Method of producing a polymer matrix

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9913700-B2
Application number	US-201514881922-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 13, 2015
Priority date	Oct 13, 2014
Publication date	Mar 13, 2018
Grant date	Mar 13, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a biomimetic matrix for providing structural support and scaffolding that allows for regeneration of dentin, pulp, and periodontal tissues. A method of making the biomimetic matrix provides the ability to select both a size of a pore or tubule formed in the biomimetic matrix and a density of pores or tubules disposed throughout the biomimetic matrix. The present invention discloses an approach of successful tubular dentin regeneration both in vitro and in vivo using the biomimetic matrix.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of producing a polymer matrix, the method comprising:
electrospinning a liquefied polymer onto an electrode to create a nanofibrous layer having a porosity; and
ablating, via a laser, the layer to form a tubule through the layer; and
wherein a diameter of the tubule changes along a depth of the nanofibrous layer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrode is a rotating mandrel.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein, the liquefied polymer is a biocompatible melted polymer.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the porosity of the nanofibrous layer changes along a depth of the nanofibrous layer.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the tubule on a top surface of the polymer matrix is smaller than a diameter of the tubule on a bottom surface of the nanofibrous layer.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the diameter changes in a contiguous manner from a first surface of the polymer matrix to a bottom surface of the polymer matrix.

Assignees

• Texas A & M Univ Sys

Inventors

• Liu Xiaohua
• Ma Chi
• Qu Tiejun

Classifications

• D01D5/0076

  characterised by the collecting device, e.g. drum, wheel, endless belt, plate or grid (D01D5/0046 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C69/001

  a shaping technique combined with cutting, e.g. in parts or slices combined with rearranging and joining the cut parts (for reinforced material B29C70/545; B29C49/4278, B29C51/268 take precedence) · CPC title

• D01D5/0038

  the fibre formed by solvent evaporation, i.e. dry electro-spinning · CPC title

• D01D5/0023

  the material being a polymer melt · CPC title

• D01D5/003

  the material being a polymer solution or dispersion (D01D5/0053 takes precedence) · CPC title