 0.5 to 2 micrometers.

31. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the second pores are located within the first pores.

32. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the first pores and the second pores are within 1 millimeter of the surface of the hydrogel.

33. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the first pores and the second pores are within 200 micrometers of the surface of the hydrogel.

34. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the hydrogel is made up of polyvinyl alcohol.

35. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the hydrogel has a moisture content of at least 5% w/w of the overall hydrogel.

36. The hydrogel substrate of claim 24, wherein the hydrogel has a moisture content of at least 30% w/w of the overall hydrogel.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein the hydrogel is made up of polyvinyl alcohol.

37. A method of making a biomaterial substrate comprising a surface having thereon a plurality of first substantially uniform superficial pores and a unique plurality of second substantially uniform superficial pores comprising:

a. providing a mold having projections thereon corresponding to first and second pores,

b. casting the biomaterial in the mold,

c. allowing the substrate to form while in the mold, and

d. removing the substrate from the mold.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the providing a mold having projections thereon corresponding to first and second pores is accomplished with MEMS technology or its equivalent.

39. A method of making a hydrogel substrate comprising a hydrogel surface having thereon a plurality of first substantially uniform superficial pores and a unique plurality of second substantially uniform superficial pores comprising:

a. providing a mold having projections thereon corresponding to first and second pores,

b. pouring a liquid solution of the hydrogel into the mold,

c. allowing the hydrogel to polymerize and crosslink while in the mold, and

d. removing the solid hydrogel from the mold.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the providing a mold having projections thereon corresponding to first and second pores is accomplished with MEMS technology or its equivalent.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the hydrogel contains a moisture content of at least 5% w/w of the overall hydrogel.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the hydrogel contains a moisture content of at least 30% w/w of the overall hydrogel.

44. A hydrogel substrate comprising at least two regions of differing superficial pore sizes.