BIORESORBABLE WOUND DRESSING

Abstract

The present invention is directed to novel non-woven fabrics containing growth and differentiation factor proteins. Said fabrics are specifically designed to accelerate tissue regeneration and wound healing processes of mammalian tissues. Furthermore, the invention provides wound dressings, pads or implants comprising the novel non-woven fabrics.

Claims

1. A non-woven fabric comprising: fibres of a fibre raw material comprising bioresorbable and/or biocompatible polymers, the fibres including at least one biologically active substance, which is distributed in the fibres, wherein the biologically active substance is a GDF-5-related protein.

2. The non-woven fabric of claim 1, wherein the biologically active protein is additionally distributed on the fibres.

3. The non-woven fabric of claim 1, wherein the GDF-5-related protein comprises a cystine-knot-domain with an amino acid identity of at least 60% to the 102 aa-cystine-knot-domain of human GDF-5 according to amino acids 400-501 of SEQ ID NO:2.

4. The non-woven fabric of claim 3, wherein the GDF-5-related protein comprises a cystine-knot-domain with an amino acid identity of at least 70%, 80%, 90% or 95% to the 102 aa cystine-knot-domain of human GDF-5.

5. The non-woven fabric of claim 1, wherein the fibre raw material is selected from the group consisting of natural polymers, synthetic polymers, and polymers derived from fossile raw materials, each of which may be modified or unmodified, and combinations thereof.

6. The non-woven fabric of claim 5, wherein the natural polymers are selected from the group consisting of polypeptides such as collagen, gelatin, fibrin, and casein, polysaccharides such as dextran, cellulose, starch, chitin, chitosan, alginate and hyaluronic acid, polynucleotides, and synthetic polymers such as polylactide (PLA), polyglycolide (PGA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyvinlypyrrolidon (PVP), polyethylene oxide (PEO), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyhydroxyesters, or combinations thereof.

7. The non-woven fabric of claim 1, comprising another substance dispersed into the fibres.

8. The non-woven fabric of claim 7, wherein the dispersed substance is selected from the group of inorganic substances like hydroxylapatite and/or β-tricalcium phosphate.

9. The non-woven fabric of claim 1, wherein the non-woven fabric is producable or produced by a rotation spinning method.

10. The non-woven fabric of claim 1, wherein at least some of the fibres are one of twisted with one another, interlaced with one another, and have a twisted structure, preferably wherein at least some of the fibres are interlaced with one another and form at least one fibre bundle.

11. The non-woven fabric of claim 1, wherein at least some of the fibres are nanofibres.

12. The non-woven fabric of claim 1, wherein the fabric comprises an open pore structure having an air permeability between 0.01 and 100 l/min*cm.

13. The non-woven fabric of claim 1, wherein at least 10% of the biologically active substance is eluted within 3 to 7 days under physiological conditions (PBS buffer, 10% Fetal Calf Serum, 37° C.).

14. A method of improving healing of wounds including diabetic and other ulcers, burns, skin injuries and/or skin grafts, for inducing nerve growth or preventing neuronal death, for promoting angiogenesis, for inducing proliferation of progenitor cells and/or bone marrow cells; for maintaining a state of proliferation or differentiation for treatment or preservation of tissue or cells for organ or tissue transplantation; for treating degenerative disorders concerning the joints to skeletal elements and/or for meniscus and/or spinal/intervertebral disk repair comprising application of the non-woven fabric of claim 1 to a desired location.

15. A method for providing tissue regeneration, said tissue being selected from the group consisting of skin tissue, connective tissue, bone, cartilage, connective tissue attachment, tendon, ligament, spinal/intervertebral disk, meniscus, dental tissue, dentin, periodontal ligament, hair, tissues of the sensory system, liver, pancreas, cardiac, blood vessel, renal, uterine and thyroid tissue, mucous membranes, endothelium, epithelium or neural tissue comprising application of the non-woven fabric of claim 1 to the tissue.

16. A wound dressing, wound pad or implant, comprising the non-woven fabric of claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0069] The file of this application or patent contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent with color drawings will be provided by the Patent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

[0070] FIG. 1 shows additional features of the human GDF-5 precursor protein according to SEQ ID NO:2:

aa 001-381 pre-prodomain (bold letters)
aa 001-027 signal peptide (bold and underlined)
aa 382-501 mature protein part
aa 400-501 cystine-knot-domain (underlined)

[0071] FIG. 2 shows a comparison of the 102 aa cystine-knot domains of human GDF-5 (SEQ ID NO:2), human GDF-6 (sequence 26 from U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,882) and human GDF-7 (sequence 2 from U.S. Pat. No. 5,658,882). Amino acid residues which are identical in all three molecules are highlighted by borders.

[0072] FIG. 3 shows a table with the sequence identities of cystine-knot domains of several known BMPs and GDFs to the cystine-knot-domain of human GDF-5.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a microscope image of a gamma sterilized gelatin/hyaluronic acid non-woven with rhGDF-5 (scale bar 200 μm).

[0074] FIG. 5: shows a microscope image of a gamma sterilized gelatin/hydroxylapatie non-woven (scale bar 200 μm).

[0075] FIG. 6 shows the biological activity of GDF-5 released from fast release non-woven materials gelatin, gelatin/hyaluronic acid and gelatin/collagen I. Biological activity of GDF-5 was measured using an alkaline phosphatase activity assay on mouse stromal MCHT1/26 cells as described in example 1. MCHT1/26 cells were stimulated with 4.8-1200 ng/ml of GDF-5 dissolved in 10 mM HCl (standard curve).

[0076] The GDF-5 release from the non-woven materials were analysed by placing the non-wovens directly on MCHT1/26 cells and in parallel with conditioned medium, produced by GDF-5 release in cell culture medium for 3 days at 37° C. ALP activity was measured by the conversion of p-nitrophenolphosphate to p-nitrophenolate at 405 nM. The data are average values of three independent measurements.

[0077] The attached table shows the calculated concentrations of released GDF-5 (ng/ml) from the corresponding non-wovens and the GDF-5 recovery given in %. For the calculation it was assumed, that 2 μg GDF-5 coated on non-wovens were completely released in 160 μl cell culture medium, this corresponds to a GDF-5 concentration of 12500 ng/ml (100% release value for the assay with non-wovens directly tested on the cells). In case of the quantification of the conditioned medium on the cells, 40 μl release cell culture medium corresponds to a GDF-5 concentration of 2500 ng/ml (100% release value for the assay with conditioned cell culture medium tested on the cells).

[0078] FIG. 7 shows the biological activity of GDF-5 released from slow release non-woven materials polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide and gelatin/hydroxylapatite. Biological activity of GDF-5 was measured using an alkaline phosphatase activity assay on mouse stromal MCHT1/26 cells as described in example 1. MCHT1/26 cells were stimulated with 4.8-1200 ng/ml of GDF-5 dissolved in 10 mM HCl (standard curve).

[0079] The GDF-5 release from the non-woven materials were analysed by placing the non-wovens directly on MCHT1/26 cells and in parallel with conditioned medium, produced by GDF-5 release in cell culture medium for 3 days at 37° C. ALP activity was measured by the conversion of p-nitrophenolphosphate to p-nitrophenolate at 405 nM. The data are average values of three independent measurements.

[0080] The attached table shows the calculated concentrations of released GDF-5 (ng/ml) from the corresponding non-wovens and the GDF-5 recovery given in %. For the calculation it was assumed, that 2 μg GDF-5 were completely released from the non-woven in 160 μl cell culture medium, this corresponds to a GDF-5 concentration of 12500 ng/ml (100% release value for the assay with non-wovens directly tested on the cells). In case of the quantification of the conditioned medium on the cells, 40 μl release cell culture medium corresponds to a GDF-5 concentration of 2500 ng/ml (100% release value for the assay with conditioned cell culture medium tested on the cells).

[0081] FIG. 8 shows the biological activity and recovery of GDF-5 released from non-woven materials before and after sterilization by gamma irradiation. Biological activity was measured using an alkaline phosphatase activity assay on mouse stromal MCHT1/26 cells. The recovery of released GDF-5 from non-wovens was quantified by GDF-5 specific sandwich ELISA. The GDF-5 release from the non-woven materials were analysed by placing non-wovens in cell culture medium for 24 hours at 37° C. An equal amount of GDF-5 without non-woven material was incubated in cell culture medium under identical conditions and served as positive control. ALP activity was measured by the conversion of p-nitrophenolphosphate to p-nitrophenolate at 405 nm. The data are average values of at least three independent measurements. For the ELISA, recovery of GDF-5 was quantified by the amount of bound strepatavidin-horseradish-peroxidase to the biotinylated secondary antibody. Detection was carried out by enzymatic conversion of the substrate tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride, followed by photometry at 450 nm.

[0082] The table shows the calculated biological activity, measured by ALP activity assay, given in % (the OD value of the positive control was set to 100%). For the ELISA data, the table shows the GDF-5 recovery from the non-woven material given in %. For the calculation it was assumed that, that 200 ng GDF-5 incorporated into the non-woven material were completely released in 200 μl cell culture medium, this corresponds to a GDF-5 concentration of 1000 ng/ml (100% value).

[0083] FIG. 9 shows the results of a stability study of sterilized GDF-5 incorporated into non-wovens stored at room temperature, 4° C., and −80° C. for a time period of 1 day up to 3 month. Day 0 is starting point of the stability study. The stability of GDF-5 was investigated by measuring the recovery of GDF-5 released from sterilized non-wovens by GDF-5 specific sandwich ELISA. The GDF-5 release from the non-woven materials was analysed by placing non-wovens in cell culture medium for 24 hours at 37° C. A defined amount of release medium was transferred to the ELSIA system, where the recovery of GDF-5 was quantified by the amount of bound strepatavidin-horseradish-peroxidase to the biotinylated secondary antibody. Detection was carried out by enzymatic conversion of the substrate tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride, followed by photometry at 450 nm. The table shows the GDF-5 recovery from non-woven material given in %, calculated from released GDF-5.

EXAMPLES

Example 1: Non-Wovens Showing Fast GDF-5 Release Profile

[0084] Non-wovens showing fast GDF-5 release consisting of pure gelatin, gelatin and hyaluronic acid, or gelatin and collagen I, were produced as follows:

[0085] A 22.5% (w/w) aqueous solution of type A PIGSKIN gelatin (Gelita AG, Eberbach, Germany) was prepared by mixing gelatin and water. This mixture was kept for one hour at room temperature in order to swell. Thereafter, the gelatin solution was treated for one hour with ultrasonic at 60° C. and heated to 80° C. The solution remained at 80° C. for 2 hours and again was cooled to 60° C. Dependent on the desired non-woven composition, 12.5% (weight per weight gelatin) hyaluronic acid (cristalhyal, Soliance, France) or collagen I gel (DM04, Devro Medical, Australia) were mixed into the solution and stirred with a spatula for one minute in order to dissolve or disperse. The gelatin based solution was fed by a syringe pump into the spinning device described in DE 10 2005 048 939 A.

In the case of incorporation of the growth factor into the filaments, GDF-5 solution (1200 μg/ml 5 mM sodium acetate buffer) was mixed into the solution directly before entering the container of the spinning device. The container was heated to 50° C. and rotated at 3500 rpm. Due to centripetal force the liquid material was ejected as liquid jets from the orifices and fibres were formed. These fibres were stretched by a suction mechanism underneath the container of the spinning device and collected as non-woven. The non-wovens were collected and punched to the final sample size (3×3 mm). Non-woven samples showing fast GDF-5 releases were obtained, which afterwards were gamma sterilized (irradiation dose 25 kGy).

[0086] The GDF-5 release from the non-woven samples was measured using a GDF-5 sensitive alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity assay on mouse stromal MCHT1/26 cells (Hoechst Japan Ltd., Kawagoe, Japan). The release properties and cell compatibility of the non-woven materials were tested a) directly on the cells and b) with conditioned medium. For the production of conditioned medium, non-woven samples were incubated for three days at 37° C., 5% CO.sub.2 in 200 μl cell culture medium (alpha-MEM supplemented by 2 mM L-glutamine and 10% fetal calf serum) without cells. After the incubation period the conditioned medium and the non-woven samples were analyzed on MCHT1/26 cells.

[0087] MCHT1/26 cells were plated at 4.5×10.sup.3 cells per well in 96-multiwell plates in cell culture medium (alpha-MEM, (Sigma, Taufkirchen, Germany) supplemented by 2 mM L-glutamine, (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany) and 10% fetal calf serum (Invitrogen, Karlsruhe, Germany). After 24 h, cells were incubated with 40 μl conditioned release medium supplemented with 120 μl fresh cell culture medium. In parallel non-woven samples were placed directly on cells with 160 μl cell culture medium. After 72 h, cells were washed with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and extracted with alkaline phosphate buffer 1, containing 1% Nonidet P40, 0.1 M glycine pH 9.6 (Sigma, Taufkirchen, Germany), 1 mM MgCl.sub.2 and 1 mM ZnCl.sub.2 (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). To achieve thorough cell lysis, cells were incubated 15-18 h at 37° C. Alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity was assayed with 10 mM p-nitrophenylphosphate (Pierce, Bonn, Germany) as a substrate in 0.1 M glycine pH 9.6, 1 mM MgCl.sub.2 and 1 mM ZnCl.sub.2. After 30 min incubation at 37° C., the absorbance was measured with an automatic microplate reader (Tecan Spectra Rainbow, TECAN, Crailsheim, Germany) at 405 nM under consideration of blank value subtraction. The results are shown in FIG. 6.

[0088] All non-woven samples were well tolerated by the marker cell line MCHT1/26. Non-wovens with GDF-5 showed fast release with gelatin material, of 22% when non-woven samples were directly placed on cells and 10% for conditioned medium. For the non-woven combination gelatin/hyaluronic acid GDF-5 release directly on the cells was 36%, with conditioned medium the release was 32%. For the non-woven combination gelatin/collagen I, GDF-5 release directly on the cells was 54%, with conditioned medium the release was 55%.

[0089] Such samples showing fast GDF-5 release may be used for wound healing, neuroprotection and angiogenesis, as high doses of the active growth factor are released into the wound environment during the first three days.

Example 2: Non-Wovens Showing Slow GDF-5 Release Profile

[0090] Non-wovens showing a slow GDF-5 release consisting of polyvinylpyrrolidone (A.), polyethylene oxide (B.) or gelatin and hydroxylapatite (C.) were produced as follows.

[0091] Firstly, the liquid precursor solutions were prepared. [0092] A.) 40 g polyvinylpyrrolidone (Kollidon F 90, BASF AG., Germany) were filled into a beaker and a magnetic stirrer and 160 g water added. Thereafter, the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 24 h and heated to 80° C. Finally the solution was treated for one hour with ultrasonic before it was cooled back to 60° C. [0093] B.) 15 g polyethylene oxide (molecular weight 1000 kDa, BASF AG., Germany) was dissolved in 185 g water at room temperature and heated to 60° C. [0094] C.) A 22.5% (w/w) aqueous solution of type A PIGSKIN gelatin was prepared by mixing gelatin and water. This mixture is kept for one hour at room temperature in order to swell. Thereafter, the gelatin solution was treated for one hour with ultrasonic at 60° C. 2.5% hydroxylapatite nanoparticles (product number 677418, Sigma-Aldrich Chemie GmbH, Germany) (weight per weight gelatin) were mixed into the solution using a spatula. Afterwards, the mixture was heated to 80° C. and remained for 2 hours at this temperature before it was again cooled to 60° C.

[0095] The solutions or dispersions were fed by a syringe pump into the spinning device described in DE 10 2005 048 939 A. In the case of incorporation of the growth factor into the filaments, GDF-5 solution (1200 μg/ml 5 mM sodium acetate buffer) was mixed into the solution directly before entering the container of the spinning device. The container was heated to 60° C. and rotated at 4500 rpm. Due to centripetal force the liquid material was ejected as liquid jets from the orifices and fibres are formed. These fibres were stretched by a suction mechanism underneath the container of the spinning device and collected as non-woven. The non-wovens were collected and punched to the size of 3×3 mm. Non-woven samples showing slow GDF-5 releases were obtained, which afterwards were gamma sterilized (irradiation dose 25 kGy).

[0096] The measuring of non-woven samples with GDF-5 was performed as described in example 1. The GDF-5 release from the non-woven samples was measured using an alkaline phosphatase activity assay on mouse stromal MCHT1/26 cells. The release properties and cell compatibility of the non-woven prototypes were tested a) directly on the cells and b) with conditioned medium. The results for the slow release non-woven samples polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene oxide and gelatin/hydroxylapatite are shown in FIG. 7.

[0097] Non-wovens with GDF-5 showed slow release with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) of 1% when non-woven samples were directly placed on cells and 12% for conditioned medium. For the non-woven material polyethylene oxide (PEO) GDF-5 release directly on the cells was 1%, with conditioned medium the release was 6%. For the non-woven combination gelatin/hydroxylapatite, GDF-5 release directly on the cells was 5%, with conditioned medium the release was 19%.

[0098] Such samples showing slow GDF-5 release may be used for bone or cartilage regeneration as only small amounts of the active growth factor are released during the first three days.

Example 3: Non-Woven Technology Protects Incorporated GDF-5 from Destabilizing Sterilization Conditions

[0099] The influence of sterilization on the stability of incorporated GDF-5 into non-woven material was investigated. Therefore, the recovery and the biological activity of GDF-5 incorporated in non-wovens were tested before and after the sterilization process. For this purpose, non-wovens with incorporated GDF-5 were produced as described in example 1. In brief, a GDF-5 solution of 200 pg/ml 5 mM sodium acetate buffer was mixed into a gelatine/collagen I mixture, giving non-wovens of 200 ng GDF-5/3×3 mm. The non-wovens were punched to a sample size of 3×3 mm and were gamma sterilized (irradiation dose 25 kGy).

[0100] The recovery of released GDF-5 from the non-wovens was quantified by ELISA and the biological activity of GDF-5 was by measured by the induction of alkaline phosphatase (ALP activity asay).

[0101] The measurement of the GDF-5 bioactivity of the non-sterilized and sterilized non-wovens, using the ALP assay is described in example 1. The amount of GDF-5 released from non-wovens before and after sterilization was performed as follows: Non-wovens with incorporated GDF-5 were incubated for 24 hours at 37° C., 5% CO.sub.2 in 200 μl cell culture medium (alpha-MEM supplemented by 2 mM L-glutamine and 10% fetal calf serum). As a positive control, 200 ng GDF-5 without non-woven material were incubated under identical conditions. After the incubation period the release medium and the positive control were diluted 1:2500 and 1:4000 and were transferred to a GDF-5 specific sandwich ELISA (Biopharm, Heidelberg, Germany) The ELISA is based on two monoclonal antibodies to GDF-5. The enzyme streptavidin-horseradish-peroxidase was bound to the biotinylated secondary antibody. Detection was carried out by enzymatic conversion of the substrate tetramethylbenzidine dihydrochloride, which was determined by photometry at 450 nm. The release samples with GDF-5 and the positive control were quantified by using a test series of GDF-5 standards ranging from 50 to 500 pg/mL. The results are shown in FIG. 8.

[0102] After gamma sterilization (irradiation dose 25 kGy) of non-wovens with incorporated GDF-5 more than 95% of GDF-5 was biological active, demonstrated by ALP activity assay on MCHT1/26 cells. Furthermore, the recovery of incorporated GDF-5 from non-woven material after sterilization was 95%, quantified by GDF-5 specific ELISA method.

Example 4: GDF-5 Incorporated in Non-Wovens Shows Long Term Stability at Low and High Storage Temperatures

[0103] The influence of storage duration and storage temperature on the stability of incorporated GDF-5 into non-woven material was investigated. Non-wovens with incorporated GDF-5 were stored at room temperature, 4° C., and −80° C. for a time period up to 3 months.

[0104] In order to test the stability of GDF-5 incorporated in non-wovens, non-woven samples were prepared on day 0 and were stored at room temperature, 4° C., and −80° C. After a storage period of 1 day, 3 days, 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 3 months the samples of the respective temperature conditions were analysed for stability by ELISA method.

[0105] The non-wovens with incorporated GDF-5 were produced as described in example 1. In brief, a GDF-5 solution of 200 pg/ml 5 mM sodium acetate buffer was mixed into a gelatin/collagen I mixture, giving non-wovens of 200 ng GDF-5/3×3 mm. The non-wovens were punched to a sample size of 3×3 mm and were gamma sterilized (irradiation dose 25 kGy). The stability of GDF-5 was analysed by measuring the recovery of released active GDF-5 from the non-wovens into cell culture medium. Non-wovens with incorporated GDF-5 were incubated for 24 hours at 37° C., 5% CO.sub.2 in 200 μl cell culture medium (alpha-MEM supplemented by 2 mM L-glutamine and 10% fetal calf serum). After the incubation period the release medium was diluted 1:2500 and 1:4000 and was transferred to a GDF-5 specific sandwich ELISA (Biopharm, Heidelberg, Germany). The release samples with GDF-5 were quantified by using a test series of GDF-5 standards ranging from 50 to 500 pg/ml. The results for the ELISA are shown in FIG. 9.

[0106] The recovery of GDF-5 from sterilized non-wovens on day 0 (starting point of the stability study) was greater 90%. The stability of GDF-5 incorporated in non-wovens was almost identical for the investigated temperature conditions (room temperature, 4° C. and −80° C.). After a storage period of 3 months at room temperature no loss of stability could be observed.