Crosslinked porous biomaterials
The invention provides crosslinked porous biomaterials and methods for forming crosslinked porous biomaterials. The crosslinked porous biomaterials of the invention comprise a biocompatible polymer scaffold defining an array of pores, wherein substantially all the pores have a similar diameter, wherein the mean diameter of the pores is between about 20 and about 90 micrometers, wherein substantially all the pores are each connected to at least 4 other pores, and wherein the diameter of substantially all the connections between the pores is between about 15% and about 40% of the mean diameter of the pores. The invention also provides implantable devices comprising a layer of a biomaterial, and methods for promoting angiogenesis in and around an implantable biomaterial.
1. A biomaterial, comprising a crosslinked biocompatible polymer scaffold defining an array of pores, wherein substantially all the pores have a similar diameter, wherein the mean diameter of the pores is between about 20 and about 90 micrometers, wherein substantially all the pores are each connected to at least 4 other pores, wherein the diameter of substantially all the connections between the pores is between about 15% and about 40% of the mean diameter of the pores, and wherein the pores having a diameter between about 0.1 and about 5 micrometers represent less than 2% of the scaffold volume.
2. The biomaterial of claim 1 , wherein the mean pore diameter is between about 30 and about 40 micrometers.
3. The biomaterial of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold is biodegradable.
4. The biomaterial of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold is a hydrogel.
5. The biomaterial of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold comprises 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate.
6. The biomaterial of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold comprises poly(ε-caprolactone) dimethylacrylate.
7. The biomaterial of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold comprises collagen.
8. The biomaterial of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold comprises silicone rubber.
9. The biomaterial of claim 1 , wherein the biomaterial has a thickness of at least 70 micrometers.
10. An implantable device, comprising a layer of a biomaterial, wherein the biomaterial comprises a crosslinked biocompatible polymer scaffold surrounding an array of monodispersed pores, wherein substantially all the pores have a similar diameter, wherein the mean diameter of the pores is between about 20 and about 90 micrometers, wherein substantially all pores are each connected to at least 4 other pores, wherein the diameter of substantially all the connections between the pores is between about 15% and about 40% of the mean diameter of the pores, and wherein the pores having a diameter between about 0.1 and about 5 micrometers represent less than 2% of the scaffold volume.
11. The implantable device of claim 10 , wherein the layer of biomaterial has a thickness of at least 70 micrometers.
12. The device of claim 10 , wherein the device comprises a device body, wherein the layer of biomaterial is attached to the device body.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the layer of biomaterial is attached to the outer surface of the device body.
14. The device of claim 12 , wherein the device is a medical device.
15. A method for forming a biomaterial, comprising the steps of:
(a) forming a crosslinked biocompatible polymer scaffold around a template comprising an array of monodisperse porogens, wherein substantially all the porogens have a similar diameter, wherein the mean diameter of the porogens is between about 20 and about 90 micrometers, wherein substantially all porogens are each connected to at least 4 other porogens, and wherein the diameter of substantially all the connections between the porogens is between about 15% and about 40% of the mean diameter of the porogens; and
(b) removing the template to produce a porous biomaterial, wherein the pores of the biomaterial having a diameter between about 0.1 and about 5 micrometers represent less than 2% of the scaffold volume.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the porogens are spherical beads.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the porogens comprise poly(methyl) methacrylate.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold comprises 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold comprises poly (ε-caprolactone) dimethylacrylate.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold comprises collagen.
21. The method of claim 15 , wherein the biocompatible polymer scaffold comprises silicone rubber.
22. The method of claim 15 , wherein the biomaterial has a thickness of at least 70 micrometers.
23. The method of claim 15 , wherein step (a) comprises forming the template by packing the porogens into a mold and fusing the porogens to form the connections between the porogens.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein the porogens are fused by sintering.
25. A method for promoting angiogenesis in and around an implantable biomaterial, comprising the step of implanting a porous biomaterial, wherein the biomaterial comprises a crosslinked biocompatible polymer scaffold surrounding an array of pores, wherein substantially all the pores have a similar diameter, wherein the mean diameter of the pores is between about 20 and about 90 micrometers, wherein substantially all pores are each connected to at least 4 other pores, wherein the diameter of substantially all the connections between the pores is between about 15% and about 40% of the mean diameter of the pores, and wherein the pores having a diameter between about 0.1 and about 5 micrometers represent less than 2% of the scaffold volume.