Synthetic biopolymer solutions with increased lower critical solution temperatures

A synthetic biopolymer solution comprising a synthetic biopolymer, water, and a critical solution temperature agent, wherein the critical solution temperature agent comprises dimethyl sulfoxide and is present in an amount of 0.5% to 10%, by weight, of the synthetic biopolymer solution;

• wherein the critical solution temperature agent increases a baseline lower critical solution temperature of the synthetic biopolymer solution to an administration lower critical solution temperature that is above physiological temperature;
• wherein the critical solution temperature agent diffuses out of the synthetic biopolymer solution upon exposure of the synthetic biopolymer solution to a physiological environment, lowering the lower critical solution temperature of the synthetic biopolymer solution to an exposure lower critical solution temperature that is at or below physiological temperature, wherein the administration lower critical solution temperature is above 37° C. and the exposure lower critical solution temperature is below 37° C.;
• and
• wherein said synthetic biopolymer is engineered to undergo gelation following exposure of the synthetic biopolymer solution to a physiological environment and the lowering of the lower critical solution temperature of the synthetic biopolymer solution to the exposure lower critical solution temperature.

A method comprising:

• administering a synthetic biopolymer solution into a physiological environment, the synthetic biopolymer solution comprising a synthetic biopolymer, water, and a critical solution temperature agent;
• wherein the synthetic biopolymer solution is an aqueous solution;
• wherein the critical solution temperature agent increases a baseline lower critical solution temperature of the synthetic biopolymer solution to an administration lower critical solution temperature that is above physiological temperature;
• wherein the critical solution temperature agent diffuses out of the synthetic biopolymer solution upon exposure of the synthetic biopolymer solution to a physiological environment, lowering the lower critical solution temperature of the synthetic biopolymer solution to an exposure lower critical solution temperature that is at or below physiological temperature;
• and
• wherein said synthetic biopolymer is engineered to undergo gelation and physical cross-linking resulting from β-sheet formation among molecules of the synthetic biopolymer following exposure of the synthetic biopolymer solution to a physiological environment and the lowering of the lower critical solution temperature of the synthetic biopolymer solution to the exposure lower critical solution temperature.