Systems and methods of forming hydrogel structures and structures formed therefrom
AssigneeUniversity of Maryland, College Park
InventorsSrinivasa R. Raghavan, Sohyun Ahn, Ankit Gargava
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Abstract
A method of system of forming a biopolymer hydrogel structure includes a mold loaded with a cation. At least a portion of the surface of the mold is exposed to a solution comprising a gellable polymer such as alginate. An electric potential is applied to the mold so that the cation therein and the gellable polymer migrate via electrophoresis toward the surface portion, thereby interacting and forming a hydrogel structure adjacent to the surface portion.
Claims20
A method of forming a biopolymer hydrogel structure, comprising:
- providing a mold loaded with a cation, wherein said mold comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of a thermo-responsive polymer, agarose, gelatin, cellulose, hyaluronan, chitosan, and acrylamide;
- exposing a surface portion of said mold to a solution comprising a gellable polymer;
- applying an electric potential to said mold so that said cation and said gellable polymer migrate via electrophoresis toward said surface portion, thereby interacting and forming said biopolymer hydrogel structure adjacent to said surface portion;
- and
- wherein said mold is positioned between an anode and a cathode.
A system for forming a polymer hydrogel structure, comprising:
- a reservoir coupled to a cathode;
- an anode disposed within said reservoir and spaced from said cathode;
- a mold disposed within said reservoir and coupled to said anode, said mold loaded with a cation, and said mold comprising a thermo-responsive polymer;
- a solution comprising a gellable polymer and disposed within said reservoir, said solution in contact with a surface portion of said mold,
- a power supply configured to apply an electric potential to said anode so that said cation and said gellable polymer migrate via electrophoresis toward said surface portion, thereby interacting and forming said polymer hydrogel structure adjacent said surface portion;
- and
- wherein said mold is positioned between said anode and said cathode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.