Tunable covalently crosslinked hydrogels and methods of making the same
AssigneeTrustees of Tufts College
InventorsCraig W. Hanna, Benjamin P. Partlow, David L. Kaplan
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Abstract
The present invention provides, among other things, a elastomeric biomaterial having enzymatically cross-linked amino acid phenolic side chains to generate highly elastic hydrogels. Materials are characterized by tunable mechanical properties, gelation kinetics and swelling properties of these new protein polymers. Provided materials are support encapsulation of cells. Methods of making and using of provided particles are also disclosed.
Claims44
A covalently crosslinked hydrogel, comprising:
- a protein polymer having phenolic side chains, and
- covalent crosslinks between at least some such phenolic side chains,
- so that the hydrogel is characterized by a storage modulus value that is between about 50 Pa and about 100 kPa without an indication of a plastic deformation.
A method of manufacturing a covalently crosslinked hydrogel, comprising steps of:
- providing a protein polymer having phenolic side chains, wherein the protein polymer has an average molecular weight in a range of about 10 kDa to about 400 kDa;
- solubilizing the protein polymer to form an aqueous protein polymer solution, wherein a concentration of the aqueous protein polymer solution is in a range of about 0.1 wt % to about 30 wt %;
- providing a solution of peroxidase;
- combining the aqueous protein polymer solution with the solution of peroxidase;
- inducing a gelation reaction in the combined solution when a peroxide is added to the combined solution;
- and
- covalently crosslinking at least some of the phenolic side chains of the protein polymer thereby forming a hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel is characterized by a storage modulus value that is between about 50 Pa and about 100 kPa without an indication of a plastic deformation.
A covalently crosslinked hydrogel prepared by a process comprising steps of:
- providing a solution of a protein polymer having phenolic side chains;
- providing a solution of peroxidase;
- combining the polymer solution with the solution of peroxidase;
- inducing a gelation reaction in the combined solution when a peroxide is added to the combined solution;
- and
- inducing a gelation reaction in the combined solution when a peroxide is added to the combined solution;
- and
- covalently crosslinking at least some of the phenolic side chains of the protein polymer forming a hydrogel, wherein the hydrogel is characterized by a storage modulus value that is between about 50 Pa and about 100 kPa and/or a tangent modulus between about 200 Pa to about 400 kPa without deforming.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.