Biocompatible and non-destructive modification of scaffold surfaces for tissue engineering

Invention 15012

Biocompatible and non-destructive modification of scaffold surfaces for tissue engineering

A biocompatible technique to modify scaffold surfaces for better cellular integration during tissue engineering has been developed at McGill University.

Market Need

During bone tissue engineering, synthetic polymers such as polyesters are commonly used to make scaffolds. This scaffold surface is the first spot cells contact upon implantation and determines their proper adherence and growth. While polyesters are biocompatible, they are hydrophobic, which is a property known to prevent maximum adhesion and spreading of cells. Also, they have no surface groups that help cell growth or function. It is therefore crucial to modify the surface of the scaffold to enhance integration into the body. Current techniques, however, degrade the scaffolding material and are expensive.

Technology Summary

With this technique, common scaffolds and other polymeric surfaces can be modified homogenously and non-destructively. Using a simple two-step procedure, the technique of diazonium chemistry was found to modify the outer and inner surfaces of three-dimensional scaffolds for bone tissue engineering in a non-degrading fashion. Not only can specific functional groups be applied to the surface to help the proliferation of many different cell types, but the method is biocompatible, inexpensive, and can be applied to the surface of any shape.

Advantages

• Application of functional groups to the surface of scaffolds to enhance cellular attachment
• Non-degrading to the scaffold’s surface
• Not expensive, biocompatible, and can be applied to any shape

Patent Status

Filed US