Advantageous hydrogel composition
New hydrogel, including a hydrogel containing cationic BSA is included in a vaccine to stimulate the immune system to increase the potency of the vaccine.
1. A biodegradable hydrogel comprising a copolymer having a hydrophobic component that is a biodegradable polyhydric alcohol ester containing at least one unsaturated terminal moiety and a hydrophilic component that is a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate having the formula:
where n is from 8 to 400, wherein the polyhydric alcohol ester originates from a polyhydric alcohol containing from 3 to 6 hydroxy groups, and wherein the unsaturated terminal moiety of the hydrophobic component of the hydrogel forming system is a 2-carboxy ethenyl group.
2. The hydrogel, according to claim 1 , further comprising an entrapped bioactive agent.
3. The hydrogel, according to claim 1 , further comprising an antigen.
4. The biodegradable hydrogel, according to claim 3 , having entrapped therein a cationic potentiator.
5. The hydrogel, according to claim 4 , wherein said cationic potentiator has a pI of at least 9.5.
6. The hydrogel, according to claim 4 , wherein said cationic potentiator is bovine serum albumin (BSA).