Synthetic scaffolds
View Patent ↗Aspects of this disclosure relate to a combination of techniques and/or materials that can be used to form a synthetic scaffold for solid and/or hollow organs or tissue. In some embodiments, methods are provided that involve assembling a synthetic scaffold using a first material for a first structural component and a second material for a second structural component, in which the first or second structural component in a perfusion pathway. In some embodiments, materials (e.g. synthetic materials) for the scaffold are printed, molded, cast, polymerized or electrospun. In some embodiments, a scaffold may mimic a natural scaffold or several features of a natural scaffold.
1 . A method of producing an implantable synthetic scaffold for use in a hollow tubular organ, the method comprising:
assembling a synthetic scaffold using a first synthetic material for a first structural component configured as a hollow tubular member having a cylindrical wall and at least one surface and a second material for a second structural component, wherein the second material is selected from synthetic material, natural material, and mixtures thereof, wherein the first structural component or the second structural component can simulate growth by expanding to a cue or in response to cellular or tissue growth and wherein the first synthetic material for the first structural component is printed, molded, cast, polymerized, or electrospun, and wherein the second structural component is configured as a perfusion pathway within the cylindrical wall of the hollow tubular member; and
seeding one or more cell types on the at least one surface of the hollow tubular member prior to implantation in a body of a subject,
wherein the synthetic scaffold implantable in the hollow tubular organ has a size and shape that is similar to the hollow tubular organ and wherein the perfusion pathway formed by the second structural component has a first end, a second end, and a plurality of branches that extend from the perfusion pathway and are disposed between the first end and the second end, wherein the first end of the perfusion pathway is releasably connectable to a bioreactor, and the second end of the perfusion pathway is proximate to the one or more cell types seeded on the at least one surface of the hollow tubular member, and wherein the plurality of branches are configured to deliver a perfusion fluid to the synthetic scaffold and/or tissue of the subject and extend through the tissue of the subject when inserted in the subject so that cellularization, cell viability, or cell growth is improved when the synthetic scaffold is implanted in the subject.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first synthetic material is electrospun, and wherein a portion of the perfusion pathway is configured as a cylindrical conduit extending longitudinally along a portion of the hollow tubular member.
3 . The method of claim 1 , the perfusion pathway comprises isotropically oriented passages or anistropically oriented passages, each having an inlet and an outlet and a wall structure interposed between the inlet and the outlet.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the second material is printed, molded, cast, polymerized, or electrospun, and wherein the first synthetic material or the second material is selected from a group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane and mixtures thereof either alone or in combination with one or more of acrylamide polymers, polyamide, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polycaprolactam.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first synthetic material or the second structural components simulate cell growth by expanding over time.