One-step processing of hydrogels for mechanically robust and chemically desired features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8946194-B2
Application number	US-201113269366-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2011
Priority date	Oct 8, 2010
Publication date	Feb 3, 2015
Grant date	Feb 3, 2015

Abstract

The application of a highly controlled, micron-sized, branched, porous architecture to enhance the handling properties and degradation rate of hydrogels is described in the instant invention. A previously described pattern created through one-step nucleated crystallization in a hydrogel film creates tunable mechanical properties and/or chemical stability for use in tissue engineering applications. The bulk mechanical properties and the degradation rate of the material can be tuned easily by the addition or subtraction of crystalline structure or by the addition and subtraction of backfill material, making this useful for a variety of applications. Relevant mechanical properties that can be tuned through the application of this unique porosity are moduli, elasticity, tensile strength, and compression strength. The method of the present invention can be applied to biopolymers and natural materials as well as synthetic materials.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid included in a hydrogel film; and
crosslinked alginate included in the hydrogel;
wherein (a) the alginate is crosslinked with calcium, (b) the alginate is crosslinked around the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid, (c) the hyaluronic acid and the alginate are formed around a network of pores that are backfilled with a backfill material; and (d) the apparatus is included in a kit comprising a chemical compon…

Assignees

• Mayes Sarah
• Schmidt Christine E
• Univ Texas

Inventors

• Mayes Sarah
• Schmidt Christine E

Classifications

• A61K31/738 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic

• A61K47/36 Primary

  Human Necessities · mapped topic