US Patent 7531503 - Artificial tissue incorporating bioreleasing nanoparticles

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7531503.html

Tissue engineering involves the artificial replacement of biostructures such as bone and cartilage. This patent from Wake Forest University Health Sciences teaches a material applicable to tissue engineering incorporating nanoparticles to assist in the delivery of therapeutic compounds provided to counteract adverse immune responses. Claim 1 reads:

1. An electrospun matrix having a three-dimensional ultrastructure of interconnected fibers and pores to permit cell attachment and further comprising at least one nanoparticle incorporated within the matrix, wherein the nanoparticle is coupled to a therapeutic agent and the therapeutic agent is releasable from the nanoparticle by application of radiation.