# US 11,028,211 B2 · Biocompatible and conductive hydrogels with tunable physical and electrical properties

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- Number: US 11,028,211 B2
- Document ID: US11028211B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/061,030
- Filed: 2016-12-29
- Published: 2018-12-20
- Granted: 2021-06-08
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-29
- Assignees: Northeastern University
- Applicants: Northeastern University
- Inventors: Nasim Annabi; Iman Noshadi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11028211B2

## CPC

- C08F 265/06: Polymerisation of acrylate or methacrylate esters on to polymers thereof
- C08H 1/00: Macromolecular products derived from proteins (food proteins A23; glue, gelatine C09H)
- C08L 5/04: Alginic acid; Derivatives thereof
- C08L 5/08: Chitin; Chondroitin sulfate; Hyaluronic acid; Derivatives thereof
- C08L 67/04: Polyesters derived from hydroxycarboxylic acids, e.g. lactones (C08L67/06 takes precedence)
- C08L 89/00: Compositions of proteins; Compositions of derivatives thereof
- H01B 1/12: organic substances {(organic macromolecular compounds or compositions C08)}
- C08F 220/36: containing oxygen in addition to the carboxy oxygen {, e.g. 2-N-morpholinoethyl (meth)acrylate or 2-isocyanatoethyl (meth)acrylate}
- C08F 251/00: Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to polysaccharides or derivatives thereof
- C08F 289/00: Macromolecular compounds obtained by polymerising monomers on to macromolecular compounds not provided for in groups C08F251/00 - C08F287/00
- C08G 2210/00: Compositions for preparing hydrogels
- C08L 51/02: grafted on to polysaccharides
- C08L 51/08: grafted on to macromolecular compounds obtained otherwise than by reactions only involving unsaturated carbon-to-carbon bonds
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
- C08H: DERIVATIVES OF NATURAL MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (polysaccharides C08B; natural rubber C08C; natural resins or their derivatives C09F; bituminous materials C10)
- C08L: COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS (compositions based on polymerisable monomers C08F, C08G; artificial filaments or fibres D01F; textile treating compositions D06)
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})
- C08G: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS

## Abstract

A biodegradable and biocompatible hydrogel of tunable conductivity is provided. The hydrogel includes a polymer conjugated to a bio-ionic liquid. The mechanical and electrical properties of the hydrogel can be varied by altering the ratio of the polymer to the bio-ionic liquid in the conjugated polymer. These properties can be varied also by changing the percent weight of the conjugated polymer in the hydrogel. A method for preparing the hydrogel is also provided.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A biocompatible conductive hydrogel comprising a biocompatible polymer conjugated to a first ionic constituent of a bio-ionic liquid;
wherein the bio-ionic liquid has a melting temperature less than 35° C.; and
wherein the biocompatible polymer and the first ionic constituent are conjugated via a diacrylate linker.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The conductive hydrogel of claim 1, wherein the first ionic constituent of a bio-ionic liquid is selected from the group consisting of choline and other organic quaternary amines.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The conductive hydrogel of claim 2, wherein the biocompatible polymer is selected from the group consisting of gelatin, elastin, elastin like polypeptides (ELP), collagen, hyaluronic acid (HA), tropoelastin, chitosan, alginate, poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), and poly(lactic acid) (PLA).

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The conductive hydrogel of claim 1, wherein the conductivity of the hydrogel is at least about 3.0×10−5 siemens/meter (S/m).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The conductive hydrogel of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the biocompatible polymer to the first ionic constituent is from about 1:4 to about 4:1 on a weight basis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The conductive hydrogel of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel is capable of supporting cell proliferation, tissue organization, and/or a function of an excitable cell, such as a nerve cell, a muscle cell, a cardiomyocyte, a fibroblast, a preosteoblast, an endothelial cell, or a mesenchymal stem cell.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The conductive hydrogel of claim 1 that is biodegradable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The conductive hydrogel of claim 1, wherein the first ionic constituent is positively charged.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A cell scaffold that enables electroactive modulation of cells bound to the scaffold, the scaffold comprising the hydrogel of claim 1.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The cell scaffold of claim 9, that further enables one or more of adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation of the cells.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The cell scaffold of claim 9, wherein the cells are selected from the group consisting of neurons, cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, preosteoblasts, endothelial cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and combinations thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The cell scaffold of claim 9, further comprising one or more types of cells bound to the scaffold.