Hydrogels and methods of making and using same
First Claim
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1. A porous poly(vinyl alcohol) freeze-thaw hydrogel having pores, wherein the pores have an average diameter of from about 0.02 mm to about 2.0 mm.
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Abstract
The invention is directed to methods of making novel porous and solid polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels. These hydrogels are particularly suited for use in the replacement and augmentation of soft tissue or non-load bearing bone of the face, head and cranium.
275 Citations
31 Claims
- 1. A porous poly(vinyl alcohol) freeze-thaw hydrogel having pores, wherein the pores have an average diameter of from about 0.02 mm to about 2.0 mm.
- 8. A poly(vinyl alcohol) freeze-thaw hydrogel having pores wherein the hydrogel is substantially free of low molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) molecules and the pores have an average diameter of from about 0.02 mm to about 2.0 mm.
- 18. A porous poly(vinyl alcohol) freeze-thaw hydrogel having an average pore diameter of from about 0.02 mm to about 2.0 mm and a pore density of from about 10 to about 105 pores/cm3.
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24. A method of making a porous freeze-thaw poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel which comprises:
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(a) forming a mixture comprising a solvent, poly(vinyl alcohol) in a concentration of from about 8 to about 40 weight percent, and at least one dopant selected from the group consisting of salts, sugars, water soluble natural proteins, complex carbohydrates, and polymers, (b) transferring the mixture to a mold by high-pressure injection;
(c) cooling the mold to a temperature of from about −
60°
C. to about −
20°
C.;
(d) heating the mold to a temperature of from about 25°
C. to about 60°
C.;
(e) repeating steps (c) and (d) from about 1 to about 20 times to form a hydrogel;
(f) removing the hydrogel from the mold; and
(g) washing or soaking the hydrogel such that at least part of the dopant is removed to form a porous freeze-thaw poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel having pores with an average diameter of from about 0.02 mm to about 2.0 mm. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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25. A method of making a poly(vinyl alcohol) freeze-thaw hydrogel which is substantially free of low molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) molecules which comprises:
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(a) forming a high molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) mixture by removing low-molecular weight polymers from a poly(vinyl alcohol) mixture using supercritical extraction;
(b) forming a second mixture comprising a solvent and the high molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) mixture in a concentration of from about 8 to about 40 weight percent;
(c) transferring the second mixture to a mold by high-pressure injection;
(d) cooling the mold to a temperature of from about −
60°
C. to about −
20°
C.;
(e) heating the mold to a temperature of from about 25°
C. to about 60°
C.; and
(f) repeating steps (d) and (e) from about 1 to about 20 times to form a freeze-thaw hydrogel to form a porous freeze-thaw poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel having pores with an average diameter of from about 0.02 mm to about 2.0 mm.
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- 27. A method of augmenting or replacing soft tissue or non-load bearing bone which comprises implanting in a patient a porous poly(vinyl alcohol) freeze-thaw hydrogel having pores with an average diameter of from about 0.02 mm to about 2.0 mm.
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30. A method of augmenting or replacing soft tissue or non-load bearing bone which comprises implanting in a patient a poly(vinyl alcohol) freeze-thaw hydrogel substantially free of low molecular weight poly(vinyl alcohol) and having pores with an average diameter of from about 0.02 mm to about 2.0 mm.
Specification