US 12,064,533 B2
Synthetic hydrogel composite
Benjamin J. Wiley, Durham, NC (US); Huayu Tong, Durham, NC (US); and Jiacheng Zhao, Durham, NC (US)
Assigned to Duke University, Durham, NC (US)
Filed by Duke University, Durham, NC (US)
Filed on May 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/324,951.
Application 18/324,951 is a division of application No. 17/845,881, filed on Jun. 21, 2022, granted, now 11,701,452.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/338,439, filed on May 4, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0381376 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. A61L 27/48 (2006.01); A61F 2/30 (2006.01); A61L 27/52 (2006.01)
CPC A61L 27/48 (2013.01) [A61F 2/30756 (2013.01); A61F 2/3094 (2013.01); A61L 27/52 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30024 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30471 (2013.01); A61F 2002/30761 (2013.01); A61L 2400/12 (2013.01); A61L 2430/06 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An articular cartilage implant, comprising:
an implant body having a top bearing surface;
an anchoring base; and
a cellulose-reinforced hydrogel comprising:
a cross-linked cellulose nanofiber network secured over the top bearing surface of the implant body; and
an interstitial hydrogel portion infiltrated within interstitial regions of the cross-linked cellulose nanofiber network,
wherein the interstitial hydrogel portion is annealed such that a crystalline content of the annealed interstitial hydrogel portion has a crystallinity of 20% or greater,
wherein the cellulose-reinforced hydrogel comprises at least 20% by weight of water,
wherein the cellulose-reinforced hydrogel has a tensile strength exceeding 40 MPa,
wherein the cross-linked cellulose nanofiber network comprises bacterial cellulose (BC).