Method for organizing the assembly of collagen fibers and compositions formed therefrom

• US 7,354,627 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Shuster, Mark, Pedrozo, Hugo A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman; Susan
• Application Number:
  US11/022,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20060135638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,203 Days
• Field of Search: 427/458, 527/200
• US Class Current: 427/487
• CPC Class Codes: C08H 1/06 derived from horn, hoofs, hair, skin or leather
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 89/06 derived from leather or skin , e.g. gelatin
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 4/00 Monocomponent artificial filaments or the like of proteins; Manufacture thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides a protein polymer material and a method for preparing the protein polymer material involving applying an energy such as electrical energy or gravitational energy to a protein to cause the protein to assemble in a controlled arrangement. The protein used in this method may be any suitable fibrillar protein capable of self-assembling.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a polymer matrix, comprising:

providing a composition comprising a monomer; and

assembling a polymer matrix from the monomer in the presence of an electrical field having an electric field density of at least 7.38×

10<sup>−

8</sup> Joule/m³, wherein the monomer composition is placed between two plates of a capacitor and the capacitor plates are charged during the step of assembling the polymer matrix.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monomer composition comprises a fibrillar protein capable of self assembling.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fibrillar protein is collagen extracted from a naturally occurring extracellular matrix.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the collagen is extracted from a submucosal matrix using acetic acid, in the absence of detergents or enzymes.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of assembling the polymer matrix comprises incubating the monomer composition at a temperature ranging from about 20°

C. to about 40°

C.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of adding a solution comprising (NH₄)₂SO₄.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the monomer composition comprises collagen fibers and the method further comprises:

providing a solid surface for the protein to assemble thereon; and

assembling an organized collagen fiber coating on the surface.

8. A method for preparing a polymer matrix, comprising:

providing a composition comprising a monomer; and

assembling a polymer matrix from the monomer in the presence of an electrical current passing through the monomer composition, wherein the current ranges from about 5 to about 50 mA.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the monomer composition comprises collagen extracted from a naturally occurring extracellular matrix.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the collagen is extracted from a submucosal matrix using acetic acid, in the absence of detergents or enzymes.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of assembling the polymer matrix comprises incubating the monomer composition at a temperature ranging from about 20°

C. to about 40°

C.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of adding a solution comprising (NH₄)₂SO₄.

13. A method for preparing a polymer matrix, comprising:

providing a composition comprising a monomer; and

assembling a polymer matrix from the monomer in the presence of an electrical force, wherein the step of assembling a polymer matrix from the monomer in the presence of an electrical force comprises;

generating a first electric field in an orientation that induces assembly of a first polymer fiber in a first direction;

terminating the first electric field; and

generating a second electrical field in an orientation that induces assembly of a second polymer fiber in a second direction relative to the first polymer fiber.

14. A method for preparing a polymer matrix, comprising:

providing a composition comprising a monomer; and

assembling a polymer matrix from the monomer in the presence of an electrical force, wherein the step of assembling a polymer matrix from the monomer in the presence of an electrical force comprises;

generating a first electric current between a first set of two electrodes and through the monomer composition, wherein the first electric current induces the assembly of a first polymer fiber in a first direction;

terminating the first electrical current; and

generating a second electric current between a second set of two electrodes and through the monomer composition, wherein the second electric current induces the assembly of a second polymer fiber in a second direction relative to the first polymer fiber.