IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,741,053
Granted Patent B2
US 12,741,053 · App. 17/765,546 · Granted Sep 22, 2026

Injectable and moldable tissue-mimetic elastomers and methods related thereto

Inventors: Mohammad Vatankhan-Varnosfaderani (San Diego, CA); Sergei Sheiko (Chapel Hill, NC); Erfan Dashtimoghadam (Chapel Hill, NC)
Assignee: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
A61L24/06A61L24/046A61L27/16A61L27/18A61M5/19A61L2400/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,741,053
App. No.
17/765,546
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Materials and methods related to elastomers are disclosed. The disclosed elastomers are useful in implants mimicking soft tissue. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.

Claims (36)

1 . A method comprising the steps of:

(a) administering a first liquid polymer formulation to a subject via:

(i) injection into a soft tissue of the subject;

(ii) application onto a surface of a soft tissue of the subject; or

(iii) injection into a pre-fabricated soft tissue implant lumen in the subject,

 wherein the first liquid polymer formulation comprises a plurality of bottlebrush polymers, wherein each bottlebrush polymer has a controlled fraction of end-functionalized side chains, and

(b) crosslinking the plurality of bottlebrush polymers via the end-functionalized side chains, thereby forming an elastomer inside the soft tissue of the subject, onto the surface of the soft tissue of the subject, or inside the pre-fabricated soft tissue implant lumen in the subject,

wherein the method is solvent-free or substantially solvent-free.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of administering a second liquid polymer formulation to the subject via:

(a) injection into the soft tissue of the subject;

(b) application onto the surface of the soft tissue of the subject; or

(c) injection into the pre-fabricated soft tissue implant lumen in the subject,

wherein the second liquid polymer formulation comprises a plurality of bottlebrush polymers, wherein each bottlebrush polymer in the second plurality of bottlebrush polymers has a controlled fraction of end-functionalized side chains and wherein step b) comprises crosslinking the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the first liquid polymer formulation with the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the second liquid polymer formulation via the end-functionalized side chains on the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the first liquid polymer formulation and the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the second liquid polymer formulation.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second liquid polymer formulation comprises a polysiloxane, a polyolefin, a polyacrylate, a vinyl polymer, a polyoxazoline, a polyacrylamide, a polyester, a polyglycolide, a polylactide, a poly(lactide-co-glycolide), a polycaprolactone, a poly(ortho ester), a polydioxanone, a polyanhydride, a polyamide, a poly(ester amide), a polymethacrylate, a polyurethane, a polyurea, a poly(propylene fumarate), a poly(glycerol sebacate), a poly(ethylene terephthalate), a polycarbonate, a polystyrene, or a poly(tetrafluoroethylene), or a combination, or copolymer thereof.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein step b) comprises crosslinking a first cross-link moiety on a bottlebrush polymer of the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the first liquid polymer formulation with a second cross-link moiety on a bottlebrush polymer of the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the second liquid polymer formulation, wherein the first and second cross-link moieties are different.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first liquid polymer formulation comprises a polysiloxane, a polyolefin, a polyacrylate, a vinyl polymer, a polyoxazoline, a polyacrylamide, a polyester, a polyglycolide, a polylactide, a poly(lactide-co-glycolide), a polycaprolactone, a poly(ortho ester), a polydioxanone, a polyanhydride, a polyamide, a poly(ester amide), a polymethacrylate, a polyurethane, a polyurea, a poly(propylene fumarate), a poly(glycerol sebacate), a poly(ethylene terephthalate), a polycarbonate, a polystyrene, or a poly(tetrafluoroethylene), or a combination, or copolymer thereof.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first liquid polymer formulation comprises:

(a) a polysiloxane; or

(b) a polyolefin comprising polyisobutylene, polyisoprene, polybutadiene, or a combination, or copolymer thereof.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein step b) comprises crosslinking a first cross-link moiety on a bottlebrush polymer of the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the first liquid polymer formulation with a second cross-link moiety on a second bottlebrush polymer of the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the first liquid polymer formulation, wherein the first and second cross-link moieties are different.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer has an elastic modulus of from about 10 2 Pa to about 10 9 Pa.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the crosslinking is reversible.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is an implant, tissue adhesive, tissue repair, tissue fixation, tissue sealant, wound dressing, liquid bandage, tissue replacement, dermal filler, coating, tissue augmentation, tissue correction, body countering, postsurgical adhesion prevention, or drug delivery system.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises administering the first liquid polymer formulation to the subject via injection into the soft tissue of the subject.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises administering the first liquid polymer formulation to the subject via injection into the pre-fabricated soft tissue implant lumen in the subject.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises administering the first liquid polymer formulation to the subject via application onto the surface of the soft tissue of the subject.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first liquid polymer formulation further comprises a plurality of crosslinkers and wherein step b) comprises crosslinking the plurality of bottlebrush polymers with the plurality of crosslinkers via the end-functionalized side chains on the plurality of bottlebrush polymers.

15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises the step of administering a second liquid polymer formulation to the subject via:

(a) injection into the soft tissue of the subject;

(b) application onto the surface of the soft tissue of the subject; or

(c) injection into the pre-fabricated soft tissue implant lumen in the subject,

wherein the second liquid polymer formulation comprises a plurality of crosslinkers and wherein step b) comprises crosslinking the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the first liquid polymer formulation with the plurality of crosslinkers in the second liquid polymer formulation via the end-functionalized side chains on the plurality of bottlebrush polymers in the first liquid polymer formulation.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the elastomer has a gel fraction up to 98%.

17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is solvent free.

18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the elastomer is substantially non-leaching.

19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cross-linking is without stimuli.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 9, 2022
From: VATANKHAN-VARNOSFADERANI, MOHAMMAD; SHEIKO, SERGEI; DASHTIMOGHADAM, ERFAN
To: UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
Reel/Frame 059875/0163 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62910089 · Oct 3, 2019
Related Publication 20220370679A1 · Nov 24, 2022
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