Composite scaffolds for thermal ablation of metastatic cancer cells

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019105094-A1
Application number	US-201816152769-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 5, 2018
Priority date	Oct 5, 2017
Publication date	Apr 11, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device includes an electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material and a biocompatible porous scaffold around the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material. The biocompatible porous scaffold includes a biocompatible polymer and pores configured to capture metastatic cells.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
forming a porous scaffold comprising a biocompatible polymer around an electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material, wherein the porous scaffold defines pores configured to capture metastatic cancer cells.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible polymer comprises a first biocompatible polymer, and wherein the method further comprises forming a coating comprising a second biocompatible polymer on the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material before forming the porous scaffold around the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein forming the porous scaffold further comprises:
coating the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material with a scaffold medium that includes the first biocompatible polymer and a template material; curing the scaffold medium around the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material; and removing the template material to form the pores.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein curing the scaffold medium further includes:
pressing the scaffold medium around the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material; heating the scaffold medium; and foaming the scaffold medium.

5 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the template material comprises a salt, and wherein removing the template material comprises dissolving the salt in a solvent.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material is disposed substantially throughout a volume of the porous scaffold.

7 . A device, comprising:
an electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material; and a biocompatible porous scaffold around the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material, wherein the biocompatible porous scaffold comprises a biocompatible polymer and pores configured to capture metastatic cells.

8 . The device of claim 7 , further comprising a biocompatible coating between the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material and the porous scaffold.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the biocompatible coating defines a thickness is between about 1 μm and about 50 μm.

10 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material comprises a substantially solid geometric shape.

11 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material comprises at least one of a foam, a mesh, or a plurality of particles.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material is disposed substantially throughout a volume of the porous scaffold.

13 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material has a thickness between about 50 μm and about 150 μm.

14 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material has a thickness of at least a skin depth of the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material.

15 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material has a thickness substantially equal to a skin depth of the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material.

16 . The device of claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material comprises a metal foam, wherein walls of the metal foam have an average thickness substantially equal to a skin depth of the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material.

17 . A method, comprising:
implanting a device in a body of a patient, wherein the device comprises:
an electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material; and
a biocompatible porous scaffold around the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material, wherein the biocompatible porous scaffold comprises a biocompatible polymer and pores configured to capture metastatic cells; and
applying an electromagnetic induction stimulus to the device at a target strength and target frequency for a target duration, wherein the electromagnetic induction stimulus is selected to cause the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material to heat at least a portion of the porous scaffold to at least a target temperature.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising selecting the target strength, the target frequency, the target duration, and the target time to cause the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material to resistively heat the metastatic cells to kill at least 85% of metastatic cells in the porous scaffold.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the target temperature is between 40 degrees Celsius and 50 degrees Celsius, the target duration is between about one minute and about ten minutes, the target strength is between about 10 kA/m and about 100 kA/m, and the target frequency is between about 100 kHz and about 500 kHz.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein electromagnetic induction stimulus is selected to cause the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material to heat substantially all of the porous scaffold to at least the target temperature.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the target temperature is selected to kill metastatic cells up to about 2 mm from a surface of the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material.

22 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising selecting the target strength, the target frequency, the target duration, and the target time to cause the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material to resistively heat the metastatic cells to kill substantially all metastatic cells in the porous scaffold.

23 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the electromagnetic induction stimulus is selected to cause the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material to cause at least about 15% protein denaturation around the device.

24 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the electromagnetic induction stimulus is selected to cause the electrically conductive or electrically semiconductive material to create a specific absorption rate of at least about 3×10 8 W/m 3 .

Assignees

• Univ Minnesota

Inventors

• Azarin Samira M
• Pelaez Francisco
• Manuchehrabadi Navid
• Bischof John C

Classifications

• A61B2018/00577

  Ablation · CPC title

• A61L2400/18

  Modification of implant surfaces in order to improve biocompatibility, cell growth, fixation of biomolecules, e.g. plasma treatment · CPC title

• A61L31/146

  Porous materials, e.g. foams or sponges · CPC title

• A61B2018/00136

  with polymer · CPC title

• A61B2018/00077

  high, i.e. electrically conducting · CPC title