These copolymer hydrogels are based on N-isopropylacrylamide, hydroxyethyl methacrylate, methacrylate-polylactide macromers and methacrylic acid, with optional incorporation of N-alkyl acrylamides, acrylic acid, HEMA-PTMC macromers or N-vinylpyrrolidone. By adjusting macromer ratios (e.g., MAPLA lactide:methacrylate from 2–8:1; HEMA-PTMC trimethylene carbonate:HEMA from 1–10:1), the lower critical solution temperature is set just below 37 °C so the material remains liquid at room temperature and gels upon injection. Ester linkages drive controlled biodegradation under physiological conditions, releasing non-toxic soluble fragments. Reactive monomers such as MANHS or NAS furnish amine-reactive sites for collagen or protein conjugation, and therapeutic agents (e.g., bFGF, IGF-1) can be entrapped for sustained release. This injectable matrix supports cell growth, serves as a myocardial filler when injected 1–21 days post-infarction, and functions as a wound adhesive, filler or rheology modifier, with the unique ability to be removed by local cooling.
Description
What sets this technology apart is its precise tunability of thermal response, degradation rate and biochemical functionality. The adjustable copolymer composition enables customization of gel stiffness, porosity and dissolution time to match specific clinical needs. Amine-reactive sites permit covalent linkage of extracellular matrix proteins, enhancing cell attachment and localized growth factor presentation. Unlike conventional hydrogels, this system combines reversible gelation, targeted injectability and on-demand removal, while yielding non-toxic byproducts. Its versatility across cardiac repair, wound healing and cosmetic applications underlines a differentiated platform offering controlled mechanical support, localized drug delivery and facile removal through simple cooling.
Applications
- Myocardial tissue repair injection
- Wound adhesive and filler
- Controlled drug release matrix
- Injectable cell growth scaffold
- Cosmetic dermal filler
Advantages
- Minimally invasive delivery: injectable liquid that gels in situ at body temperature
- Tunable gelation: adjustable LCST via copolymer composition for precise control
- Biodegradability: ester linkages degrade into non-toxic, soluble byproducts
- Protein conjugation: amine-reactive sites enable collagen or growth factor binding
- Controlled release: sustained delivery of drugs and growth factors (e.g., bFGF, IGF-1)
- Mechanical support: fills and reinforces damaged myocardial tissue post-infarction
- Multifunctionality: serves as cell growth scaffold, wound adhesive/filler, or rheology modifier
- Reversible removal: gel can be liquefied and cleared by local cooling
IP Status
https://patents.google.com/patent/US11998657B2
