Catalytic microgelators for decoupled control of gelation rate and rigidity of biological gels
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
InventorsHyunjoon Kong, Yu-Tong Hong, Yongbeom Seo
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Abstract
Provided herein are stimulus-responsive polymer microgelator particles that can activate fibrin fiber formation from their surfaces by actively ejecting thrombin to form an interconnected fibrin network with an increased elastic modulus and desirable microstructure. The use of the microgelators enables the decoupling of gelation rate and gel rigidity.
Claims22
A composition comprising a core containing a (i) catalyst for decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and (ii) thrombin, wherein the catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is manganese oxide (MnO2) particles or nanosheets, platinum (Pt), CuO (copper II oxide) particles or nanosheets, zinc peroxide (ZnO2) particles or nanosheets, or catalase, and a polymer shell, wherein the catalyst for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and thrombin are located within the polymer shell.
A method of making catalytic microgelator particles comprising:
- (a) adding thrombin to a suspension of an H2O2 decomposition catalyst to form an internal aqueous phase mixture;
- (b) adding the internal aqueous phase mixture to an organic phase comprising a polymer in a solvent and mixing to form a first emulsion;
- (c) adding the first emulsion to an external aqueous phase solution comprising a water soluble polymer and mixing to prepare a second emulsion;
- and
- (d) collecting the resulting catalytic microgelator particles, which comprise a core containing the thrombin and the H2O2 decomposition catalyst located within a polymer shell.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.