Tubular Porous Foam Scaffolds with Gradient Pores for Tissue Engineering

摘要

Novel bioabsorbable polymeric porous tubes for tissue engineering nerve growth are disclosed. The tubes are made from a bioabsorbable polymeric foam material and have a gradient of pore sizes across the wall thickness of the tubes such that cell growth occurs into the wall of the tubes from the inner surface, while cell growth or entry is not permitted through the outer wall into the tubular wall. The wall is permeable inwardly and outwardly to fluids. A novel method of manufacturing porous nerve tubes is also disclosed.

主权项

1. A porous, bioabsorbable nerve tube structure comprising:
a bioabsorbable, polymeric tubular foam member comprising a lumen, an inner surface surrounding the lumen and an outer surface defining a wall, the wall having a thickness, wherein the substrate has a gradient of pores from the interior surface to the exterior surface across the wall thickness of the tubular member such that tissue cells may infiltrate from the inner surface into the wall, and the outer surface is impermeable by cells, and the substrate is permeable by fluids through the wall of the foam member.