Dendritic macroporous hydrogels prepared by crystal templating
The present invention includes a hydrogel and a method of making a porous hydrogel by preparing an aqueous mixture of an uncrosslinked polymer and a crystallizable molecule; casting the mixture into a vessel; allowing the cast mixture to dry to form an amorphous hydrogel film; seeding the cast mixture with a seed crystal of the crystallizable molecule; growing the crystallizable molecule into a crystal structure within the uncrosslinked polymer; crosslinking the polymer around the crystal structure under conditions in which the crystal structure within the crosslinked polymer is maintained; and dissolving the crystals within the crosslinked polymer to form the porous hydrogel.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a hydrogel film having first and second opposing ends;
wherein the hydrogel film includes (a)(i) uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid, (a)(ii) crosslinked alginate, and (a)(iii) at least one of a protein or a biomineral;
wherein (b)(i) the alginate is crosslinked with calcium, and (b)(ii) the alginate is crosslinked around the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hydrogel film includes the biomineral.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the hydrogel film includes the protein.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the protein includes a cell adhesive protein.
5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hydrogel film includes a drug.
6. The apparatus of claim 3 included in a kit, the kit comprising a calcium chelator.
7. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the hydrogel film consists essentially of the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid and the crosslinked alginate.
8. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hydrogel film includes chitosan.
9. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hydrogel film includes urea.
10. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the hydrogel film includes at least one crystal.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one crystal is (a) dendritically branched, and (b) at least 1 micron in diameter.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the at least one crystal comprises cyclodextrin.
13. An apparatus comprising:
a hydrogel film having first and second opposing ends;
wherein the hydrogel film includes (a)(i) uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid, (a)(ii) crosslinked alginate, and (a)(iii) a protein;
wherein (b)(i) the alginate is crosslinked with an ion, and (b)(ii) the alginate is crosslinked around the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 included in a kit, wherein:
the kit comprises a sequestering agent; and
the sequestering agent is configured to sequester the ion.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ion includes calcium and the sequestering agent includes a calcium chelator.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the hydrogel film consists essentially of the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid and the crosslinked alginate.
17. An apparatus comprising:
a hydrogel film having first and second opposing ends;
wherein the hydrogel film includes (a)(i) uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid, (a)(ii) crosslinked alginate, and (a)(iii) an amide;
wherein (b)(i) the alginate is crosslinked with an ion, and (b)(ii) the alginate is crosslinked around the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 included in a kit, wherein:
the kit includes a sequestering agent; and
the sequestering agent is configured to sequester the ion.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein:
the ion includes calcium;
the sequestering agent includes a calcium chelator; and
the amide is included within a protein.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the hydrogel film consists essentially of the uncrosslinked hyaluronic acid and the crosslinked alginate.