NANOFIBER SCAFFOLD

• US 20110142804A1
• Filed: 11/26/2010
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BioSurfaces Inc., Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Gaudette, Glenn, Ali, Syed, Phaneuf, Matthew D., Alfonzo, Helena, Almeida, Brian, Flynn, Katie
• Granted Patent: US 8,691,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/93.7
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2400/12 Nanosized materials, e.g. nanofibres, nanoparticles, nanowires, nanotubes; Nanostructured surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/18 obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3834 Cells able to produce different cell types, e.g. hematopoietic stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, marrow stromal cells, embryonic stem cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/56 Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 9/00 Drugs for disorders of the cardiovascular system
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 75/04 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 11/093 Polyurethanes
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 2533/30 Synthetic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 5/0068 General culture methods using substrates for specific animal cell type C12N5/06

Abstract

The invention is directed to a device and method to prevent migration of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) from a delivery site while allowing communication between the stem cells and native cardiomyocytes. The device is characterized by scaffold pore size, fiber diameter and biomaterial selection. The invention includes a two part polyurethane scaffold that prevents migration of stem cells, allows gap junction formation through pores and is packaged for minimally invasive delivery.

Claims

1. A device comprising a nanofibrous scaffold and immobilized cells.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said nanofibrous scaffold is non-degradable.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said scaffold comprises a synthetic material selected from the group consisting of nitinol, dacron, nylon, polytetrafluoroethyline, poly(glycolic acid), and polyurethane.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said scaffold comprises electrospun polyurethane.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said scaffold is in the form of a chamber or a layered sandwich.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said chamber contains stem cells.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said stem cells are human mesenchymal stem cells.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said scaffold or chamber contains pores.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said pores prohibit the migration of stem cells.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein said pores allow gap junction formation and protein diffusion.

11. The device of claim 8, wherein said pores are 0.5-3 μ

m in diameter.

12. The device of claim 8, wherein said pores are less than 3 μ

m in diameter.

13. The device of claim 8, wherein said pores are 2-2.5 μ

m in diameter.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said nanofibrous scaffold is 10-150 μ

m thick.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said nanofibrous scaffold is 10-20 μ

m thick.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said nanofibrous scaffold is 30-60 μ

m thick.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said nanofibrous scaffold is greater than 90 μ

m thick.

18. The device of claim 5, wherein said chamber shape is selected from the group comprising disc-shaped, cylindrical, oval, football-shaped and round.

19. A method of treating coronary heart disease comprising:

a) delivering stem cells to the heart; and

b) inhibiting cell migration from the delivery site.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said delivering comprises inserting a nanofibrous scaffold containing stem cells into the heart.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein said inserting is performed with a catheter.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said stem cells secrete paracrine factors.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein said stem cells form gap junctions with cardiomyocytes.