Title:

Hydrogels With Variable Degradation Rates

Inventor(s): Charles K. Webb and Naren Vyavahare
Abstract: A degradable hydrogel and a method of making a degradable hydrogel is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining a hydrophilic polymer having at least two hydroxyl groups, reacting the hydrophilic polymer with a di-functional monomer comprised of an acid halide group and an alkyl halide group to form an intermediate having an ester bond and a terminal alkyl halide group, reacting the terminal alkyl halide group of the intermediate with a metallic salt of a vinyl acid monomer to form a macromonomer comprised of an ester, an alkyl group spacer, and a terminal vinyl group, and polymerizing the macromonomer to form a degradable hydrogel. A method is also disclosed for varying the degradation rate of the hydrogel as a function of the chemical composition of the alkyl group spacer in the terminal linkage of the macromonomer.
Patent Status: Patent application has been filed. Detailed information must be provided under a confidential disclosure agreement. Please download the confidential disclosure form and mail the completed form to:

Vincie Albritton, Associate Director
Clemson Research Park
Office of Technology Transfer
91 Technology Drive
A.M.R.L. Building, Room # 220
Anderson, SC 29625

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Contact:

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Vincie Albritton, Associate Director
Phone: (864) 656-5708
Fax: (864) 656-0474
email: valbrit@clemson.edu

or 

Janet Dillon, Project Administrator
Phone: (864) 656-4237
Fax: (864) 656-0474
email: gjanet@clemson.edu

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