Fiber scaffolds for use in esophageal prostheses

Abstract

The development and construction of implantable artificial organs, and a process for manufacturing three-dimensional polymer microscale and nanoscale structures for use as scaffolds in the growth of biological structures such as hollow organs, luminal structures, or other structures within the body are disclosed.

1 . A fiber comprising an electrospun polymer and a radio opaque compound. 
     
     
         2 . The fiber of  claim 1 , wherein the electrospun polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycaprolactone, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polyetherketoneketone, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyamide, polystyrene, polyethersulfone, fibronectin, collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber of  claim 1 , having a diameter of about 1000 nm or less. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber of  claim 1 , having a diameter of about 50 μm or less. 
     
     
         5 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The fiber of  claim 1 , formed into a layer having a fiber orientation and a fiber spacing. 
     
     
         22 . The fiber of  claim 22 , wherein the fiber orientation is selected from the group consisting of substantially parallel, randomly oriented, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The fiber of  claim 22 , wherein the fiber spacing is from about 2 am to about 50 am. 
     
     
         24 . The fiber of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of biological cells selected from the group consisting of cord blood cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent cells, mesenchymal cells, placental cells, bone marrow derived cells, hematopoietic cells, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblast cells, chondrocyte cells, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A method of fabricating a radio opaque fiber, the method comprising:
 depositing, by electrospinning at least one radio opaque fiber onto a preform; and   removing the at least one radio opaque fiber from the preform.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber has a diameter of about 1000 nm or less. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the fiber has a diameter of about 50 am or less. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein electrospinning comprises:
 extruding a polymer solution from a fiberization tip;   creating an electronic field proximate to the fiberization tip; and   providing a ground or opposite polarity to the preform.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the polymer solution comprises a polymer and one or more radio opaque compounds. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polycaprolactone, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polyetherketoneketone, polyurethane, polycarbonate, polyamide, polystyrene, polyethersulfone, fibronectin, collagen, gelatin, hyaluronic acid, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein depositing the at least one radio opaque fiber comprises depositing a layer of radio opaque fibers, and wherein the layer has a fiber orientation and a fiber spacing. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fiber orientation is selected from the group consisting of substantially parallel, randomly oriented, and a combination thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the fiber spacing is from about 2 μm to about 50 μm. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising subjecting the layer to a mechanical stress. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising seeding a plurality of biological cells onto the layer of radio opaque fibers. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the biological cells are selected from the group consisting of cord blood cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent cells, mesenchymal cells, placental cells, bone marrow derived cells, hematopoietic cells, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblast cells, chondrocyte cells, and combinations thereof.