Device for tissue engineering bone comprising biodegradable thermoplastic copolyester and cultured cells

摘要

A device for bone tissue engineering is described which comprises a scaffold material consisting of a bioactive, osteoconductive and bone-bonding segmented thermoplastic copolyester and cultured osteogenic or osteoprogenitor cells, especially bone cells. The copolyester consists essentially of a multiplicity of recurring long-chain ester units and short-chain ester units, the long-chain ester units comprising from 35 to 80% by weight of the copolyester and being represented by the formula -OLO-CO- or -OLO-CO-R-CO- and the short-chain ester units being represented by the formula -OEO-CO-R-CO- and/or -O-Q-CO- wherein L is a divalent group remaining after removal of terminal hydroxyl groups from a poly(oxyalkylene) glycol with an average molecular weight of between 300 and 3000; R is a divalent group remaining after removal of carboxyl groups from a dicarboxylic acid having a molecular weight of less than 300; Q is an alkylene group having 1-6 carbon atoms and/or a cyclohexylene of phenylene group; and E is an alkylene group having 2-6 carbon atoms.