Porous structures useful for growing living tissue, and methods of manufacture
First Claim
1. A method of making a biodegradable porous structure comprising a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by a structural framework, said method comprising:
- (a) stirring an aqueous solution in a colloidal aphron generator to form an aphron comprising a viscous foam, said aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of a solution of biodegradable polymer molecules and a solution of a mixture of amino acids and polymer molecules;
(b) placing said aphron into a mold;
(c) freezing the molded aphron to form a porous structure;
(d) lyophilizing the porous structure; and
(e) causing the porous structure to gel, yielding a lyophilized, biodegradable, porous structure comprising a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by a structural framework.
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Abstract
In one aspect the present invention provides biodegradable, porous structures that each include a structural framework, wherein the structural framework includes: (a) a solidified mixture of polymer molecules and amino acid molecules, wherein at least some of the amino acid molecules are linked to other amino acid molecules within the framework; and (b) a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by the structural framework. In some embodiments, the porous structures of the invention are adapted to physically support the growth of living cells in vitro or in vivo, and can be used to grow living tissue and/or living organs. The present invention also provide methods for making the biodegradable, porous structures of the invention.
9 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method of making a biodegradable porous structure comprising a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by a structural framework, said method comprising:
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(a) stirring an aqueous solution in a colloidal aphron generator to form an aphron comprising a viscous foam, said aqueous solution selected from the group consisting of a solution of biodegradable polymer molecules and a solution of a mixture of amino acids and polymer molecules; (b) placing said aphron into a mold; (c) freezing the molded aphron to form a porous structure; (d) lyophilizing the porous structure; and (e) causing the porous structure to gel, yielding a lyophilized, biodegradable, porous structure comprising a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by a structural framework. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 22)
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13. A method of making a biodegadable porous structure comprising a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by a structural framework, said method comprising:
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(a) stiring an aqueous solution in a colloidal aphron generator to form an aphron comprising a viscous foam, said aqueous solution comprising alginate, glycine, lysine, isoluecine, and sodium docecyl sulfate; (b) placing said aphron into a mold; (c) freezing the molded aphron to form a porous structure; (d) lyophilizing the porous structure; and (e) causing the porous structure to gel. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of making a porous structure comprising a multiplicity of interconnected spaces defined by a structural framework, said method comprising:
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(a) stirring an aqueous solution in a colloidal aphron generator to form an aphron, said aqueous solution comprising polyvinyl alcohol, glycine, and lysine; (b) placing said aphron in a mold; (c) freezing the molded aphron to form a porous structure; (d) lyophilizing the porous structure; and (e) cross-linking the lyophilized porous structure using dicyclohexyl carbodiimide.
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Specification