Patent ID: 6103255
Filing Date: 2000-08-15
Classification: A61L,C08J,C12N

Abstract:
A method for the preparation of biodegradable and biocompatible porous bimodal polymer scaffolds characterized by:dissolving from about 0.5 to about 25 weight % of a biocompatible polymer in a miscible solvent mixture of a first solvent in which said polymer is soluble and a second solvent in which said polymer is insoluble, wherein the ratio of said first solvent to said second solvent is in a range within which said polymer dissolves to form a homogenous solution, and the first solvent has a melting point between about -40 and about 20.degree. C.;placing said polymer solution into a form containing water-soluble non-toxic particles that are insoluble in organic solvents and have a diameter between about 50 and about 500 microns;quenching said solution at a rate effective to result in crystallization of said first solvent before the onset of liquid-liquid demixing of said first and second solvent;sublimating said polymer to remove said first and second solvents;leaching said polymer with a solvent in which said particles are soluble and said polymer is insoluble to remove said particles from said polymer; anddrying said polymer.