Electronic scaffold and uses thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016270729-A1
Application number	US-201415037129-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 17, 2013
Publication date	Sep 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device comprising a three-dimensional polymeric element and an electronic element integrated with the polymeric element is disclosed. The electronic element is made up of one or more electrode(s) each individually connectable to a measuring device and/or a controller, and each independently having a thin electrically-isolating layer deposited thereon such that the electrode is exposed to an environment surrounding the electrode at one or more pre-determined locations over the electrode. The device can include cells and/or tissue and/or a therapeutically active agent incorporated within the polymeric material. Processes of fabricating the device, systems for operating the device and methods utilizing same are also disclosed.

First claim

1 - 44 . (canceled)

45 . A scaffold device comprising:
a three-dimensional polymeric element; and an electronic element being integrated with said polymeric element, said electronic element comprising at least one electrode being connectable to a measuring device and/or a controller, said electrode having an electrically-isolating layer deposited thereon such that a portion of said electrode remains partially uncoated in a plurality of discrete locations over said electrode and is exposed to an environment surrounding the electrode at each of said locations.

46 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said electrode is exposed to said environment at a tip of said electrode.

47 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said thin electrically-isolating layer is an electrically-isolating polymeric layer.

48 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said thin electrically-isolating layer has a thickness that ranges from 0.1 micron to 100 microns.

49 . The device of claim 45 , wherein at least one dimension of said electrode ranges from 1 micron to 1000 microns.

50 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said at least one electrode has a shape of a straight line or of a curved line.

51 . The device of claim 50 , wherein said at least one electrode is elastic.

52 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said electronic element comprises a plurality of electrodes, each being individually connectable to a measuring device and/or a controller, and each independently having a thin electrically-isolating layer deposited thereon such that a portion of said electrode remains partially uncoated in at least one location and is exposed to said environment surrounding the electrode at said at least one location.

53 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said controller is configured for transmitting stimulation signals through the electrode.

54 . The device of claim 45 , further comprising a miniature power source mounted in proximity to said electronic element.

55 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said measuring device is configured for measuring signals transmitted from the polymeric element through the electrode and/or for measuring signals transmitted from said environment through the electrode.

56 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said polymeric element comprises a synthetic polymer.

57 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said polymeric element comprises an electrospun fibrous polymeric material.

58 . The device of claim 57 , wherein said polymeric material comprises at least one of albumin, a polycaprolactone (PCL), gelatin, a poly(lactic acid) (PLA), a poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), decellularized extracellular matrix and any combination thereof.

59 . The device of claim 45 , wherein said polymeric element comprises an electro-responsive polymeric material.

60 . The device of claim 45 , further comprising cells incorporated in and/or on said polymeric element.

61 . The device of claim 60 , wherein said cells form a tissue.

62 . The device of claim 45 , further comprising a therapeutically active agent incorporated in and/or on said polymeric element.

63 . The device of claim 60 , further comprising a therapeutically active agent associated with said electro-responsive polymeric material via electrostatic interactions.

64 . A system comprising the device of claim 45 and at least one electric device selected from the group consisting of a controller and a measuring device.

65 . A method of implantation, comprising:
implanting the scaffold device of claim 60 in an organ; and receiving electrical signals from said cells via said electronic element.

66 . The method of claim 65 , wherein said scaffold device further comprises a therapeutically active agent incorporated in said polymeric element, the method comprising transmitting stimulating signals via said electronic element so as to controllably release said therapeutically active agent from said polymeric element.

67 . The method of claim 65 , wherein said cells are responsive to electrical stimulation and the method comprising transmitting stimulating signals via said electronic element so as to stimulate said cells.

68 . A method of treating disease or disorder caused by dysfunction in, or damage to, an excitable tissue in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising transplanting the scaffold device of claim 60 in the subject.

69 . A method of determining a toxicity or an efficacy of a therapeutically active agent to a cell or tissue, the method comprising:
providing the device of claim 62 , the device comprising a cell or a tissue is incorporated in the polymeric element; monitoring a function or activity of said cell or said tissue incorporated in the polymeric element; and comparing the monitored function or activity of said cell or said tissue with a function or activity of said cell or said tissue without a therapeutically active agent, thereby determining a toxicity or an efficacy of said therapeutically active agent to said cell or said tissue.

Assignees

• Ramot At Tel-Aviv Univ Ltd

Inventors

• Dvir Tal
• Shacham-Diamand Yosi
• Feiner Ron
• Engel Leeya

Classifications

• A61B2562/164

  the sensor is mounted in or on a conformable substrate or carrier · CPC title

• A61L2430/20

  for reconstruction of the heart, e.g. heart valves · CPC title

• C12N5/0068

  General culture methods using substrates (for specific animal cell type C12N5/06) · CPC title

• C23C14/34

  Sputtering · CPC title

• A61K35/34

  Muscles; Smooth muscle cells; Heart; Cardiac stem cells; Myoblasts; Myocytes; Cardiomyocytes (vascular smooth muscle A61K35/44) · CPC title