Poly(lactide) from PolySciTech used as part of bone-tissue engineering development work in recent patent application

Tissue engineering is an exciting field of research in which a cell scaffold is implanted to heal missing tissue. Normal human cells require a surface to adhere too and grow along. In the human body, this ‘surface’ is a group of cellular excretions, which give biochemical and mechanical (structural) support for the cells, referred to as the ‘extra cellular matrix’ (ECM). Without the ECM, cells cannot grow into the tissue. For this, and other reasons, damaged tissues will sometimes never regrow fully (e.g. amputations, defects, voids, etc.) The goal of tissue engineering is to find a way to replace the extra cellular matrix with a synthetic structure so that the surrounding cells can grow into the void area and replace it with new tissue. Recently, researchers at Pennsylvania State University published a patent in which PLLA from PolySciTech (www.polyscitech.com) (PolyVivo cat# AP047) was used as a control for bone-tissue replacement. This material, along with the experimental polymer, was processed into a porous structure by a method known as salt-leaching (see picture, Fig. 4B, for example). The examples of this patent provide excellent data regarding methodologies and use of this polymer in this application. Read more: Yang, Jian. "Methods of Promoting Bone Growth and Healing." U.S. Patent 20170080125, issued March 23, 2017. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2017/0080125.html

“Abstract: In one aspect, methods of promoting bone growth are described herein. In some embodiments, a method described herein comprises disposing a graft or scaffold in a bone growth site. The graft or scaffold comprises (a) a polymer network formed from the reaction product of (i) citric acid, a citrate or an ester of citric acid with (ii) a polyol. The graft or scaffold further comprises (b) a particulate inorganic material dispersed in the polymer network.”