Electroprocessing in drug delivery and cell encapsulation

Abstract

The invention is directed to novel compositions comprising an electroprocessed material and a substance, their formation and use. The electroprocessed material can, for example, be one or more natural materials, one or more synthetic materials, or a combination thereof. The substance can be one or more therapeutic or cosmetic substances or other compounds, molecules, cells, vesicles. The compositions can be used in substance delivery, including drug delivery within an organism by, for example, releasing substances or containing cells that release substances. The compositions can be used for other purposes, such as prostheses or similar implants.

What is claimed is  
     
         1 . A composition comprising: 
 an electroprocessed material and a substance.    
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the material is one or more natural materials, one or more synthetic materials, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the material is a combination of one or more natural materials and one or more synthetic materials.  
     
     
         4 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the natural material comprises one or more amino acids, peptides, denatured peptides, polypeptides, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids, glycoproteins, lipoproteins, glycolipids, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 2 , wherein the synthetic material comprises one or more polymers.  
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises a therapeutic substance, a cosmetic substance or a combination thereof  
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the substance comprises one or more molecules, cells, objects, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , further comprising placement of the composition in a bioreactor.  
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the electroprocessed material is crosslinked.  
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising an electroprocessed material, wherein the electroprocessed material provides a biological effect when delivered to a desired location in vivo or in vitro.  
     
     
         11 . A method of delivering a substance to a desired location, comprising placing the composition of  claim 1  at the desired location.  
     
     
         12 . A method of delivering an electroprocessed material to a desired location, comprising placing the composition of  claim 10  at the desired location.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substance comprises a molecule or a cell that will release the molecule after placement in the desired location.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substance comprises a therapeutic substance, a cosmetic substance or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substance comprises one or more molecules, cells, objects, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the substance comprises a cell.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the location is inside or upon the body of a human or an animal.  
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing the composition of  claim 1 , comprising: electrodepositing one or more electrically-charged solutions comprising a material or molecules capable of forming the material onto a grounded substrate under conditions effective to electrodeposit the material or the molecules capable of forming the material on the substrate to form the electroprocessed material; and, adding the substance to the electrodeposited material to form the composition.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the material is one or more natural materials, one or more synthetic materials, or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the substance comprises a therapeutic substance, a cosmetic substance or a combination thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the substance comprises one or more molecules, cells, objects, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         22 . A method of manufacturing the composition of  claim 10 , comprising electrodepositing one or more electrically-charged solutions comprising a material or molecules capable of forming the material onto a grounded substrate under conditions effective to electrodeposit the material or the molecules capable of forming the material on the substrate to form the electroprocessed material.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the material is one or more natural materials, one or more synthetic materials, or a combination thereof.