Porous extracellular matrix scaffold and method
View Patent ↗A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing damaged or diseased tissue includes the step of suspending pieces of an extracellular matrix material in a liquid. The extracellular matrix material and the liquid are formed into a mass. The liquid is subsequently driven off so as to form interstices in the mass. Porous implantable scaffolds fabricated by such a method are also disclosed.
1. A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
cutting naturally occurring extracellular matrix material in the presence of a liquid to produce a cohesive mass of intertwined strips, ribbons, or fibers; and
freeze drying the cohesive mass to form a porous structure.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of freezing the cohesive mass to form a frozen composition, said frozen composition comprising ice crystals, the freezing step being performed prior to the freeze drying step.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extracellular matrix material comprises material selected from the group consisting of: small intestine submucosa, bladder submucosa, stomach submucosa, alimentary submucosa, respiratory submucosa, genital submucosa, and liver basement membrane.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of flashfreezing the cohesive mass prior to the freeze drying step.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of compacting the cohesive mass prior to the freeze drying step.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of centrifuging the cohesive mass prior to the freeze drying step.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of freezing the cohesive mass at a controlled rate of temperature drop.
8. A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a naturally occurring extracellular matrix material selected from the group consisting of: small intestine submucosa, stomach submucosa, bladder submucosa, respiratory submucosa, alimentary submucosa, genital submucosa, and liver basement membrane;
cutting the naturally occurring extracellular matrix material in the presence of a liquid to produce a cohesive mass of intertwined strips, ribbons, or fibers; and
freeze drying the cohesive mass to form a porous structure.
9. A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
cutting naturally occurring extracellular matrix material in the presence of a liquid to produce a cohesive mass of intertwined strips, ribbons, or fibers,
freezing the cohesive mass at a controlled rate of temperature drop, and
freeze drying the cohesive mass to form a porous structure,
wherein the cohesive mass is frozen by reducing the temperature of the naturally occurring extracellular matrix at a rate of −1° C./min or less.
10. A method of making an implantable scaffold for repairing or regenerating body tissue, the method comprising the steps of:
cutting naturally occurring extracellular matrix material in the presence of a liquid to produce a cohesive mass of intertwined strips, ribbons, or fibers,
freezing the cohesive mass at a controlled rate of temperature drop, and
freeze drying the cohesive mass to form a porous structure,
wherein the cohesive mass is frozen by reducing the temperature of the naturally occurring extracellular matrix at a rate of greater than −1° C./min.