Claims
- 1. A matrix comprising a macrostructure having a substantially continuous semi-solid network and voids, said matrix further comprising a microstructure having voids, wherein said microstructure is located within said semi-solid network.
- 2. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said semi-solid network comprises a polymer.
- 3. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix comprises a copolymer having a carboxylic acid group or a copolymer having an amine group.
- 4. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix comprises a conductive polymer selected from the group consisting of polypyrrole, polyaniline, polyacetylene, and polythiophene.
- 5. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said semi-solid network consists essentially of a polymer or mixture of polymers.
- 6. The matrix of claim 1, wherein the surface area of said matrix is at least 1 m2/g.
- 7. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said voids of said macrostructure are substantially continuous.
- 8. The matrix of claim 1, wherein at least 10% of said voids of said macrostructure and said voids of said microstructure are connected.
- 9. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said voids of said macrostructure and said voids of said microstructure are not connected.
- 10. The matrix of claim 1, said voids of said macrostructure defining openings, wherein the average diameter of said openings and the average diameter of the cross-sections of said semi-solid network have a ratio of from 2:1 to 10:1.
- 11. The matrix of claim 10, wherein said ratio is from 2:1 to 5:1.
- 12. The matrix of claim 1, wherein the semi-solid network of a cubic portion of said matrix having dimensions of 0.5 cm on all sides and having voids defining openings having an average diameter of 50-500 μm has a connectivity number of at least 10.
- 13. The matrix of claim 12, wherein said connectivity number is at least 20.
- 14. The matrix of claim 1, a cross section of said semi-solid network having a maximum and a minimum diameter, wherein the ratio of said maximum diameter and said minimum diameter is from 1:1 to 10:1.
- 15. The matrix of claim 1, wherein at least 10% of the voids of said microstructure have a fractal dimension of at least 3.
- 16. The matrix of claim 15, wherein less than 10% of the voids of said macrostructure have a fractal dimension higher than 1.
- 17. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix is three dimensional.
- 18. The matrix of claim 1, wherein the exterior face of said matrix is porous.
- 19. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix has a porosity of at least about 20%.
- 20. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix is biodegradable.
- 21. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix is bioerodible.
- 22. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix is bioresorbable.
- 23. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix is impermeable to cells.
- 24. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix is permeable to bodily fluids.
- 25. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix is permeable to cells.
- 26. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix further comprises a living cell.
- 27. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix changes in size less than 50% when cells are added to said matrix.
- 28. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix has a compressive modulus of at least 0.4 MPa at 4% strain.
- 29. The matrix of claim 1, wherein said matrix has a density of less than about 0.150 g/cc.
Parent Case Info
This invention claims the benefits of provisional application No. 60/069,547, filed Dec. 12, 1997, and No. 60/067,234, filed Dec. 2, 1997, and a continuation of Ser. No. 08/904,780, filed on Aug. 1, 1997, now abandoned.
STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
This invention was made with government support under Grant Number NIH-5R01-GM26698 awarded by the National Institutes of Health and Grant Number BES-9525913 m awarded by the National Science Foundation. The government has certain rights in the invention.
PCT Information
Filing Document |
Filing Date |
Country |
Kind |
PCT/US98/16020 |
|
WO |
00 |
Publishing Document |
Publishing Date |
Country |
Kind |
WO99/09149 |
2/25/1999 |
WO |
A |
US Referenced Citations (37)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 299 010 |
Jun 1996 |
EP |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (3)
Entry |
Lo et al., “Fabrication of controlled release biodegradable foams by phase separation,” Tissue Engineering 1(1):15-28 (1995). |
Mikos et al., “Preparation and characterization of poly(L-lactic acid) foams,” Polymer 35(5):1068-1077 (1994). |
Mooney et al., “Novel approach to fabricate porous sponges of poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) without the use of organic solvents,” Biomaterials 17(14):1417-1422 (1996). |
Provisional Applications (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/067234 |
Dec 1997 |
US |
|
60/069547 |
Dec 1997 |
US |
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
08/904780 |
Aug 1997 |
US |
Child |
09/463709 |
|
US |