Biopolymeric membranes
View Patent ↗This invention relates to a sheet membrane for repairing a damaged tissue. The membrane includes an isotropic layer of cross-linked biopolymeric fibers in which the fibers are 10 to 1,000 cm in length. This invention also relates to a method of making an isotropic layer of cross-linked biopolymeric fibers. The method includes: (1) coacervating biopolymeric fibers (e.g., collagen-based fibers) having lengths of less than 1 cm dispersed in an aqueous solution to obtain coacervated biopolymeric fibers having lengths of 10 to 1,000 cm; (2) flattening the coacervated biopolymeric fibers into a layer; (3) drying the layer; and (4) cross-linking the biopolymeric.
1. A method of making an isotropic layer of cross-linked biopolymeric fibers, comprising:
coacervating biopolymeric fibers having lengths of less than 1 cm dispersed in an aqueous solution to obtain coacervated biopolymeric fibers having lengths of 10 to 1,000 cm;
mechanically compressing the coacervated biopolymeric fibers into a layer;
air-drying or freeze-drying the layer such that the layer has a density of 0.1 to 1.2 g/cm 3 ; and
cross-linking the biopolymeric fibers.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dehydrating the coacervated biopolymeric fibers to reach a solid content of 5-25 wt % before the mechanically compressing step.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the biopolymeric fibers are collagen-based fibers.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the biopolymeric fibers are 30 to 800 cm in length.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the biopolymeric fibers are 50 to 500 cm in length.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biopolymeric fibers are collagen-based fibers.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the biopolymeric fibers are 30 to 800 cm in length.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the biopolymeric fibers are 50 to 500 cm in length.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biopolymeric fibers are 30 to 800 cm in length.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the biopolymeric fibers are 50 to 500 cm in length.