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 . A method for mineralizing a biomaterial surface, comprising:
 functionalizing at least a first inner pore surface of a biomaterial, wherein the biomaterial comprises at least a first porous, biodegradable polymer portion having an interconnected pore structure; and   contacting the at least first inner pore surface of the biomaterial with an amount of a mineral-containing solution effective to form a mineralized biomaterial, wherein the mineralized biomaterial comprises a mineral coating at the functionalized at least first inner pore surface of the biomaterial.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalizing results from the contacting of the at least first inner pore surface of the biomaterial with the mineral-containing solution. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising preparing at least a first portion of the biomaterial by a process comprising heating a biodegradable polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the biodegradable polymer is heated in a heat pressing process. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineralized biomaterial is degradable over a controllable time scale. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer portion of the biomaterial is a poly(alpha-hydroxy) acid. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalizing of the at least first inner pore surface of the biomaterial creates a plurality of polar oxygen groups on the at least first inner pore surface of the biomaterial. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mineral coating is osteoconductive. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the biomaterial is associated with a biologically effective amount of at least a first bioactive substance or biological cell. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the functionalizing results from exposure to at least one of electromagnetic radiation, UV radiation, electron beam irradiation, or one or more functionalizing biocompatible chemicals. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more functionalizing biocompatible chemicals is an effective amount of NaOH. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising
 controlling mineralization of the at least first inner pore surface by at least one of
 altering a molecular weight of the polymer, altering a composition of the polymer, altering a ratio of components within the polymer, altering the fabrication technique of the polymer, or altering the inner pore surface properties of the polymer, prior to contacting the at least first inner pore surface with the mineral-containing solution. 
   
     
     
         13 . A biomaterial, comprising:
 a porous, biodegradable polymer portion having an interconnected pore structure;   an inner pore surface; and   a mineral coating at the inner pore surface of the biomaterial.   
     
     
         14 . The biomaterial of  claim 13 , wherein the biodegradable polymer is poly(alpha-hydroxy) acid. 
     
     
         15 . The biomaterial of  claim 13 , wherein the inner pore surface of the biomaterial is exposed to a functionalizing pre-treatment to create a functionalized inner pore surface. 
     
     
         16 . The biomaterial of  claim 15 , wherein the functionalizing pre-treatment comprises contacting the biomaterial surface with an amount of a mineral-containing solution. 
     
     
         17 . The biomaterial of  claim 13 , wherein the mineral coating is formed by contacting the biomaterial surface with an amount of a mineral-containing solution. 
     
     
         18 . The biomaterial of  claim 13 , wherein the biomaterial is part of a 3-dimensional biomaterial scaffold. 
     
     
         19 . The biomaterial of  claim 13 , wherein the biomaterial is associated with a biologically effective amount of at least a first bioactive substance or biological cell. 
     
     
         20 . The biomaterial of  claim 13 , wherein said biodegradable polymer biomaterial is a poly(alpha-hydroxy) acid. 
     
     
         21 . The biomaterial of  claim 13 , wherein the mineral coating is degradable over a controllable time scale. 
     
     
         22 . The biomaterial of  claim 13 , wherein the mineral coating comprises an extended, mineral coating at the functionalized inner pore surface of the biomaterial. 
     
     
         23 . The biomaterial of  claim 15 , wherein the functionalized inner pore surface comprises a plurality of polar oxygen groups on the inner pore surface. 
     
     
         24 . The biomaterial of  claim 13 , wherein the mineral coating is osteoconductive.