Patent attributes
The present invention provides a process by which both non-tissue engineered and tissue engineered cartilaginous-like structures can be fabricated. The process of the present invention provides a method to produce electrospun nanofiber-anchored NP gels. The present invention provides a functional design for novel engineered IVD. The present invention provides a method for fabrication of both non-tissue and tissue engineered IVDs. These cartilaginous-like structures can be used to produce replacements for degenerated natural IVD. The method of the present invention uses electrospun PCL nanofiber mesh to anchor the NP. The method of the present invention can create angle-ply AF structure around the circumference of NP to mimic the architecture of native IVD. The method of the present invention anchors the top and bottom sides of NP by using non-woven aligned or random nanofiber mesh to create scaffold for the generation of endplate (EP) tissue.
