Responsive microgel and methods related thereto
AssigneeSupratek Pharma Inc.
InventorsLev E. Bromberg, Marina Temchenko
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A responsive microgel is provided which responds volumetrically and reversibly to a change in one or more aqueous conditions selected from the group consisting of (temperature, pH, and ionic conditions) comprised of an ionizable network of covalently cross-linked homopolymeric ionizable monomers wherein the ionizable network is covalently attached to an amphiphilic copolymer to form a plurality of ‘dangling chains’ and wherein the ‘dangling chains’ of amphiphilic copolymer form immobile micelle-like aggregates in aqueous solution. A responsive microgel is further provided that comprises at least one therapeutic entity and delivers a substantially linear and sustained release of the therapeutic entity under physiological conditions.
Claims20
A responsive microgel comprised of an ionizable network of covalently cross-linked homopolymeric ionizable monomers wherein the ionizable network is covalently attached to an amphiphilic copolymer to form a plurality of ‘dangling chains’ and wherein the ‘dangling chains’ of amphiphilic copolymer form immobile aggregates in aqueous solution.
A responsive microgel comprised of an ionizable network of covalently cross-linked homopolymeric ionizable monomers, wherein the ionizable network is poly(acrylic acid) or poly(methacrylic acid), covalently attached to a (poly(ethylene oxide) and (poly(propylene oxide) amphiphilic copolymer, to form a plurality of ‘dangling chains’ covalently attached to the ionizable network and wherein the ‘dangling chains’ of the amphiphilic copolymer form immobile aggregates in aqueous solution.
A method of making a responsive microgel comprised of an ionizable network of covalently cross-linked homopolymeric ionizable monomers wherein the ionizable network is covalently attached to an amphiphilic copolymer to form a plurality of ‘dangling chains’ covalently attached to the ionizable network and wherein the ‘dangling chains’ of amphiphilic copolymer form immobile aggregates in aqueous solution, comprising:
- a) providing, an ionizable monomer, a divinyl cross-linker, a free radical, and a amphiphilic copolymer;
- and
- b) copolymerizing the ionizable monomer with the divinyl cross-linker to produce an ionizable network, while
- c) abstracting hydrogen from the amphiphilic copolymer with the free radical to progress a chain transfer reaction wherein the amphiphilic copolymer is covalently bonded onto the ionizable network to produce the responsive microgel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.