Self assembled gels for controlled delivery of encapsulated agents to cartilage
First Claim
1. A gel composition which can adhere to cartilage tissue, the gel composition comprising an amphiphilic gelator having a molecular weight of less than 2,500 Da and a cationic agent,wherein the gelator is an enzyme-cleavable, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) compound selected from the group consisting of ascorbyl alkanoate, sorbitan alkanoate, triglycerol monoalkanoate, sucrose alkanoate, glycocholic acid, retinyl acetate, and alpha-tocopherol acetate, and combinations thereof,wherein the cationic agent is selected from the group consisting of cationic polysaccharides, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP), 1,2-dioleyloxy-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride (DOTMA), polylysine, and combinations thereof,wherein the cationic agent is present in an amount greater than 5% by dry weight in a combined mass of the amphiphilic gelator having a molecular weight of less than 2,500 Da and the cationic agent or wherein the cationic agent is present in an amount of at least 0.08 mg/mL of the gel composition,wherein the gelator and the cationic agent co-self assemble or associate to form a homogeneous gel after heating to dissolution and cooling to room temperature, wherein the homogeneous gel is stable to inversion at a temperature between room and body temperature, andwherein the cationic agent electrostatically interacts or associates with one or more components of cartilage to enhance adhesion of the homogeneous gel to the cartilage, compared to a control gel composition lacking the cationic agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self-assembled gel composition with enhanced adhesion to cartilage tissue is provided. A cationic agent co-self assembles with a generally regarded as safe (GRAS), low molecular weight (<2,500 Da) gelator, forming homogeneous self-supporting gel that can encapsulate one or more therapeutic agents for controlled release. The composition adheres to connective tissue, e.g., cartilage, to a greater extent and a greater length of time than a self-assembled gel from gelators alone. The composition is used to specifically target connective tissue and deliver one or more therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic agents for controlled release to improve dosing efficacy.
30 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A gel composition which can adhere to cartilage tissue, the gel composition comprising an amphiphilic gelator having a molecular weight of less than 2,500 Da and a cationic agent,
wherein the gelator is an enzyme-cleavable, generally recognized as safe (GRAS) compound selected from the group consisting of ascorbyl alkanoate, sorbitan alkanoate, triglycerol monoalkanoate, sucrose alkanoate, glycocholic acid, retinyl acetate, and alpha-tocopherol acetate, and combinations thereof, wherein the cationic agent is selected from the group consisting of cationic polysaccharides, 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP), 1,2-dioleyloxy-3-trimethylammonium propane chloride (DOTMA), polylysine, and combinations thereof, wherein the cationic agent is present in an amount greater than 5% by dry weight in a combined mass of the amphiphilic gelator having a molecular weight of less than 2,500 Da and the cationic agent or wherein the cationic agent is present in an amount of at least 0.08 mg/mL of the gel composition, wherein the gelator and the cationic agent co-self assemble or associate to form a homogeneous gel after heating to dissolution and cooling to room temperature, wherein the homogeneous gel is stable to inversion at a temperature between room and body temperature, and wherein the cationic agent electrostatically interacts or associates with one or more components of cartilage to enhance adhesion of the homogeneous gel to the cartilage, compared to a control gel composition lacking the cationic agent.
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22. A method of preparing a self-assembled gel composition adherent to cartilage tissue, comprising:
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combining one or more low molecular weight amphiphilic gelators of less than 2.500 Da, one or more cationic agents, and optionally a therapeutic, prophylactic, or diagnostic agent, to form an organo or hydrogel, wherein the cationic agent is greater than 10% by weight in a combined mass of the amphiphilic gelator having a molecular weight of less than 2,500 Da and the cationic agent, or is at least 0.08 mg/mL of the self-assembled gel composition. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification