Polymer hydrogels for in vivo applications and methods for using and preparing same

A method for treating a bone condition, comprising:

• combining in an aqueous solution
• i) a polyacrylate azide of Formula IV
• where
• R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a C1 to C6 hydrocarbon;
• R3 is hydrogen or methyl;
• X is —O— or NR5—;
• Z is —OR6 or NR5R6;
• m is greater than or equal to 1, x is an integer greater than zero and z is zero or an integer greater than zero;
• R5 is hydrogen or C1 to C6 hydrocarbon;
• and
• R6 is hydrogen, C1 to C6 hydrocarbon or a polyethylene glycol chain of two to ten ethylene glycol units;
• and
• ii) a crosslinker comprising two linked cyclooctynes and
• administering the combined solution with a therapeutic agent to a treatment site in a subject for the bone condition, whereby a hydrogel with the therapeutic agent is formed in situ in the treatment site.

A method of forming a polymer hydrogel, comprising

• i) preparing an aqueous solution of the therapeutic agent;
• ii) preparing an aqueous solution of a polyacrylate azide of Formula IV
• where
• R1 and R2 are each independently hydrogen or a C1 to C6 hydrocarbon;
• R3 is hydrogen or methyl;
• X is —O— or NR5—;
• Z is —OR6 or NR5R6;
• m is greater than or equal to 1, x is an integer greater than zero and z is zero or an integer greater than zero;
• R5 is hydrogen or C1 to C6 hydrocarbon;
• and
• R6 is hydrogen, C1 to C6 hydrocarbon or a polyethylene glycol chain of two to ten ethylene glycol units;
• iii) preparing an aqueous solution of a crosslinker comprising two linked cyclooctynes and
• iv) combining the three aqueous solutions.