MRI AND CT CONTRAST ENABLED 3D SCAFFOLDS AND BEADS FOR IMAGE GUIDED TISSUE REGENERATION

摘要

A composite implant (100) for providing simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomographic (CT) imaging contrast is disclosed. The composite implant (100) is formed of a calcium compound (120) in the form of nano or microparticles doped with a first dopant (126) configured to provide MRI contrast and a second dopant (127) configured to provide CT contrast. The calcium compound (120) is loaded onto a polymer gel matrix (110) and lyophilized to form a mass with 3-dimensionally interconnected porosity (102), configured to provide tissue integration and proliferation sites. Methods (200) of forming the composite implant (100) are also disclosed. The implant could be a scaffold (101) or bead (105) structured to enable treatment of human or animal patient for bone/cartilage injury or defect by implantation, with MRI and CT monitoring.