A method for producing a bone matrix scaffold has the steps of providing at least one sheet material and cross-linking the at least one sheet material using fibers. The sheet material has a surface pattern that enhances osteo-conductivity and potentially supports inductivity. The surface pattern is a 3-dimensional substantially continuous network having voids. The combination of the at least one sheet and fibers form a macrostructure having substantially continuous network and voids.
1. A method for producing a bone matrix scaffold, comprising the steps of
providing at least one sheet material the sheet material having a surface pattern that enhances osteo-conductivity and potentially supports inductivity, wherein the surface pattern is a 3-dimensional substantially continuous network having voids, the surface pattern mimics an under-modelled marine mammal having a greater trabecular thickness and spacing and a lower connectivity and trabecular number for equalized total volume compared to adult human bone morphology, the trabecular morphology exhibiting;
BIOPSY
BV/TV
BS/BV
TbTh
TbSp
TbN
Ost#
Cross
17.71
14.98
135.16
631.70
1.33
230/mm 2
Long
24.64
8.67
231.05
710.09
1.06
150/mm 2
cross-linking said at least one sheet material using fibers; and
whereby a macrostructure is formed having a substantially continuous network and voids.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least two sheets of material are cross-linked, each sheet having the surface pattern, wherein the surface pattern mimics whale bone morphology having the defined trabecular morphology.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein a laminate structure consisting of said at least two sheets of material is formed.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a semi-solid network, a gel, is formed.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said fibers comprise at least one polymer and/or a mixture of polymers.
6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said at least one polymer is a copolymer having carboxylic acid groups and/or amine groups.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein said at least one polymer is a conductive polymer selected from polypyrrole, polyaniline, polyacetylene, and polythiophene and mixtures thereof.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said fibers are collagen fibers.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said fibers represent non-aldehyde cross-linked Type I collagen.
10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said collagen is chemically cross-linked with nordihydroguaiaretic acid.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said voids are formed to define openings and the average diameter of said openings and the average diameter of a cross-section of said network is formed to have a ratio of from 2:1 to 10:1.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said ratio is from 2:1 to 5:1.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein less than 10% of said voids of said macrostructure are formed to have a fractal dimension higher than 1.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of said scaffold is made porous.
15. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of incubating said macrostructure with cells for a predetermined period of time.
16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein said cells are selected from the group of living cells and recombinant cells, chondrocytes, and growth factor producing cells.
17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the size of said macrostructure changes less than 50% when said cells are added to the matrix.
18. The method according to claim 15 further comprising removing said cells from said macrostructure.