Anisotropic hydrogels
AssigneeThe University of Western Ontario
InventorsWankei Wan, Leonardo E. Millon, Hadi Mohammadi
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Abstract
The invention relates to an anisotropic hydrogel and a method of producing the anisotropic hydrogel. The hydrogel exhibiting anisotropic properties is poly(vinyl alcohol) produced by preparing a solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) with a pre-selected concentration, thermally cycling the solution by freezing and thawing, stretching the hydrogel and thermally cycling the hydrogel at least one more time The anisotropic hydrogel is used for tissue replacement and reconstruction, bioagent entrapment and delivery, in preparing ultrasound or radiofrequency thermal therapy transmission pads and substitutes for ice bags, as denture base, in soft contact lens material, for wound covering bandages and phantoms for medical-related use.
Claims31
A method of producing an anisotropic hydrogel, comprising:
- a) preparing a solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) with a pre-selected concentration;
- b) thermally cycling the solution by freezing and thawing to obtain a PVA hydrogel;
- c) stretching the hydrogel;
- and
- d) thermally cycling the hydrogel at least one more time while stretching the hydrogel.
The method according to 26 wherein the final material, device or apparatus is selected from replacement soft tissue, an ultrasound or radio frequency thermal therapy transmission pad, a substitute for an ice bag, a denture base, soft contact lens material, wound covering bandage and phantoms for medical-related use.
A method of producing an anisotropic hydrogel, comprising:
- a) preparing a solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) with a pre-selected concentration while heating and mixing for 3 hours at a temperature around 90° C.;
- b) thermally cycling the solution by freezing from about 20° C. to about −20° C. at a rate of about 0.1° C./min, holding it at about −20° C. for about one hour, and then thawing it back to 20° C. at a warming rate of about 0.1°/min thereby obtaining a hydrogel;
- c) stretching the hydrogel;
- and
- d) thermally cycling the hydrogel at least one more time while stretching the hydrogel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.