Hydrogel biomedical articles
Hydrogel biomedical articles formed from macromers having a polymeric backbone comprising 1,2-diol and/or 1,3-diol units, such as polyvinyl alcohol, and pendant chains bearing crosslinkable groups and, optionally, other modifiers.
1. A microparticle formed from macromers having a polymeric backbone comprising units having a 1,2-diol or 1,3-diol structure and at least two pendant chains bearing crosslinkable groups, wherein the crosslinkable groups are crosslinked via free radical polymerization.
2. The microparticle of claim 1 , wherein the backbone polymer comprises poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and copolymers thereof.
3. The microparticle of claim 1 , wherein the macromer has the formula:
in which R is a linear or branched C 1 –C 8 alkylene or a linear or branched C 1 –C 12 alkane; R 1 is hydrogen, a C 1 –C 6 alkyl, or a cycloalkyl; R 2 is hydrogen or a C 1 –C 6 alkyl; and R 3 is an olefinically unsaturated electron attracting copolymerizable radical having up to 25 carbon atoms.
4. The microparticle of claim 1 , further comprising an active agent.
5. The microparticle of claim 4 , wherein the microparticle releases the active agent over a period of time ranging from about 1 day to 6 months.
6. The microparticle of claim 1 , wherein the microparticle is biodegradable.
7. The microparticle of claim 1 , further comprising a contrast agent.
8. The microparticle of claim 1 , wherein the crosslinkable groups are crosslinked via free radical polymerization.
9. The microparticle of claim 1 , wherein the free radical polymerization is redox initiated.