BIO-FUNCTIONALIZED PROSTHETIC STRUCTURE WITH CORE-SHELL ARCHITECTURE FOR PARTIAL OR TOTAL REPAIR OF HUMAN TENDONS OR LIGAMENTS

摘要

The present invention relates to a bio-functionalized fibrous structure with a core/shell architecture for partial or total repair of human tendons or ligaments. The architecture based on a core/shell system grants to the fibrous structure a specific physical and mechanical behaviour when it is repeatedly mechanically loaded, as happens with a native tendon or ligament in constant usage in the human body. The core is based on several sub-components, namely braided structures parallelly assembled, which are enclosed by a braided shell. Additionally, a selective bio-functionalization of the two parts of the core/shell structure can be applied in order to selectively improve or avoid the in vivo cell adhesion.