Hydrogel composition and methods for making the same

• US 20060074182A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: King, Richard S., Grobe, George Lawrence III
• Application Number:
  US10/955,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074182A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 524/612
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 26/008 Hydrogels or hydrocolloids
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/52 Hydrogels or hydrocolloids
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 31/145 Hydrogels or hydrocolloids
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 71/02 Polyalkylene oxides

Abstract

The invention provides a hydrogel composition comprising water and a hydrophilic polymer, wherein the hydrogel composition has (a) an ultimate tensile strength of about 10 kPa or more, (b) a compressive strength of about 70 kPa or more, or (c) an ultimate tensile strength of about 10 kPa or more and a compressive strength of about 70 kPa or more. The invention further provides methods for producing a hydrogel composition.

Claims

1. A hydrogel composition comprising water and a hydrophilic polymer, wherein the hydrogel composition has (a) an ultimate tensile strength of about 10 kPa or more, (b) a compressive strength of about 70 kPa or more, or (c) an ultimate tensile strength of about 10 kPa or more and a compressive strength of about 70 kPa or more.

2. The hydrogel composition of claims 1, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a melt-processable, hydrophilic polymer.

3. The hydrogel composition of claim 2, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is a melt-processable, radiation crosslinkable, hydrophilic polymer

4. The hydrogel composition of claim 3, wherein the hydrophilic polymer is poly(ethylene oxide).

5. The hydrogel composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel composition has an ultimate tensile strength of about 35 kPa or more.

6. The hydrogel composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel composition has a compressive strength of about 300 kPa or more.

7. The hydrogel composition of claim 1, wherein the hydrogel composition further comprises a second polymer selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol copolymers, poly(propylene glycol), poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), polyvinylpyrrolidone, cellulose ether, alginate, chitosan, hyaluronate, collagen, polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polydioxanone, polycaprolactone, beta-hydroxy acid polymers, and mixtures thereof.

8. A drug delivery device comprising the hydrogel composition of claim 1 and an active ingredient dispersed or dissolved in the hydrogel composition.

9. A wound dressing comprising the hydrogel composition of claim 1.

10. A method for producing a hydrogel composition, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a compression mold having an internal volume,

(b) providing a hydrogel precursor comprising a melt-processable, radiation crosslinkable, hydrophilic polymer,

(c) filling at least a portion of the internal volume of the compression mold with the precursor,

(d) compressing the precursor contained within the compression mold to form a molded body therefrom,

(e) irradiating at least a portion of the molded body to crosslink at least a portion of the hydrophilic polymer contained within the molded body, and

(f) hydrating the irradiated molded body to form a hydrogel therefrom.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the melt-processable, radiation crosslinkable, hydrophilic polymer has an average molecular weight of about 1,000,000 atomic mass units or more.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the melt-processable, radiation crosslinkable, hydrophilic polymer is poly(ethylene oxide).

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the precursor is compressed at a pressure of about 3,800 kPa to about 14,000 kPa during step (d).

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the precursor is heated to a temperature of about 120°

C. to about 140°

C. during step (d).

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the precursor is compressed for about 5 to about 10 minutes during step (d).

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the molded body is irradiated in step (e) by exposing the molded body to about 1.5 to about 6 Mrad of gamma radiation.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the molded body is hydrated by submerging at least a portion of the molded body in an aqueous solution having a temperature of about 50°

C. to about 90°

C. for about 120 hours to about 220 hours.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of a drug, a therapeutic agent, a humectant, and mixtures thereof.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the hydrogel precursor further comprises an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of a drug, a therapeutic agent, a humectant, and mixtures thereof.

20. A method for producing a hydrogel composition, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a dispersion comprising a crosslinking agent,

(b) providing a hydrogel precursor comprising a melt-processable, hydrophilic polymer,

(c) coating at least a portion of the hydrogel precursor with the dispersion,

(d) providing a compression mold having an internal volume,

(e) filling at least a portion of the internal volume of the compression mold with the coated precursor produced in step (c),

(f) compressing the precursor contained within the compression mold to form a molded body therefrom and crosslink at least a portion of the hydrophilic polymer contained within the molded body, and

(g) hydrating the molded body to form a hydrogel therefrom.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the crosslinking agent is a peroxide.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the crosslinking agent is benzoyl peroxide.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the melt-processable, hydrophilic polymer has an average molecular weight of about 1,000,000 atomic mass units or more.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the melt-processable, hydrophilic polymer is poly(ethylene oxide).

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the precursor is compressed at a pressure of about 3,800 kPa to about 14,000 kPa during step (f).

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the precursor is heated to a temperature of about 120°

C. to about 140°

C. during step (f).

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the precursor is compressed for about 5 to about 10 minutes during step (f).

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the molded body is hydrated by submerging at least a portion of the molded body in an aqueous solution having a temperature of about 50°

C. to about 90°

C. for about 120 hours to about 220 hours.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the aqueous solution further comprises an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of a drug, a therapeutic agent, a humectant, and mixtures thereof.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the hydrogel precursor further comprises an active ingredient selected from the group consisting of a drug, a therapeutic agent, a humectant, and mixtures thereof.