Multiple stimulus reversible hydrogels

• US 7,033,571 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Original Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
• Inventors: Gutowska, Anna, Krzyminski, Karol J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JONES, DAMERON LEVEST
• Application Number:
  US10/701,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20040096508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 424 111- 165, 424/9.1, 424/400, 424/423, 424/422, 424/426, 424/486, 424/457, 424/487
• US Class Current: 424/1.25
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/32 Macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. carbomers , poly(meth)acrylates, or polyvinyl pyrrolidone
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0019 Injectable compositions; Intramuscular, intravenous, arterial, subcutaneous administration; Compositions to be administered through the skin in an invasive manner non-active ingredients are additionally classified in A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/08 Solutions composition of solutions A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/2027 obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds, e.g. polyvinyl pyrrolidone, poly(meth)acrylates
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 7/02 Antithrombotic agents; Anticoagulants; Platelet aggregation inhibitors

Abstract

A polymeric solution capable of gelling upon exposure to a critical minimum value of a plurality of environmental stimuli is disclosed. The polymeric solution may be an aqueous solution utilized in vivo and capable of having the gelation reversed if at least one of the stimuli fall below, or outside the range of, the critical minimum value. The aqueous polymeric solution can be used either in industrial or pharmaceutical environments. In the medical environment, the aqueous polymeric solution is provided with either a chemical or radioisotopic therapeutic agent for delivery to a specific body part. The primary advantage of the process is that exposure to one environmental stimuli alone will not cause gelation, thereby enabling the therapeutic agent to be conducted through the body for relatively long distances without gelation occurring.

Claims

1. A method of reversibly sterilizing a mammal, comprising

providing a polymeric compound comprising a methacrylamide derivative and a hydrophilic comonomer, that remains a solution until exposed to critical minimum values of at least two environmental stimuli, wherein the polymeric compound forms a gel upon exposure to the critical minimum values of the at least two environmental stimuli;

delivering the polymeric compound to a lumen or other body region in need of closure when the polymeric compound is a solution; and

exposing the polymeric compound to the critical minimum values of the at least two environmental stimuli such that the polymeric compound forms a gel in situ in the lumen or other body region resulting in reversible sterilization of the mammal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sterilization of the mammal is reversed when one of the at least two environmental stimuli falls below the critical minimum value.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the exposing the polymeric compound to the critical minimum values of the at least two environmental stimuli comprises exposing the polymeric compound to at least two environmental stimuli selected from the group consisting of temperature, pH, ionic strength, electrical field, magnetic filed, solvent composition, light, pressure and chemical composition of the ambient environment.

4. A method for sterilizing a male mammal wherein the sterilization is reversible, comprising:

delivering a polymeric compound comprising a methacrylamide derivative and a hydrophilic comonomer, that remains a solution until exposed to critical minimum values of at least two environmental stimuli, and forms a gel upon exposure to the critical minimum values of the at least two environmental stimuli, to vas deferens of the male mammal when the polymeric compound is a solution; and

exposing the polymeric compound to the critical minimum values of the at least two environmental stimuli such that the polymeric compound forms a gel in situ in the vas deferens thereby reversibly sterilizing the male mammal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sterilization of the mammal is reversed when one of the at least two environmental stimuli falls below the critical minimum value.