Nanofiber wraps and sheaths to minimize inflammation and scarring

This invention describes a novel semi-permeable nanofiber construct in the form of a wrap or sheath that can prevent inflammatory scarring at primary nerve or vessel repair site. The wrap/sheath consists of a nanofiber mesh with thickness ranging from 50 to 500 m and pore size of less than 10 m, and can be used in the form of a sheet wrapping around or as a tubular sheath covering the connection between two segments of a tubular tissue such as a nerve or a blood vessel. The wrap is composed of randomly oriented nanofibers (100 nm to 2 m in diameter) prepared by electrospinning from biocompatible and biodegradable materials. The semi-permeable wrap can effectively prevent inflammatory cells from migrating into the tissue repair site, while permitting diffusion of growth factors and nutrients to the repair site. Such an anti-inflammatory approach can minimize scarring and enhance regeneration outcome after nerve or microvascular repair.

Category(s):