Composite material for tissue restoration
A composite material can include a gel and at least one nanostructure disposed within the gel. A method for healing a soft tissue defect can include applying a composite material to a soft tissue defect, wherein the composite material includes a gel and a nanostructure disposed within the gel. A method for manufacturing a composite material for use in healing soft tissue defects can include providing a gel and disposing nanofibers within the gel.
1. An injectable scaffold complex comprising a polymeric fiber or fragments thereof having a mean diameter of from about 100 nm to about 8000 nm covalently linked to a hydrogel material,
wherein the hydrogel material is capable of forming a network,
wherein the polymeric fiber or fragments comprise functional groups and the surface density of the functional groups on the polymeric fiber or fragments is from about 10 nmole/mg of fibers to about 160 nmole/mg of the fiber or fragments,
wherein the ratio of polymeric fiber or fragments to hydrogel material is from about 1:10 to about 10:1 on a component-mass basis or from about 1 to 50 mg/mL on a concentration basis,
wherein the scaffold complex comprises a plurality of pores, and
the polymeric fiber or fragments thereof comprise a mean length of less than 500 micrometers.
2. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold complex is capable of being injected through a 21 gauge or smaller gauge needle.
3. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold complex is capable of forming an elastic gel prior to, during, or following injection.
4. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold complex is isotropically reinforced.
5. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold can form a gel comprising an arbitrary volumetric geometry.
6. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber or fragments thereof are uniformly dispersed.
7. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel material is bonded to the outer surface of the polymeric fiber or fragments.
8. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , further comprising a polymeric fiber or fragments thereof non-covalently linked to a hydrogel material,
wherein the hydrogel material is capable of forming a network,
wherein the non-covalent link comprises (i) electrostatic interactions and/or (ii) hydrogen-bonding.
9. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber or fragments thereof comprises an electrospun fiber.
10. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber or fragments thereof comprises a synthetic polymeric material comprising a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid), and/or a polycaprolactone, or a combination or derivatives thereof; or a biological polymeric material selected from the group consisting of a silk, collagen, elastin, hyaluronic acid, chitosan, a derivative thereof, and a combination thereof.
11. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel material comprises a poly(ethylene glycol), a collagen, a dextran, an elastin, an alginate, a hyaluronic acid, a poly(vinyl alcohol), a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof.
12. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogel material comprises a processed tissue extracellular matrix, wherein the processed tissue extracellular matrix is derivable from an adipose tissue.
13. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric fiber or fragments thereof comprise a synthetic polymeric material comprising a poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), poly(lactic acid), a polycaprolactone, or a combination or derivative thereof,
and wherein the hydrogel material comprises a poly(ethylene glycol), a collagen, a dextran, an elastin, an alginate, a hyaluronic acid, a poly(vinyl alcohol), a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof.
14. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pores are present on a surface of the scaffold complex and within the scaffold complex,
wherein the pores are present at a concentration of at least about 50 pores per square centimeters of the surface,
and wherein at least 80% of the pores have an average pore diameter of at least 5 micrometers.
15. A medical device for retaining tissue shape in a subject undergoing a surgical procedure, comprising the scaffold complex of claim 1 in an amount effective to provide for the retention of a tissue shape when administered to the subject.
16. An injectable scaffold complex comprising a polymeric fiber or fragments thereof having a mean diameter of from about 100 nm to about 8000 nm covalently linked to a hydrogel material,
wherein the hydrogel material is capable of forming a network;
the ratio of polymeric fiber to hydrogel material is from about 1:10 to about 10:1 on a component-mass basis or from about 1 to 50 mg/mL on a concentration basis;
wherein the polymeric fiber or fragments comprise functional groups and the surface density of the functional groups on the polymeric fiber or fragments is from about 10 nmole/mg of fibers to about 160 nmole/mg of the fiber or fragments
the hydrogel material is bonded to the outer surface of the polymeric fiber or fragments; and
the polymeric fiber or fragments thereof comprises an electrospun fiber.
17. The scaffold complex of claim 1 , wherein the scaffold complex further comprises a crosslinking agent, wherein the crosslinking agent comprises poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), thiolated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEGSH), or combination thereof.
18. The scaffold complex of claim 1 wherein the functional groups comprise maleimide groups.