IMPLANT OF CROSS-LINKED SPIDER SILK THREADS

• US 20100228359A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
• Original Assignee: Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
• Inventors: Allmeling, Christina, Vogt, Peter, Reimers, Kerstin
• Granted Patent: US 8,696,762 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/23.720
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/02 for reconstruction of bones; weight-bearing implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/06 for cartilage reconstruction, e.g. meniscus
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/10 for reconstruction of tendons or ligaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2430/16 for reconstruction of eye parts, e.g. intraocular lens, cornea
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 26/0047 Specific proteins or polypeptides not covered by groups A61L26/0033 - A61L26/0042
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 26/0057 Ingredients of undetermined constitution or reaction products thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/227 Other specific proteins or polypeptides not covered by A61L27/222, A61L27/225 or A61L27/24
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3604 characterised by the human or animal origin of the biological material, e.g. hair, fascia, fish scales, silk, shellac, pericardium, pleura, renal tissue, amniotic membrane, parenchymal tissue, fetal tissue, muscle tissue, fat tissue, enamel
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3683 subjected to a specific treatment prior to implantation, e.g. decellularising, demineralising, grinding, cellular disruption/non-collagenous protein removal, anti-calcification, crosslinking, supercritical fluid extraction, enzyme treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3804 characterised by specific cells or progenitors thereof, e.g. fibroblasts, connective tissue cells, kidney cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/507 for artificial blood vessels apparatus for applying cells on a blood vessel prosthesis A61F2/062
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/60 Materials for use in artificial skin

Abstract

The present invention provides the use of spider silk threads for the production of tissue implants for medical use. A scaffolding matrix is provided for implantation, which matrix is comprised of spider silk thread and/or segments of spider silk threads which are cross-linked. The cross-linked spider silk thread segments essentially maintain a three-dimensional shape into which it is formed by pressing between moulds. The three-dimensional shape obtainable by moulding is sufficiently stable to be used as an implant or for colonizing by mammalian cells while essentially maintaining the three-dimensional shape. In a further embodiment, the scaffolding matrix of cross-linked spider silk segments is at least partially covered by cells autologous or heterologous to the implant recipient. The matrix colonized with cells is obtainable by in vitro cultivation of isolated cells in suspension with the scaffolding matrix.

Claims

1. Use of spider silk threads for the production of implants for medical use, characterized in that the implant is a scaffolding matrix of cross-linked spider silk threads moulded into a pre-determined three-dimensional form, obtainable by moulding spider silk threads in the presence of a cross-linking agent.

2. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that the scaffolding matrix comprises adherent mammalian cells by in vitro cultivation.

3. Use according to claim 2, characterized in that the cells are obtained from the future recipient of the implant or are immunologically tolerated heterologous cells.

4. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that the spider silk threads have a length in the range of 0.1 mm to 200 mm.

5. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that the three-dimensional form is obtained by moulding in a die cavity formed between two half moulds.

6. Use according to claim 1 for the replacement of a tissue defect.

7. Use according to claim 1, characterized in that the medical use is the treatment of seroserous or serosanguineous wounds.

8. Use according to claim 7, characterized in that the spider silk threads are formed into a non-woven tissue without a cross-linking agent.

9. Implant for medical use comprising spider silk threads, characterized in that the implant is a scaffolding matrix having a predetermined three-dimensional form, obtainable by moulding spider silk threads obtainable from spiders in the presence of a cross-linking agent.

10. Implant according to claim 9, characterized in that the implant comprises adherent cells.

11. Implant according to claim 10, characterized in that the cells are obtained from the future recipient of the implant.

12. Implant according to claim 9, characterized in that the spider silk threads have a length in the range of 0.1 mm to 200 mm.

13. Implant according to claim 9, characterized in that the three-dimensional form is obtained by moulding in a die cavity formed between two half moulds or within a tube.

14. Process for the production of an implant having a predetermined three-dimensional form according to claim 9, characterized in that

the implant is a scaffolding matrix generated by

obtaining spider silk threads from a spider and

moulding the spider silk threads in a die cavity in the presence of a cross-linking agent.

15. Process according to claim 14, characterized in that the scaffolding matrix is colonized with mammalian cells obtained from the future recipient by incubating the scaffolding matrix with the cells under cell culture conditions.

16. Process according to claim 14, characterized in that the spider silk threads are reduced in length by cutting or shearing to 0.1 mm to 200 mm.