Technology

Tissue engineering focuses on repairing or regenerating lost or damaged tissues and organs in the body. A goal of tissue engineering is to design biomimetic scaffolds that reproduce the mechanical and biochemical properties of natural tissue. These scaffolds should have desirable biological properties such that after implantation or application to a subject, they will become populated with the subject's cells, which can promote formation of new extracellular matrix (ECM). As such, there is a significant unmet need in tissue engineering for a polymer that can form a strong bond with tissue, support long-term cell survival and also supplement or replace the use of sutures. This technology relates to a liquid composition that forms a solidified matrix within the body of a mammal, to be used as a disc-replacing or disc-supplementing matrix. This method for intervertebral disc regeneration involves the use of a biocompatible thermally-desolubilizable (TD) polymer that exists in an extended form below a critical solution temperature (CST) that is lower than the normal body temperature of the mammal and in a condensed form at or above the CST; a releasable encapsulated animated component of a mammalian extracellular matrix (ECM); and a polymeric component of a mammalian ECM. When the composition is delivered or injected into the body, the polymer is transformed from its extended form to its condensed form, the animated component is released from its encapsulated form, and the polymeric component binds with the animated component.

Potential Application

This novel technology has the potential to broaden the range of bioadhesive tissue engineering technology. This bioadhesive technology has a variety of uses, such as sealants for ruptured tissues, drug or imaging agent depots, or mechanical cushions. The disclosed technology can also be used for wound closure, hernia repair or fistula repair.

Opportunity

The global medical biomimetics market size is anticipated to reach $34.4 billion by 2024, increasing from $21.4 billion in 2015, with a projection of 5.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2016 to 2024. The cardiovascular and orthopedic segments together represented 69% of the medical biomimetics market share in 2015. Drug delivery and tissue engineering formed the largest application markets of medical biomimetics in 2015. While the North American market was valued at over $10 billion in 2015, Germany and the United Kingdom collectively held a share of more than 50% in the European medical biomimetics market. Rowan University is looking for a partner for further development and commercialization of this technology through a license.