Abstract:
Devices formed of or including biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoates are provided with controlled degradation rates, preferably less than one year under physiological conditions. Preferred devices include sutures, suture fasteners, meniscus repair devices, rivets, tacks, staples, screws (including interference screws), bone plates and bone plating systems, surgical mesh, repair patches, slings, cardiovascular patches, orthopedic pins (including bone filling augmentation material), adhesion barriers, stents, guided tissue repair/regeneration devices, articular cartilage repair devices, nerve guides, tendon repair devices, atrial septal defect repair devices, pericardial patches, bulking and filling agents, vein valves, bone marrow scaffolds, meniscus regeneration devices, ligament and tendon grafts, ocular cell implants, spinal fusion cages, skin substitutes, dural substitutes, bone graft substitutes, bone dowels, wound dressings, and hemostats. The polyhydroxyalkanoates can contain additives, be formed of mixtures of monomers or include pendant groups or modifications in their backbones, or can be chemically modified, all to alter the degradation rates. The polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions also provide favorable mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and degradation times within desirable time frames under physiological conditions.
Abstract:
Biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions with controlled degradation rates have been developed. In one embodiment, the polyhydroxyalkanoates contain additives to alter the degradation rates. In another embodiment, the polyhydroxyalkanoates are formed of mixtures of monomers or include pendant groups or modifications in their backbones to alter their degradation rates. In still another embodiment, the polyhydroxyalkanoates are chemically modified. Methods for manufacturing the devices which increase porosity or exposed surface area can be used to alter degradability. For example, as demonstrated by the examples, porous polyhydroxyalkanoates can be made using methods that creates pores, voids, or interstitial spacing, such as an emulsion or spray drying technique, or which incorporate leachable or lyophilizable particles within the polymer. Examples describe poly(4HB) compositions including foams, coatings, meshes, and microparticles. As demonstrated by the examples, these polyhydroxyalkanoate compositions have extremely favorable mechanical properties, as well as are biocompatible and degrade within desirable time frames under physioogical conditions. These polyhydroxyalkanoate materials provide a wider range of polyhydroxyalkanoate degradation rates than are currently available. Methods for processing these materials, particularly for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic applications, or into devices which can be implanted or injected, are also described.
Abstract:
An expansible macromolecular material is produced by a method which comprises mixing an aqueous polyvinyl alcohol solution, an acidic aqueous macromolecular electrolyte solution, and a basic aqueous macromolecular electrolyte solution thereby preparing a composite polymer and subjecting this composite polymer to at least one cycle of alternate freezing and defrosting treatments. A macromolecular membrane constituted of said expansible macromolecular material and containing numerous through holes is obtained by mixing, freezing, and defrosting the aforementioned three mixed aqueous solutions under specific conditions.
Abstract:
Functionalized isocyanate based organic aerogel/xerogel/cryogel comprising: - a cross-linked porous network structure made of polyurethane and/or polyisocyanurate and/or polyurea, comprising on their pore surface before functionalization reactive groups (B) and - functionalization molecules having a solubility in water
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides a method for producing an aerogel, the method comprising reacting at least one acid monomer with at least one diamino monomer in a first solvent under conditions appropriate to form a polyimide polymer; conducting a solvent exchange wherein the first solvent is exchanged for a second solvent, said second solvent having a freezing point, wherein said solvent exchange further comprises (1) submersing the polyimide polymer in the second solvent in a pressure vessel and (2) creating a high pressure environment inside the pressure vessel for a first period of time; cooling the polyimide polymer to a first temperature below the freezing point of the second solvent; and subjecting cooled polyimide polymer to a first vacuum for a second period of time at a second temperature.
Abstract:
The present application provides a biocompatible medical implant comprising poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) homopolymer. Optionally, the implant is sterile. The implant may, for example, be selected from guided tissue regeneration devices, tissue engineering devices, tissue engineering scaffolds, foams, coatings, meshes, microparticles, resorbable wound closure materials such as suturing and stapling materials, controlled release devices, drug delivery devices, cell encapsulation devices, targeted delivery devices, devices with biocompatible coatings, orthopedic devices, prosthetics, bone cements (including adhesives and/or structural fillers), diagnostic devices, rods, bone screws, pins, surgical sutures, stents, patches (such as hernial patches and pericardial patches), devices with vascular applications, and tubes suitable for the passage of bodily fluids. The invention also provides a method for preparing a biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoate that has a controlled degradation rate of less than one year under physiological conditions, and optionally processing thus prepared polyhydroxyalkanoate into a medical device. The biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoate used in the method may, for example, be produced by a process selected from the group consisting of fermentation, enzymatic synthesis, chemical synthesis, melt processing, reactive blending, and recombinant techniques. The biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoate used in the method may, for example, be derived by fermentation (a) using a co-feed, and/or (b) by a fermentation process that uses transgenic bacteria.