Superabsorbent materials and uses thereof

Abstract

Polymeric materials having an inverse temperature transition, particularly bioelastic polymers comprising monomeric units selected from the group consisting of bioelastic pentapeptides, tetrapeptides, and nonapeptides, have been found to have controllable absorbent properties that can be varied with temperature or contact with liquids. The materials are selected to be in a contracted or swollen state initially, depending on the specific use. When the material is located under different conditions (such as a different temperature resulting from being either in contact with or at distance from human skin), the material undergoes swelling or contraction to switch to the other state.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.