Schistose microfibrillated article for cell growth

Abstract

The present invention relates to culturing cells utilizing a matrix of microfibrillated thermoplastic polymeric materials. More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of culturing cells. In addition, the invention relates to a microfibrillated article for culturing cells dispersed in a cell culture medium. The matrix of thermoplastic polymeric materials for culturing cells of this invention finds use in tissue engineering and wound healing applications.

1 . A method of culturing cells comprising: 
 providing a matrix of biaxially oriented, thermoplastic substrate having a schistose surface, the matrix dispersed in a cell culture medium; and    inoculating the matrix with cells.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the schistose surface comprises microflakes having an average length of less than 20 micrometers.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the microflakes have an average length of 1 to 3 micrometers.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the microflakes have an average width of less than 200 micrometers.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the microflakes have an average width of 5 to 30 micrometers.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 2 , where the microflakes have an average thickness of 1 to 20 micrometers.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the microflakes have an aspect ratio of the surface from 1:1 to 1:20.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the microflakes have a surface area greater than 0.5 m 2 /gram.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix comprises a melt-processible immiscible mixture of a semicrystalline polymer component and a void-initiating component.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix of biaxially oriented, thermoplastic substrate comprises a polyolefin.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the polyolefin is selected from polyethylene homopolymer, polypropylene homopolymer, copolymers of polyethylene, copolymers of polypropylene, blends comprising polypropylene, and blends comprising polyethylene.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix of biaxially oriented, thermoplastic substrate comprises an aliphatic polyester.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the aliphatic polyester is selected from poly(butylene succinate)homopolymer, poly(butylene adipate)homopolymer, poly(butylene adipate-succinate)copolymer, poly(ethylene succinate-adipate)copolymer, poly(ethylene adipate)homopolymer, polylactide, polydioxanone, polycaprolactone, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), poly(3-hydroxyvalerate), polyglycolide, poly(oxyethylene glycolate), copolymers of polylactide, and copolymers of polyglycolide.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the void-initiating component is selected from organic and inorganic solids, and immiscible polymers.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the matrix of biaxially oriented, thermoplastic substrate comprises a blend of two or more polymers.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the matrix is biodegradable.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the matrix is bioabsorbable.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cells are selected from mammalian cells, bacteria and fungi.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cells are fibroblasts.  
   
   
       20 . An article for culturing cells comprising a matrix of biaxially oriented, thermoplastic substrate having a schistose surface, the matrix dispersed in a cell culture medium.  
   
   
       21 . The article of  claim 20 , wherein the schistose surface comprises microflakes.  
   
   
       22 . The article of  claim 20 , wherein the matrix comprises s microfibrillated biaxially oriented film or foam.  
   
   
       23 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the microflakes are integral to a depth of 10 micrometers or greater in the matrix.  
   
   
       24 . The article of  claim 20 , wherein the cell culture medium further comprises cells.  
   
   
       25 . The article of  claim 22 , wherein the article comprises the matrix having a microfibrillated morphology throughout the thickness of the film or foam.  
   
   
       26 . The article of  claim 20 , contained in a vessel.  
   
   
       27 . A tissue scaffold comprising a matrix of biaxially oriented, thermoplastic substrate having a schistose surface dispersed within a cell culture medium.  
   
   
       28 . The scaffold of  claim 27 , wherein the matrix comprises an aliphatic polyester.