Zwitterionic crosslinkers, hydrogels comprising zwitterionic crosslinkers, and methods for making and using

Abstract

Certain disclosed embodiments concern a crosslinker having a Formula I (Polymerizing Group 1)s-(Amino Acid)u-(Polymerizing Group 2)y  Formula I, where polymerizing group 1 and polymerizing group 2 independently are selected from an acrylate, alkyl acrylate, acrylamide, alkyl acrylamide, acrylonitrile, alkyl acrylonitrile or a (hydroxyalkyl) acrylate; s and y are from 1 to 10, with s and y each typically being 1; the amino acid is any naturally occurring amino acid, any non-naturally occurring amino acid, and any and all combinations thereof; and u is 2 to 100. Crosslinkers may include a naturally occurring amino acid or acids that are selected to provide amino-acid defining functional groups that are zwitterionic at a pH of from 2.5 to 10. Disclosed crosslinkers can also include “internal spacers”, “external spacers,” or both. Crosslinkers according to the present invention are used to make zwitterionic hydrogels that address fouling and bacteria adhesion issues associated with previously known hydrogels. Accordingly, such products are particularly suitable for biomedical applications, such as contact lenses, drug delivery vehicles, tissue engineering platforms, tissue regeneration platforms, catheters, implants and sensors.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.