Heparosan-Based Biomaterials and Coatings and Methods of Production and Use Thereof

Abstract

Biomaterial compositions that include an isolated heparosan polymer are disclosed, as well as kits containing such biomaterial compositions and methods of producing and using such biomaterial compositions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biomaterial composition, the composition comprising:
 an isolated derivatized heparosan polymer, wherein the isolated derivatized heparosan polymer is biocompatible with a mammalian patient and is represented by the structure (-GlcUA-β1,4-GlcNAc-α-1,4-) n , wherein n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, wherein the heparosan polymer is unsulfated, and wherein the derivatized heparosan polymer is not found in nature.   
     
     
         2 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 1 , wherein n is greater than 10. 
     
     
         3 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in a gel, semi-solid, and/or particulate state. 
     
     
         4 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is in a liquid state. 
     
     
         5 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is injectable and/or implantable. 
     
     
         6 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is not susceptible to hyaluronidases and/or heparanases and thereby is not degraded in vivo. 
     
     
         7 . A biomaterial composition, the composition comprising:
 an isolated heparosan polymer, wherein the isolated heparosan polymer is biocompatible with a mammalian patient, and wherein the isolated heparosan polymer is represented by the structure (-GlcUA-β1,4-GlcNAc-α-1,4-) n , wherein n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1, wherein the heparosan polymer is unsulfated;   a substrate; and   wherein the isolated heparosan polymer is attached to the substrate.   
     
     
         8 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 7 , wherein the isolated heparosan polymer is covalently attached to the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 7 , wherein the isolated heparosan polymer is non-covalently attached to the substrate. 
     
     
         10 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 7 , wherein the substrate is selected from the group consisting of silica, silicon, semiconductors, glass, polymers, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, metals, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 10 , wherein at least a portion of the substrate is a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, copper, stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, titanium, thermosensitive alloys, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The biomaterial composition of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of:
 (a) n is greater than 10;   (b) n is about 1,000;   (c) the heparosan polymer is linear;   (d) the heparosan polymer is crosslinked; and   (e) the composition is not susceptible to hyaluronidases and/or heparanases and thereby is not degraded in vivo.   
     
     
         13 . A method for providing a coating on a surface of a synthetic implant, comprising the steps of:
 disposing a biomaterial composition onto at least a portion of a surface of a synthetic implant, wherein the biomaterial composition comprises an isolated heparosan polymer, wherein the isolated heparosan polymer is biocompatible with a mammalian patient, and wherein the isolated heparosan polymer is represented by the structure (-GlcUA-β1,4-GlcNAc-α-1,4-) n , wherein n is a positive integer greater than or equal to 1; and   allowing the biomaterial composition to form a coating on the surface of the implant.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein n is greater than 10. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein n is about 1,000. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the isolated heparosan polymer is linear. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the isolated heparosan polymer is crosslinked. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the surface of the synthetic implant is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of silica, silicon, semiconductors, glass, polymers, organic compounds, inorganic compounds, metals and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the surface of the synthetic implant is constructed of a metal selected from the group consisting of gold, copper, stainless steel, nickel, aluminum, titanium, thermosensitive alloys and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the coating on the surface of the synthetic implant is substantially not susceptible to hyaluronidases and thereby is not substantially degraded in vivo.