Injectable preformed macroscopic 3-dimensional scaffolds for minimally invasive administration

Abstract

The invention provides polymer compositions for cell and drug delivery.

1 . A cell-compatible highly crosslinked hydrogel polymer composition comprising a high density of open interconnected pores, wherein said hydrogel is characterized by shape memory following deformation by compression or dehydration. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises at least 50% polymer modification or at least 90% polymer modification. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises at least 75% pores or at least 90% pores. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises at least 90% water in a hydrated state. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises less than 25% water in a compressed or dehydrated hydrogel. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a cell adhesion composition covalently attached to said polymer. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein said cell adhesion composition comprises a peptide comprising an RGD amino acid sequence. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a eukaryotic cell in one or more of said open interconnected pores. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 10 , wherein said eukaryotic cell comprises a live attenuated cancer cell. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises a biomolecule in one or more of said open interconnected pores. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12 , wherein said biomolecule comprises a small molecule, nucleic acid, or protein. 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein:
 (i) said protein comprises GM-CSF; or   (ii) said nucleic acid comprises a CpG nucleic acid oligonucleotide.   
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is injectable through a hollow needle. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein upon compression, said composition maintains structural integrity and shape memory properties. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition is an alginate-based hydrogel. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises hyaluronic acid, gelatin, heparin, dextran, carob gum, PEG, a PEG derivative, collagen, chitosan, carboxymethylcellulose, pullulan, PVA, PHEMA, PNIPAAm, or PAAc. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition comprises the shape of a disc, cylinder, square, rectangle, or string. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein said scaffold composition is between 100 um 3  to 100 mm 3  in size. 
     
     
         22 . A method for repairing, regenerating, or restructuring a tissue, comprising administering to a subject the composition of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         23 .- 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for delivering genetic material to a tissue, comprising administering the composition of  claim 1 , wherein said composition further comprises a nucleic acid. 
     
     
         26 .- 28 . (canceled)