Innovative Soft Tissue Repair with Fibrous Polymeric Scaffolds

Introduction

Soft tissue injuries—whether due to trauma, surgery, or disease—are some of the most challenging medical conditions to treat effectively. Traditional methods of tissue repair often fall short in restoring full functionality, leaving patients with impaired healing or the need for multiple interventions. Our patented fibrous polymeric scaffolds offer a game-changing solution for soft tissue engineering, providing a biomimetic structure that supports tissue regeneration, promotes cell growth, and leads to better long-term outcomes.

Limitations of Current Tissue Repair Solutions

In many surgical and medical procedures, the standard options for tissue repair involve using synthetic materials, which may not fully integrate with the body, or autografts, which require additional procedures and carry risks of infection or rejection. Moreover, traditional materials often lack the flexibility and biological compatibility needed to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) of soft tissues. These limitations can result in incomplete tissue repair, prolonged healing times, and compromised patient recovery.

For healthcare providers, surgeons, and patients, the need for a more effective tissue scaffold that better mimics the natural environment of soft tissues is clear. Such a scaffold would not only improve healing but also enhance the structural and functional integrity of repaired tissues.

A Novel Scaffold for Soft Tissue Regeneration

Our patented fibrous polymeric scaffold technology is designed to mimic the natural architecture of the ECM, providing a supportive framework for cellular growth and tissue regeneration. These fibrous scaffolds are fabricated from biocompatible polymeric materials, making them ideal for integration with the body’s own tissues. The porous and fibrous structure allows for effective nutrient and oxygen transport, while promoting the attachment, proliferation, and differentiation of cells, accelerating the body’s natural healing processes.

This scaffold can be customized for a variety of applications, including wound healing, reconstructive surgery, and tissue engineering for organs or muscles. Its flexibility and adaptability mean it can be applied in numerous clinical settings, from repairing damaged tendons to supporting organ regeneration.

Key Advantages

Biomimetic Design: The scaffold’s fibrous structure closely mimics the natural ECM, enhancing tissue integration and promoting cell growth.
Enhanced Healing: By providing a supportive environment for cells, the scaffold accelerates tissue regeneration and reduces healing time.
Versatile Applications: From reconstructive surgery to wound care, this technology is adaptable across a wide range of medical conditions requiring soft tissue repair.
Biocompatibility: Made from biocompatible polymers, the scaffold reduces the risk of rejection and inflammation, improving patient outcomes.

The Future of Soft Tissue Engineering

Licensing this fibrous polymeric scaffold technology offers a significant opportunity to lead in the field of regenerative medicine. By providing a superior solution for soft tissue repair, this technology has the potential to improve healing, reduce complications, and offer better outcomes for patients undergoing surgery or recovering from injury. It is an essential tool for companies looking to innovate in tissue engineering and regenerative therapies.

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Abstract
Claims

A fibrous polymeric scaffold for soft tissue engineering comprises electrospun fibers including a polymeric blend and graphite particles embedded therein.

1. A fibrous polymeric scaffold comprising electrospun fibers including a polymeric blend of poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), in addition to graphite particles embedded in the fibers.

2. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 1, wherein the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold encase a cartilage graft, to support integration of the cartilage graft with host cartilage.

3. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 2, wherein the graphite particles in the fibers impart electroactivity to the fibrous polymeric scaffold to biomimic native properties of the host cartilage operating as a mechano-transducer.

4. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 2, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold attract cell adhesion proteins from the host cartilage.

5. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 2, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold attract fibronectin and laminin from the host cartilage.

6. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 2, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold enhance chondrocyte proliferation in the host cartilage.

7. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 2, wherein the host cartilage includes a zone of chondrocyte death (ZoCD), and the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold facilitate chondrocyte repopulation in the ZoCD of the host cartilage.

8. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 2, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold enhance glycosaminoglycan deposition in the host cartilage.

9. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 2, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold enhance collagen production in the host cartilage.

10. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 1, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold constitute 5% to 15% by weight in the electrospun fibers.

11. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 1, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold enhance cell attachment to the fibrous polymeric scaffold.

12. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 1, wherein the electrospun fibers have an unaligned arrangement in the fibrous polymeric scaffold.

13. The fibrous polymeric scaffold according to claim 1, wherein in the fibrous polymeric scaffold, at least some of the electrospun fibers having the graphite particles embedded therein have a nanometer-scale diameter.

14. A method for generating a fibrous polymeric scaffold, the method comprising:

(a) dissolving poly(lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL), individually or as a polymer blend, in a Class 3 solvent, to form a polymer solution;

(b) adding graphite particles to the polymer solution;

(c) performing electrospinning using the polymer solution in which the graphite particles have been added, to form polymeric fibers, the graphite particles constituting 5% to 15% by weight in the polymer solution employed in the electrospinning; and

(d) encasing a cartilage graft with the electrospun fibers as the fibrous polymeric scaffold, to support integration of the cartilage graft with host cartilage.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold i) impart electroactivity to the fibrous polymeric scaffold to biomimic native properties of the host cartilage operating as a mechano-transducer, and/or ii) attract cell adhesion proteins from the host cartilage.

16. (canceled)

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold i) attract fibronectin and laminin from the host cartilage, and/or ii) enhance chondrocyte proliferation in the host cartilage.

18. (canceled)

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein the host cartilage includes a zone of chondrocyte death (ZoCD), and the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold facilitate chondrocyte repopulation in the ZoCD of the host cartilage.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the graphite particles embedded in the electrospun fibers of the fibrous polymeric scaffold i) enhance glycosaminoglycan deposition in the host cartilage, ii) enhance collagen production in the host cartilage, and/or iii) enhance cell attachment to the fibrous polymeric scaffold.

21–22. (canceled)

23. The method according to claim 14, wherein the electrospun fibers encasing the cartilage graft have an unaligned arrangement.

24. The method according to claim 14, wherein at least some of the electrospun fibers encasing the cartilage graft have a nanometer-scale diameter.

Title

Fibrous polymeric scaffolds for soft tissue engineering

Inventor(s)

Helen H. Lu, Christopher Z. Mosher, Romare Antrobus, James C. Hone, Theanne Schiros, Yilin YANG

Assignee(s)

Columbia University in the City of New York

Patent #

20220331490

Patent Date

October 20, 2022