Nerve regeneration employing keratin biomaterials

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9968706-B2
Application number	US-201514603616-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 23, 2015
Priority date	Feb 10, 2006
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A keratin hydrogel matrix serves as an effective acellular scaffold for axonal regeneration and facilitates functional nerve recovery.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A device for promoting the growth of a nerve in a mammal, comprising:
a support structure having an elongate opening formed therein and configured for placement around a damaged region of a nerve; and
a physiologically acceptable matrix composition in said opening, said matrix composition comprising soluble keratose, soluble kerateine, or a mixture thereof,
wherein said soluble keratose is produced by a process of separating soluble keratose from oxidized hair using an aqueous solution comprising a denaturing agent, and
wherein said soluble kerateine is produced by a process of separating soluble kerateine from reduced hair using an aqueous solution comprising a denaturing agent.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein said soluble keratose comprises alpha keratose.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein said soluble keratose comprises gamma keratose.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein said matrix composition further comprises a nerve growth factor.

5. The device of claim 4 , wherein said nerve growth factor is provided in a concentration of 1-100 ng/mL of said matrix composition.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein said support structure is formed from a bioabsorbable material.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein said support structure is formed from an inert polymeric material.

8. The device of claim 1 , further comprising one or more electrodes operatively associated with said support structure.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein said soluble keratose, soluble kerateine, or a mixture thereof is provided in a concentration from 0.01 mg/mL to 10 mg/mL of said matrix composition.

10. A kit comprising:
(a) a support structure having an elongate opening formed therein and configured for placement around a damaged region of a nerve;
(b) a container, wherein said support structure is packaged in said container sterile form; and
(c) a physiologically acceptable matrix composition, wherein said matrix composition is sterile, and wherein said matrix composition comprises soluble keratose, soluble kerateine, or a mixture thereof,
wherein said soluble keratose is produced by a process of separating soluble keratose from oxidized hair using an aqueous solution comprising a denaturing agent, and
wherein said soluble kerateine is produced by a process of separating soluble kerateine from reduced hair using an aqueous solution comprising a denaturing agent.

11. The kit of claim 10 , wherein said matrix composition is packaged separately from said support structure, and wherein said matrix composition is provided in hydrated or dehydrated form.

Assignees

• Univ Wake Forest Health Sciences

Inventors

• Van Dyke Mark E

Classifications

• A61K38/185

  Nerve growth factor [NGF]; Brain derived neurotrophic factor [BDNF]; Ciliary neurotrophic factor [CNTF]; Glial derived neurotrophic factor [GDNF]; Neurotrophins, e.g. NT-3 · CPC title

• Y10S524/916

  Hydrogel compositions · CPC title

• A61N1/0551

  Spinal or peripheral nerve electrodes · CPC title

• A61L27/58

  Materials at least partially resorbable by the body · CPC title

• A61L2300/414

  Growth factors · CPC title