Mineralization and biological modification of biomaterial surfaces

Abstract

Disclosed are advantageous methods for patterning and/or mineralizing biomaterial surfaces. The techniques described are particularly useful for generating three-dimensional or contoured bioimplant materials with patterned surfaces or patterned, mineralized surfaces. Also provided are various methods of using the mineralized and/or patterned biomaterials in tissue engineering, such as bone tissue engineering, providing more control over ongoing biological processes, such as mineralization, growth factor release, cellular attachment and tissue growth.

1 - 95 . (canceled)  
   
   
       96 . A method for controlling mineralization of a biomaterial surface, said process comprising the steps of: 
 a) mineralizing a first biomaterial surface, said first biomaterial having a first polymer composition    b) modifying said first polymer composition of (a) to prepare a second biomaterial having a second polymer composition; wherein said second polymer composition provides said second biomaterial with a surface that will modify mineralizing of said second biomaterial surface compared to said first biomaterial surface to a desired extent using the same mineralizing process.    
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 96  wherein said first polymer composition comprises a first portion selected from the group consisting of a polylactic acid (PLA) polymer, a polyglycolic acid (PGA) polymer and a polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLG) copolymer biomaterial.  
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 97  wherein said first polymer composition comprises a polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLG) copolymer.  
   
   
       99 . The method of  claim 98  wherein said first polymer composition and said second polymer composition comprise a polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLG) copolymer and lactide and glycolide components in said second polymer composition are in a ratio different than in said first polymer composition.  
   
   
       100 . The method of  claim 97  wherein the first polymer composition comprises a first portion comprising a combination of polymers at a first ratio wherein said polymers are selected from the group consisting of a polylactic acid (PLA) polymer, a polyglycolic acid (PGA) polymer and a polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLG) copolymer biomaterial.  
   
   
       101 . The method of  claim 100  wherein modifying said first polymer combination comprises modifying said combination of polymers involves modifying said first ratio.  
   
   
       102 . The method of  claim 100  wherein modifying said first polymer combination comprises modifying types of polymers in said combination of polymers.  
   
   
       103 . The method of  claim 97  wherein modifying said first polymer comprises utilizing a polymer having a different molecular weight.  
   
   
       104 . The method of  claim 100  wherein modifying said first polymer comprises utilizing a polymer in said first polymer composition to prepare said second polymer composition wherein said polymer in said second polymer composition has a different molecular weight from said polymer in said first polymer composition.  
   
   
       105 . The method of  claim 100  wherein modifying said first polymer comprises utilizing each polymer in said first polymer composition to prepare said second polymer composition wherein each polymer in said second polymer composition has a different molecular weight said same polymers in said first polymer composition.  
   
   
       106 . A method for controlling mineralization of a biomaterial surface, said process comprising the steps of: 
 a) mineralizing a first biomaterial surface, said first biomaterial having a first set of surface properties    b) modifying said first set of surface properties of (a) to prepare a second biomaterial having a second set of surface property; wherein said second set of surface properties provides said second biomaterial with a surface that will modify mineralizing of said second biomaterial surface compared to said first biomaterial surface to a desired extent using the same mineralizing process.    
   
   
       107 . The method of  claim 106  wherein said second set of surface properties include controlled surface defects that differ from surface defects in said first set of surface properties, said controlled surface defects providing a controlled nucleation of discrete mineral islands on said second biomaterial surface.  
   
   
       108 . The method of  claim 106  wherein said second biomaterial is prepared using a technique that differs from a technique used to prepare said first biomaterial.  
   
   
       109 . The method of  claim 108  wherein said techniques used to prepare said second biomaterial comprises a gas foaming technique.  
   
   
       110 . The method of  claim 109  wherein said techniques used to prepare said second biomaterial comprises a gas foaming and particulate leaching technique.  
   
   
       111 . The method of  claim 108  wherein said techniques used to prepare said second biomaterial comprises a solvent casting process technique.  
   
   
       112 . The method of  claim 108  wherein said techniques used to prepare said second biomaterial comprises a heat pressing processing technique.  
   
   
       113 . The method of  claim 108  wherein said techniques used to prepare said second biomaterial comprises a gas foaming technique.