Partially degradable stents formed of electrospun polymeric fibers have been developed. The lumen of the stent enlarges as the degradable polymeric inner luminal wall of the stents degrades over. When inserted in the eye of a subject connecting anterior chamber to the subconjunctival space, the stents allows for controlled outflow of aqueous humor, providing controlled of the rate of change in the intraocular pressure (TOP) and sustained decrease of TOP to treat eye disorders such as glaucoma. Methods of making these fibers via electrospinning and heat processing, as well as their uses in medical applications, are also provided.

A three-dimensional porous polyurethane scaffold for repairing central nerve injuries and a preparation method are disclosed. The scaffold includes three-dimensional porous polyurethane, wherein the compression modulus of the three-dimensional porous polyurethane is 0.001-10.0 MPa and the pore diameter is 10-200 m. The three-dimensional porous polyurethane scaffold has an efficient central nerve repair function without additionally inoculating functional cells or factors and can partially restore the original nerve function of tested animals, the preparation method is simple and it has a great prospect of application.

A nerve repair conduit configured to be secured on first and second portions of a selected nerve. The nerve repair conduit includes a polymeric body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior lumen. In addition, the nerve conduit includes at least one drug reservoir to hold agent(s) that may facilitate nerve regeneration. The drugs diffuse from the drug reservoir(s) into the nerve repair conduit through an outlet (such as a hole or a semipermeable membrane) in proximity to the first and second portions of a selected nerve. The nerve repair conduit may be configured to deliver the agent(s) at a rate having substantially zero-order kinetics and/or at a constant rate over a selected period of time.

A nerve repair conduit configured to be secured on first and second portions of a selected nerve. The nerve repair conduit includes a polymeric body having a proximal end, a distal end, an exterior surface and an interior surface defining an interior lumen. In addition, the nerve conduit includes at least one drug reservoir to hold agent(s) that may, for example, facilitate nerve regeneration. The drugs diffuse from the drug reservoir(s) into the nerve repair conduit through an outlet (e.g., a semipermeable membrane) in proximity to the first and second portions of a selected nerve. The nerve repair conduit may be configured to deliver the agent(s) at a rate having substantially zero-order kinetics and/or at a constant rate over a selected period of time (e.g., at least 1 week).

A biodegradable magnesium alloy nerve conduit for nerve defect repair has multiple lines of through holes in the tube wall thereof, the through holes in each line are axially arranged along a circular tube at equal distances, and the through holes in adjacent lines are arranged in a staggered way. A method for preparing the nerve conduit includes steps of: (step 1) processing a 45-degree conical surface at one end of a magnesium alloy tube blank, carrying out extrusion, and obtaining a magnesium alloy intermediate tube material; (step 2) obtaining a capillary tube after carrying out multi-pass rolling and drawing on the magnesium alloy intermediate tube material; (step 3) carrying out stress relief annealing on the capillary tube, laser cutting and punching, and obtaining a porous conduit; and (step 4) carrying out acid pickling on the porous conduit, and then carrying out electrochemical polishing treatment, and obtaining the nerve conduit.

This invention relates to biodegradable implants comprising a hydrogel carrier matrix having dispersed therein a multitude of particles, wherein each of the multitude of particles and/or the hydrogel carrier matrix includes an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for the treatment of transected peripheral nerve injuries. Each of the multitude of particles and/or the hydrogel carrier matrix includes pristine polymer particles, preferably the pristine polymer particles may be polymethylmethacrylate polymers and derivatives thereof, preferably poly(methacrylic-co-methyl methacrylate) (PMMA). The spheroidal particles may each be formed from an outer shell including a chitosan (CHT) poly(methacrylic-co-methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) polyelectrolyte complex (CHT-PMMA-PEC) and an inner core including crosslinked chitosan having dispersed therein PMMA nanoparticles.

A system and methods for producing a structure including a plurality of fibers is provided. The system includes a polymer collector having a predefined pattern, wherein the collector is charged at a first polarity, and a spinneret configured to dispense a polymer, wherein the spinneret is charged at a second polarity substantially opposite the first polarity such that polymer dispensed from the spinneret forms a plurality of fibers on the predefined pattern of the fiber collector.

A material comprising an ionically conducting polymer (ICP) positioned between and in direct contact with two electronically conducting polymers (ECP).

In general, the present invention is related to biopolymer and biocomposite materials and structures, and methods of making and using the same. In some embodiments, the present invention is directed to oriented collagen based biocomposite materials and structures, and methods of making.

The present invention relates to a peripheral nerve-specific hydrogel material, which is deliverable in a minimally invasive fashion, sustains the growth of neurons, and speeds recovery following surgical reconstruction.