Claims
- 1. A fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric comprising at least one cross linked protein selected from the group consisting of elastin, an elastin mimetic protein, gelatin and collagen.
- 2. The fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 1 further comprising a synthetic polymer.
- 3. The fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 2 wherein the synthetic polymer is water soluble polymer.
- 4. The fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 3 wherein the water soluble polymer is poly(ethylene oxide).
- 5. The fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim of claims 1 to 4 wherein the cross linked protein is formed from a functionalized protein, wherein a functional group is selected from the group consisting of acrylamide moiety, a methacrylamide moiety and a vinyl group.
- 6. The fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 5 wherein the functional moiety is a vinyl group or a methacrylamide and wherein cross linking is mediated by a photoinitiator and photoirradiation.
- 7. The fibers, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 4 or 5 wherein the crosslinking is mediated by glutaraldehyde.
- 8. The fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 5 wherein the fibers are present as alternating layers of cross linked collagen and cross linked gelatin.
- 9. The fiber network or nonwoven of claim 5 wherein the fibers are present as alternating layers of cross linked collagen and cross linked elastin or cross linked elastin mimetic protein.
- 10. The fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 10 wherein the proteins are cross linked after layering of the cross linked collagen and cross linked gelatin.
- 11. The fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 10 futer comprising living cells.
- 12. The fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 11 wherein the living cells are selected from the group consisting of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, stem cells, chondrocyytes, osteoblasts. or a human or animal cell which has been transformed or transfected to produce a protein of interest.
- 13. The fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 3 wherein the fiber formed of cross linked collagen and poly(ethylene) oxide.
- 14. The fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 13 further comprising at least one therapeutic compound.
- 15. The fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of claim 14 wherein the at least one therapeutic compound promotes wound healing.
- 16. The fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of any of claims 4 to 15 wherein said fiber network or nonwoven fabric is fabricated as a planar sheet or as a tubular conduit.
- 17. The use of the fiber, fiber network or nonwoven fabric of any of claims 2 to 16 in the fabrication of a medical implant or wound dressing having improved biocompatibility over non biomaterial implants.
- 18. The use according to claim 17 wherein the medical implant is a graft for skin, vein, artery, ureter, bladder, esophagus, intestine, stomach, heart valve, heart muscle or tendon.
- 19. The use of claim 17 wherein implant is used to reinforce closure of a surgical incision.
- 20. The use according to claim 17 wherein the surgical incision is associated with a lung biopsy or an intestinal anastomasis.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF FEDERAL RESEARCH SUPPORT
[0001] This invention was made, at least in part, with funding from the National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and the NASA Research Agency. Accordingly, the United States Government may have certain rights in this invention.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US01/12918 |
4/20/2001 |
WO |
|