A method for supporting repair of soft tissue with biopolymer fibers. Biopolymer is dissolved in acid in a closed container made of materials inert to the acid and to the collagen to form a biopolymer solution. The solution is stirred, then centrifuged to degas it. The degassed solution is put into syringes on a holder. The number of syringes equals the number of fibers in the bundle. The syringes are mounted in a rotatable holder. Essentially equal quantities of degassed solution are extruded from the syringes to produce fibers, which are gathered and fed into a formation buffer bath. The fibers are kept taught after extrusion and dehydrated in a dehydrating solution in a dehydrating bath. The fibers are wound a collector to collect the bundle. The fibers are used to support repair of soft tissue.

A strand that can be used to support repair of a soft tissue injury is disclosed. The strand comprises high strength collagen fibers and high strength biocompatible fibers, such as polyethylene fibers arranged into a strand that can be used as part of a suture or other scaffold for the repair of joints and soft tissues, such as ligaments and tendons. The fibers may be over-braided around a central core, which is itself comprised of two or more fibers. The high strength collagen fibers are strong enough to withstand the stresses imposed by industrial braiding machines and processes.

A strand that can be used to support repair of a soft tissue injury is disclosed. The strand comprises high strength collagen fibers and high strength biocompatible fibers, such as polyethylene fibers arranged into a strand that can be used as part of a suture or other scaffold for the repair of joints and soft tissues, such as ligaments and tendons. The fibers may be over-braided around a central core, which is itself comprised of two or more fibers. The high strength collagen fibers are strong enough to withstand the stresses imposed by industrial braiding machines and processes.

Absorbable composite medical devices such as surgical meshes and braided sutures, which display two or more absorption/biodegradation and breaking strength retention profiles and exhibit unique properties in different clinical settings, are made using combinations of at least two types of yarns having distinctly different physicochemical and biological properties and incorporate in the subject construct special designs to provide a range of unique properties as clinically useful implants.

A biopolymer fiber containing collagen. The biopolymer fiber has excellent ultimate tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and strain at break comparable to native human tendons and ligaments. The fiber may substantially circular, ovoid, square, rectangular, ribbon-like, triangular, or irregularly shaped. The fiber exhibits an ordered, longitudinally-oriented structure, and the fiber allows infiltration of cellular growth. Implantable biopolymer scaffolds and sutures containing the fibers are provided as well as microfluidic and extrusion methods for producing the biopolymer fibers.

A biopolymer fiber containing collagen. The biopolymer fiber has excellent ultimate tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and strain at break comparable to native human tendons and ligaments. The fiber may substantially circular, ovoid, square, rectangular, ribbon-like, triangular, or irregularly shaped. The fiber exhibits an ordered, longitudinally-oriented structure, and the fiber allows infiltration of cellular growth. Implantable biopolymer scaffolds and sutures containing the fibers are provided as well as microfluidic and extrusion methods for producing the biopolymer fibers.

The present invention relates to biomaterials coated with an active agent eluting coating, wherein implantation of the coated biomaterial results in reduced implant-related complications and/or improved integration of the biomaterial into the host tissue and further relates to kits containing the coated biomaterial. The present invention also relates to methods and kits for coating the biomaterial. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that biomaterial coated with a cytokine eluting coating resulted in the shift of early stage macrophage polarization that were associated with positive long-term effects such as minimized capsule formation and improved tissue quality and composition as compared to uncoated biomaterials.

Compositions and methods of making a modified polyhydroxylated polymer comprising a polyhydroxylated polymer having reversibly modified hydroxyl groups, whereby the hydroxyl groups are modified by an acid-catalyzed reaction between a polydroxylated polymer and a reagent such as acetals, aldehydes, vinyl ethers and ketones such that the modified polyhydroxylated polymers become insoluble in water but freely soluble in common organic solvents allowing for the facile preparation of acid-sensitive materials. Materials made from these polymers can be made to degrade in a pH-dependent manner. Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic cargoes were successfully loaded into particles made from the present polymers using single and double emulsion techniques, respectively. Due to its ease of preparation, processability, pH-sensitivity, and biocompatibility, of the present modified polyhydroxylated polymers should find use in numerous drug delivery applications.

There is provided a composition for a laminated material used for a medical lubricating member, the composition including a polymer b1 including a polysiloxane structure and a crosslinkable polymer b2 having a particular reactive group that forms a crosslinked body with the polymer b1 and having a number-average molecular weight of 1000 or more. The crosslinkable polymer b2 is at least one of polysaccharides, polyethyleneimines, polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, polyurethanes, polyureas, or polyimides. There are also provided a laminated material used for a medical lubricating member and including the composition, a medical lubricating member, and a medical device.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are directed toward apparatuses, systems, and methods that include a cord that is flexible and elongated defining a length. The cord may include a core having a porous surface and a porosity-reducing element on at least a portion of the core.