Hydrogel
AssigneeLoughborough University
InventorsHelen Willcock, Stephen Butler, Marianne Rolph
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrogel comprising a particle physically entrapped within a hydrogel matrix, a method for making the hydrogel, a particle for use in the hydrogel and the use of the hydrogel to sense a chemical species, especially anions in solution. The particle comprises an active material and a plurality of chains of a first polymeric material, each of the chains of the first polymeric material having a first end and a second end. The active material and the first ends of the chains form a core; and the second ends of the chains extend outwardly away from the core to form a shell. The hydrogel matrix comprises chains of a second polymeric material in the form of a three dimensional cross-linked network.
Claims12
A hydrogel comprising a particle physically entrapped within a hydrogel matrix, wherein:
- the particle comprises an active material and a first polymeric material, wherein:
- the first polymeric material is a cross-linked co-polymer formed from:
- (a) a C1-C12 alkyl methacrylate or a C1-C12 alkyl acrylate, and
- (b) a heteroalkyl methacrylate or a heteroalkyl acrylate,
- wherein the heteroatom or each heteroatom in the heteroalkyl groups is O,
- such that the first polymeric material has a plurality of chains,
- wherein each of the chains of the first polymeric material has a first end and a second end,
- wherein the active material and the first ends of the chains form a core;
- the second ends of the chains extend outwardly away from the core to form a shell;
- the active material is retained within the core of the particle by hydrophobic interactions and/or hydrophilic interactions;
- the active material is not covalently attached to the chains;
- and
- the active material comprises a metal complex, wherein the metal complex comprises a metal selected from copper, ruthenium, zinc, iridium, europium, terbium, gadolinium, and ytterbium;
- and
- the hydrogel matrix comprises a crosslinked polymethacrylate or a crosslinked polyacrylate,
- such that the active material is firstly encapsulated within the particle and secondly encapsulated within the hydrogel, so as to prevent leaching of the active material from the hydrogel.
A method for the preparation of a hydrogel, the method comprising providing a particle comprising an active material and a first polymeric material,
- wherein the first polymeric material is a crosslinked co-polymer formed from:
- (a) a C1-C12 alkyl methacrylate or a C1-C12 alkyl acrylate, and
- (b) a heteroalkyl methacrylate or a heteroalkyl acrylate,
- wherein the heteroatom or each heteroatom in the heteroalkyl groups is O,
- such that the first polymeric material has a plurality of chains,
- wherein each of the chains of the first polymeric material have a first end and a second end,
- wherein the active material and the first ends of the chains form a core;
- the second ends of the chains extend outwardly away from the core to form a shell;
- the active material is retained within the core of the particle by hydrophobic interactions and/or hydrophilic interactions;
- the active material is not covalently attached to the chains;
- wherein the active material comprises a metal complex, wherein the metal complex comprises a metal selected from copper, ruthenium, zinc, iridium, europium, terbium, gadolinium, and ytterbium;
- and
- cross-linking a methacrylate monomer or an acrylate monomer in the presence of the particle to produce a hydrogel matrix having the particle physically entrapped in the hydrogel matrix, so as to prevent leaching of the active material from the hydrogel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.