Radiopaque Crosslinked Hydrogels With Tunable Crosslink Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method for functionalizing hydrogels with iodine to enhance radiopacity is complex and reduces crosslink density, leading to increased product cost and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A radiopaque, reactive polymer is developed comprising hydrophilic polymer regions with iodinated amino-acid residues and reactive moieties, allowing for enhanced radiopacity and tunable crosslink density through a simplified synthesis process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If iodine functionalization is performed on 8-arm PEG to provide radiopacity, then radiopacity is improved, but crosslink density is reduced and manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the functionalization process into separate stages: first attaching iodine-containing groups to PEG to create radiopaque PEG, then using this modified PEG as a crosslinking agent with amino acids. This segmentation allows independent optimization of radiopacity and crosslinking functionality, resolving the contradiction between maintaining crosslink density and achieving radiopacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The iodine-functionalized PEG serves multiple functions: it provides radiopacity through iodine atoms and simultaneously acts as a crosslinking agent through its reactive groups. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to sacrifice crosslinking capacity for radiopacity, as the same molecular structure fulfills both roles.
2Reliability
If multiple functionalization steps are used to attach TIB and SG groups, then radiopacity and crosslinking are achieved, but manufacturing cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the radiopacity function and crosslinking function into a single integrated molecular design. The iodine-functionalized PEG contains both the radiopaque iodine atoms and the reactive groups needed for crosslinking, merging what were previously separate functionalization steps into one unified approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the PEG by introducing iodine-containing functional groups that possess both radiopaque properties and reactive characteristics. This parameter change allows the PEG to exhibit dual functionality, reducing the number of processing steps required.
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 new polymer maintains crosslink density while providing intrinsic radiopacity, reducing complexity and cost, and enabling effective radiocontrast and in vivo persistence.
Implementation Method 1
The radiopaque hydrogels and crosslinkable systems for forming the same are useful, for example, in various medical applications
Implementation Method 2
a radiopaque, reactive polymer in accordance with any of claims 1-20 and a compound having a plurality of reactive nucleophilic moieties, wherein the radiopaque, reactive polymer and the compound having a plurality of reactive nucleophilic moieties crosslink with one another
Implementation Method 3
radiopaque, reactive polymers that comprise one or more hydrophilic polymer regions
Data Source
AI summary
In some aspects, the present disclosure provides a radiopaque, reactive polymer comprising one or more hydrophilic polymer regions, the one or more hydrophilic polymer regions having first and second ends and comprising at least one hydrophilic polymer segment, a plurality of iodinated amino-acid residues, wherein at least one of the plurality of iodinated amino-acid residues is linked to each of the hydrophilic polymer regions, and a plurality of reactive moieties, wherein at least one of the plurality of reactive moieties is linked to each of the plurality of iodinated amino-acid residues and wherein the reactive moieties each comprise an electrophilic group. In other aspects the present disclosure pertains to systems that comprise such a radiopaque, reactive polymer and a compound having a plurality of nucleophilic moieties that reacts with the radiopaque, reactive polymer to form a crosslinked reaction product, as well as methods of treatment using the same.