Method for modifying the wettability and/or other biocompatibility characteristics of a surface of a biological material by the application of gas cluster ion beam technology and biological materials made thereby

1. A method for preparing a biological material for implanting, said method comprising:

providing a reduced pressure chamber;

forming a first gas cluster ion beam within said reduced pressure chamber;

providing a holder within said reduced pressure chamber for holding a biological material;

positioning said biological material in said holder in said reduced pressure chamber; and

irradiating at least a first portion of a surface of said biological material with said first gas cluster ion beam causing said biological material to undergo a change in properties.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said change in properties comprises a change selected from the group consisting of:

increased wettability of said at least a first portion of said surface;

increased hydrophilicity of said at least a first portion of said surface;

modified chemistry of said at least a first portion of said surface; and

modified charge state of said at least a first portion of the surface.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising exposing said biological material to living cells, wherein said step of irradiating at least a first portion of a surface of said biological material causes said living cells to exhibit a behavior selected from the group consisting of:

increased attachment to said at least a first portion of said surface;

increased proliferation on said at least a first portion of said surface;

and

increased formation on said at least a first portion of said surface.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said biological material comprises a tissue selected from the group consisting of:

a musculoskeletal system tissue;

a connective tissue;

a bone tissue;

a tendon tissue;

a ligament tissue;

a cartilage tissue;

an epithelial tissue; and

an endothelial tissue.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said biological material comprises a cellular tissue or a decellularized tissue.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said biological material comprises a mammalian tissue or an avian tissue.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

forming a second gas cluster ion beam within the reduced pressure chamber; and

irradiating at least a second portion of said surface of said biological material with said second gas cluster ion beam.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein:

the first gas cluster ion beam has a first gas cluster ion composition and a first gas cluster ion beam acceleration potential, and the second gas cluster ion beam has a second gas cluster ion composition and a second gas cluster ion beam acceleration potential; and

irradiating said at least a first portion of said surface comprises irradiating with a first gas cluster ion beam dose, and irradiating said at least a second portion of said surface comprises irradiating with a second gas cluster ion beam dose.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first gas cluster ion composition and said second gas cluster ion composition are substantially identical,

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first gas cluster ion beam acceleration potential and said second gas cluster ion potential are substantially identical.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein said first gas cluster ion beam dose and said second gas cluster ion beam dose are substantially identical.

12. The method of claim 6 , wherein said first gas cluster ion beam comprises gas cluster ions comprising atoms selected from the group consisting of:

argon;

neon;

xenon;

nitrogen;

carbon; and

oxygen.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising exposing said biological material to living cells, wherein at least a third portion of said surface is riot irradiated, and wherein said living cells exposed to said at least a first portion, when compared to said living cells exposed to said at least a third portion, exhibit different behavior, said behavior comprising properties selected from the group consisting of:

surface attachment;

cell proliferation;

and

tissue formation.

14. A biological material for surgical implantation, comprising a surface, wherein:

at least a portion of said surface is prepared according to the steps of claim 1 and has a modified wettability or a modified surface charge state; and

said surface undergoes an improved cellular attachment when implanted into a Mammal.

15. The biological material of claim 14 , wherein said biological material comprises a tissue selected from the group consisting of:

a musculoskeletal system tissue;

a connective tissue;

a bone tissue;

a tendon tissue;

a ligament tissue;

a cartilage tissue;

an epithelial tissue; and

an endothelial tissue.

16. The biological material of claim 14 , wherein said at least a portion of said surface is patterned on said surface and is promoting an improved cellular attachment, said cellular attachment being a preferred outcome of a surgical implantation.

17. A biological composition for surgical implantation formed by a process comprising:

providing a reduced pressure chamber;

forming a gas cluster ion beam within the reduced pressure chamber;

providing a holder within the reduced pressure chamber for holding a biological material;

introducing said biological material onto said holder in said reduced pressure chamber; and

irradiating at least a portion of the surface of said biological material with said gas cluster ion beam in accordance with the limitations of claim 1 to form a biological composition.

18. The method of claim 3 , further comprising treating said at least a portion of Said surface with a growth or differentiation factor and exposing the treated at least a portion to living cells.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the growth or differentiation factor comprises a factor selected from the group consisting of:

platelet rich plasma;

repulsive guidance molecules;

a cytokine;

a transforming growth factor;

a platelet derived growth factor;

a fibroblast growth factor; and

a vascular endothelial growth factor.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein cytokine comprises a factor selected from the group consisting of:

macrophage colony stimulatory factor;

granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulatory factor;

an interleukin; and

tumor necrosis factor alpha.

21. The method of claim 19 , wherein the transforming growth factor comprises a factor selected from the group consisting of:

a bone morphogenic protein;

activin A;

a growth differentiation factor; and

Nodal.