Oxygen Releasing Cryogels

INV-18108

 

Hydrogels have been used for several biomedical applications because of their three dimensional nature, high water content, and wide range of polymers that can be used for their fabrication. Hydrogels as 3D scaffolds have recently gained momentum because they can mimic key features of the extracellular matrix, which is mainly due to their structural similarity with native ECM and their tuneable biophysical properties. Recent advances in hydrogel polymerization led to the development of cryogels: highly macroporous hydrogel scaffolds polymerized at subzero temperature. These cryogels can have a high level of biocompatibility and display biomechanical properties that recapitulate the temporal and spatial complexity of soft native tissues. In addition, cryogels can be functionalized with proteins and/or peptides to enable biological activities (e.g. cell adhesion ligands, antibodies), which can encapsulate bioactive molecules and control the spatiotemporal release (e.g. cytokines, growth factors) and can be biodegradable (e.g. proteolytic degradability, oxidation). Finally, cryogels can be delivered in a minimally invasive way via syringe injection through a conventional small-bore needle, thereby removing the need for surgical implantation and associated side effects.

 

This invention proposes a non‑invasive strategy to administer large-size macroporous nanocomposite biodegradable cryogels as a 3D platform. Any biocompatible polymers or monomers undergoing cryopolymerization are utilized. Suitable polymers and monomers include naturally derived polymers (alginate, hyaluronic acid, heparin, gelatin, carob gum, collagen) and synthetic polymers such as polyethylene glycol, PEGylated glutaminase, PEG-poly, polyhydroxy ethyl methacrylate, poly N-isopropyl acrylamide. These strategies are for the minimally invasive delivery of preformed nanocomposite biomaterials. Injectable macroscopic nanocomposite biomaterials are useful as surgical tissue adhesives, space-filling injectable materials for hard and soft tissue repair, drug delivery, and tissue engineering.

 

- Encapsulation of peroxide nano- or microparticles or other species (CaO2, MgO2, ((Na2CO3)2.1.5H2O2, H2O2) either pure or polymer-coated within cryogel scaffold to generate and release oxygen

- Interconnected macroporous structure

- Grafting of catalase enzyme within cryogels to suppress cytotoxicity associated with hydrogen peroxide release

- Oxygen-generating cryogels with shape-memory properties 

- Oxygen-releasing cryogels injectable through conventional small-bore needles

- Antimicrobial Properties

 

- Tissue Engineering

- Immunoengineering

- Immunotherapy

- Wound Healing

- Wound Dressing

- Anti-Microbial Systems

- Aerobic Biodegradation

- Toxic Pollutant Destruction

- Iron/Metals Removal

- Supplemental Dissolved Oxygen 

 

- License

- Partnering

- Research Collaboration