Polymer hydrogels and methods of preparation thereof

• US 8,658,147 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2010
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gelesis LLC (Gelesis Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gelesis LLC (Gelesis Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sannino, Alessandro, Ambrosio, Luigi, Nicolais, Luigi, Demitri, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): HEINCER, LIAM J
• Application Number:
  US12/703,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: 524/916, 536/63, 525/54.3, 514/911, 424/78.01
• US Class Current: 424/78.01
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/262 Cellulose; Derivatives thereof, e.g. ethers
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 31/765 Polymers containing oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 47/38 Cellulose; Derivatives thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/06 Ointments; Bases therefor; Other semi-solid forms, e.g. creams, sticks, gels composition of ointments, creams or gels A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/225 Mixtures of macromolecular compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/28 Polysaccharides or their derivatives A61L15/225 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 15/60 Liquid-swellable gel-forming materials, e.g. super-absorbents
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 3/04 Anorexiants; Antiobesity agents
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 11/20 Post-etherification treatments of chemical or physical type, e.g. mixed etherification in two steps, including purification
• CPC Class Codes: C08B 15/005 Crosslinking of cellulose derivatives
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2301/28 Alkyl ethers
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/24 Crosslinking, e.g. vulcanising, of macromolecules mechanical aspects B29C35/00; crosslinking agents C08K
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 3/246 Intercrosslinking of at least two polymers
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 1/26 Cellulose ethers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/40 Bio-organic fraction processing; Production of fertilisers from the organic fraction of waste or refuse

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the preparation of a polymer hydrogel, comprising cross-linking a precursor comprising a hydrophilic polymer optionally in combination with a second hydrophilic polymer, using a polycarboxylic acid as the cross-linking agent. The invention further concerns the polymer hydrogel obtainable by the method of the invention and the use thereof in a number of different applications.

Claims

1. A method of treating obesity in a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of orally administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a polymer hydrogel comprising carboxymethylcellulose covalently cross-linked with citric acid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer hydrogel further comprises a nonionic hydrophilic polymer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the nonionic polymer is hydroxyethylcellulose.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the weight ratio of carboxymethylcellulose to hydroxyethylcellulose is about 3.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the polymer hydrogel consists essentially of carboxymethylcellulose covalently crosslinked with citric acid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer hydrogel can absorb at least about 30 times its dry weight of simulated gastric fluid/water (1/8).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the polymer hydrogel can absorb at least about 50 times its dry weight of simulated gastric fluid/water (1/8).

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the polymer hydrogel can absorb at least about 80 times its dry weight of simulated gastric fluid/water (1/8).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the weight ratio of citric acid to carboxymethylcellulose is about 1% to about 5%.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the polymer hydrogel is substantially dry.

11. A method of reducing calorie intake by a subject in need thereof, comprising the step of orally administering to the subject an effective amount of a polymer hydrogel comprising carboxymethylcellulose covalently cross-linked with citric acid.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the polymer hydrogel further comprises a nonionic hydrophilic polymer.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the nonionic polymer is hydroxyethylcellulose.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the weight ratio of carboxymethylcellulose to hydroxyethylcellulose is about 3.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the polymer hydrogel consists essentially of carboxymethylcellulose covalently crosslinked with citric acid.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the polymer hydrogel can absorb at least about 30 times its dry weight of simulated gastric fluid/water (1/8).

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the polymer hydrogel can absorb at least about 50 times its dry weight of simulated gastric fluid/water (1/8).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the polymer hydrogel can absorb at least about 80 times its dry weight of simulated gastric fluid/water (1/8).

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the weight ratio of citric acid to carboxymethylcellulose is about 1% to about 5%.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the polymer hydrogel is substantially dry.