Injectable Zwitterionic Hydrogel Crosslinking Without Additives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional zwitterionic hydrogels are not injectable, limiting their use to invasive surgical procedures due to their elastic nature, and lack of in vivo applicability, and they require additional additives or stimuli for crosslinking.
Innovation Solution
Development of hydrogel compositions comprising nucleophile-functionalized and electrophile-functionalized zwitterionic copolymers that form covalent bonds upon mixing, allowing for in situ gel formation without additional additives, enabling injectable and tunable hydrogels with anti-fouling and biocompatible properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional free radical copolymerization is used to prepare zwitterionic hydrogels, then elastic bulk hydrogels are formed, but they cannot be injected and are limited to invasive surgical procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the crosslinking process into two separate steps: first, the precursor polymers are kept as individual chains in solution (no crosslinks yet), allowing injection; second, crosslinks are formed after injection through electrophile-nucleophile reaction. This segmentation allows the hydrogel to transition from injectable liquid state to functional gel state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates electrophilic and nucleophilic moieties into the precursor polymers during synthesis, but the actual crosslinking action is delayed until after injection into the target site. This preliminary preparation of reactive groups without immediate crosslinking enables injectability while maintaining the ability to form strong crosslinked networks in vivo.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional zwitterionic hydrogels are used, then anti-fouling properties are achieved, but additional additives or stimuli are required for crosslinking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the crosslinking functionality directly into the polymer structure by incorporating both electrophilic and nucleophilic moieties within the zwitterionic copolymer chains. This integration eliminates the need for separate crosslinking agents or external stimuli, as the polymers self-crosslink through their own functional groups upon mixing.
Solution Approach 2:
The precursor polymers are designed to be self-crosslinking through their inherent electrophilic and nucleophilic groups. When two different precursor polymer solutions are mixed, the crosslinking reaction occurs automatically without requiring external additives, catalysts, or stimuli, simplifying the overall system while maintaining controlled crosslinking capability.
3Ease of operation
If zwitterionic materials are used for in situ gelling, then covalent anchoring and simple application methods are enabled, but the gelation rate must be optimized for site-specific administration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic gelation system where the crosslinking rate can be controlled by adjusting the concentration of electrophilic and nucleophilic moieties, the molecular weight of the precursor polymers, and the local environmental conditions at the injection site. This dynamic control allows optimization of gelation speed for different application scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the precursor polymer formulations (such as molecular weight, functional group density, and composition ratios) to control the gelation kinetics. By adjusting these parameters, the gelation rate can be tuned to match the requirements of different site-specific administration protocols, ensuring adequate time for placement while maintaining effective crosslinking.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hydrogel compositions provide anti-fouling, lubricious, and biocompatible properties, allowing for site-specific administration and tunable mechanical and chemical properties, suitable for various biomedical applications.
Implementation Method 1
the precursor polymers are zwitterionic copolymers that are crosslinked through electrophile-nucleophile bonds
Implementation Method 2
The effective non-fouling properties of zwitterionic materials have been attributed to the combination of both cationic and anionic groups within each monomer residue, resulting in extremely effective water binding to the materials
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to an in situ-gelling hydrogel composition based on functionalized zwitterionic polymers. The resulting hydrogels exhibit highly anti-fouling, anti-adhesive, and lubricating properties to enable the fabrication of bulk hydrogels or hydrogel-based coatings of relevance to biomedical applications.