Gels for encapsulation of biological materials
First Claim
1. A method for encapsulation of biological material comprising the steps ofa) mixing the biological material in an aqueous macromer solution comprising macromer and photoinitiator, said biological material selected from the group consisting of tissue, cells, subcellular organelles and subcellular non-organelle components, said macromer comprising a water soluble polymer having at least two sites of unsaturation;
- b) forming small geometric shapes of the mix in (a); and
c) polymerizing the macromer by exposing the geometric shapes to light radiation.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention provides novel methods for the formation of biocompatible membranes around biological materials using photopolymerization of water soluble molecules. The membranes can be used as a covering to encapsulate biological materials or biomedical devices, as a "glue" to cause more than one biological substance to adhere together, or as carriers for biologically active species. Several methods for forming these membranes are provided. Each of these methods utilizes a polymerization system containing water-soluble macromers, species which are at once polymers and macromolecules capable of further polymerization. The macromers are polymerized using a photoinitiator (such as a dye), optionally a cocatalyst, optionally an accelerator, and radiation in the form of visible or long wavelength UV light. The reaction occurs either by suspension polymerization or by interfacial polymerization. The polymer membrane can be formed directly on the surface of the biological material, or it can be formed on material which is already encapsulated.
500 Citations
69 Claims
-
1. A method for encapsulation of biological material comprising the steps of
a) mixing the biological material in an aqueous macromer solution comprising macromer and photoinitiator, said biological material selected from the group consisting of tissue, cells, subcellular organelles and subcellular non-organelle components, said macromer comprising a water soluble polymer having at least two sites of unsaturation; -
b) forming small geometric shapes of the mix in (a); and c) polymerizing the macromer by exposing the geometric shapes to light radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 69)
-
-
35. A method for encapsulation of biological material comprising the steps of
a) coating the biological material with photoinitiator, said biological material selected from the group consisting of tissue, cells, subcellular organelles, and subcellular non-organelle components; -
b) suspending the coated material in an aqueous macromer solution, said macromer comprising a water soluble polymer having at least two sites of unsaturation; and c) irradiating the suspension with light. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68)
-
Specification