Abstract:
Hydrogel microparticles with entrapped liquid are used as the porogen to reproducibly form interconnected pore networks in a porous scaffold. In one embodiment, a biodegradable unsaturated polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a porogen comprising biodegradable hydrogel microparticles are mixed together and allowed to form a porous scaffold in an mold or in a body cavity. Exampl e biodegradable unsaturated polymers include poly(propylene fumarate) and poly(.epsilon.-caprolactone-fumarate). The crosslinking agent may be a free radical initiator, or may include a free radical initiator and a monomer capable of addition polymerization. Example hydrogel microparticles include uncrosslinked or crosslinked collagen , an uncrosslinked or crosslinked collagen derivative, and an uncrosslinked or crosslinked synthetic biodegradable polymer such as oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate).
Abstract:
A composition is disclosed which comprises (i) a macromer prepared by reacting an unsaturated diacid having a carbon-carbon double bond and a saturated diacid, and (ii) a bioactive ceramic grafted to the macromer. In one embodiment, the unsaturated diacid having a carbon-carbon double bond is fumaric acid, the saturated diacid is compatible with fumaric acid and poly(propylene fumarate) such as succinic acid, glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid, sebacic acid and mixtures thereof, and the bioactive ceramic is hydroxyapatite. In another embodiment, hydroxyapatite is grafted with a biodegradable and crosslinkable macromer comprising silane units alternating with furnarate and adipate units.
Abstract:
Poly(propylene fumarate) is copolymerized with poly(caprolactone) diol to produce a block copolymer of poly(propylene fumarate) and poly(caprolactone). The biocompatible and bioresorbable block copolymer of poly(propylene fumarate) and poly(caprolactone) is useful in the fabrication of injectable and in situ hardening scaffolds for tissue and/or skeletal reconstruction. The block copolymer can be crosslinked by redox or photo-initiation, with or without an additional crosslinker. Thus, the copolymer is both self-crosslinkable (without the use of any crosslinkers) and photocrosslinkable (in the presence of photons such as UV light).
Abstract:
Fumaric acid or a salt thereof, such as a fumaryl halide (e.g. fumaryl chloride), which contains unsaturated carbon-carbon double bonds that can be used for in situ crosslinking, is copolymerized with poly(caprolactone) diol in the presence of an alkali metal salt. The resulting photocrosslinkable biocompatible and bioresorbable poly(caprolactone fumarate) biomaterial is useful in the fabrication of injectable an in-situ hardening scaffolds for application in skeletal reconstruction.
Abstract:
Hydrogel microparticles with entrapped liquid are used as the porogen to reproducibly form interconnected pore networks in a porous scaffold. In one embodiment, a biodegradable unsaturated polymer, a crosslinking agent, and a porogen comprising biodegradable hydrogel microparticles are mixed together and allowed to form a porous scaffold in an mold or in a body cavity. Example biodegradable unsaturated polymers include poly(propylene fumarate) and poly(ϵ-caprolactone-fumarate). The crosslinking agent may be a free radical initiator, or may include a free radical initiator and a monomer capable of addition polymerization. Example hydrogel microparticles include uncrosslinked or crosslinked collagen , an uncrosslinked or crosslinked collagen derivative, and an uncrosslinked or crosslinked synthetic biodegradable polymer such as oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate).
Abstract:
Improved methods for preparing polyethylene glycol fumarate) are disclosed. Methods for chemically crosslinking or photocross-linking hydrophilic polyethylene glycol fumarate) with hydrophobic polymers such as poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF) and poly(caprolact5one fumarate) (PCLF) to form various hydrogels (Fig. 1) with controllable hydrophilicity are also disclosed. The hydrogels are useful in the fabrication of injectable and in-situ hardening scaffolds for application in skeletal reconstruction. An injectable material including the hydrogels may be useful in controlled drug release.
Abstract:
A biodegradable material for improving the regeneration of nerve cells is disclosed. The material includes a copolymer formed by reacting a first reactant selected from monomers, oligomers and polymers and a second charged reactant selected from charged monomers, charged oligomers and charged polymers. Nerve cells are contained within or attracted to the copolymer. The first reactant can be oligo(poly( ethylene glycol) fumarate). The charged reactant can be selected from unsaturated quaternary ammonium compounds. The material can include a photoinitiator such that the material is photocrosslinkable. The material can include a bioactive agent such as a nerve growth factor. In one form, the material is a hydrogel that can be injected as a fluid into a patient's body via minimally invasive arthroscopic techniques to form a scaffold for nerve tissue regeneration.
Abstract:
Fumaric acid or a salt thereof, such as a fumaryl halide (e.g., fumaryl chloride), which contains unsaturated carbon-carbon double bonds that can be used for in situ crosslinking, is copolymerized with a biodegradable poly(caprolactone) macromer that has a flexible backbone such that the resulting copolymer may self-crosslink in the absence of a crosslinking agent. The biocompatible and bioresorbable poly(caprolactone fumarate) biomaterial is useful in the fabrication of injectable and in-situ hardening scaffolds for application in skeletal reconstruction.