Shape-retentive hydrogel particle aggregates and their uses
AssigneeULURU Inc.
InventorsJohn V. St. John, Daniel G. Moro, Bill C. Ponder
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention is related to hydrogel particles and aggregates formed therefrom having characteristics including, without limitation, shape-retentiveness, elasticity, controllable pore sizes and controllable degradation rates that render them useful for a wide variety of applications including, without limitation, the controlled release of biologically active substances, in vivo medical devices, tissue growth scaffolding and tissue replacement.
Claims23
A shape-retentive aggregate, comprising:
- a plurality of hydrogel particles, each particle comprising:
- a plurality of polymeric strands obtained by polymerization of one or more monomers at least one of which comprises one or more hydroxyl and/or one or more ether groups;
- from 10 to 90 weight percent of one or more absorbed liquid(s), at least one of which comprises one or more hydroxyl groups, wherein the liquid(s) is/are absorbed into the hydrogel particles;
- and,
- from 10 to 90 weight percent of one or more non-absorbed liquids, which may be the same as, or different from, the absorbed liquid(s) and at least one of which comprises one or more hydroxy groups, the non-absorbed liquid occupying voids between the hydrogel particles of the aggregate.
2-70. (canceled)
A shape-retentive hydrogel aggregate composition formed by the method comprising:
- (a) adding a monomer or two or more different monomers selected from the group consisting of a 2-alkenoic acid, a hydroxy(2C-4C)alkyl 2-alkenoate, a hydroxy(2C-4C)alkoxy(2C-4C)alkyl 2-alkenoate, a (1C-4C)alkoxy(2C-4C)alkoxy(2C-4C)alkyl 2-alkenoate and a vicinyl epoxy(1C-4C)alkyl 2-alkenoate to one or more liquid(s) having one or more hydroxyl groups;
- and
- (b) adding from 0.1 to 15 mole percent of a cross-linking agent and from 0.01 to 10 mol percent of a surfactant to the liquid(s);
- and
- (c) polymerizing the monomers to form a suspension in the liquid(s) of a plurality of hydrogel particles comprising a plurality of polymeric strands, wherein the hydrogel particles have an average diameter of less than 1,000 nanometers, and from 10 to 90% of absorbed liquids(s);
- and
- (d) removing non-absorbed liquids until the plurality of hydrogel particles coalesce into a shape-retentive aggregate held together by non-covalent inter-particle and particle-liquid physical forces, thereby forming a shape-retentive hydrogel aggregate composition.
A shape-retentive hydrogel aggregate composition formed by the method comprising:
- (a) adding a monomer or two or more different monomers selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate, diethyleneglycol monoacrylate, diethyleneglycol monomethacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methyacrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, dipropylene glycol monoacrylate, dipropylene glycol monomethacrylate, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl methacrylate, glycidyl acrylate and glycidyl methacrylate, to one or more liquid(s), having one or more hydroxyl groups;
- (b) adding from 0.1 to 15 mole percent of a cross-linking agent and from 0.01 to 10 mol percent of a surfactant to the liquid(s);
- (c) polymerizing the monomers to form a suspension in the liquid(s) of a plurality of hydrogel particles comprising a plurality of polymeric strands, wherein the plurality of hydrogel particles have an average diameter of less than 1,000 nanometers, and from 10 to 90% of absorbed liquids(s);
- and
- (d) removing non-absorbed liquid(s) until the hydrogel particles coalesce into a shape-retentive aggregate held together by non-covalent inter-particle and particle-liquid physical forces, thereby forming a shape-retentive hydrogel aggregate composition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.