Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately measuring changes in biomarker sensitive hydrogel volume and shape due to exposure to various biomarkers include a system for identifying one or more dimensional changes in a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment. The system includes a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment and configured to dimensionally change in response to interaction with predefined biomarkers. The system additionally includes an ultrasound transducer for locating and identifying one or more characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel and a computer system in electrical communication with the ultrasound transducer. The computer system is configured to receive characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel from the ultrasound transducer and determine dimensional changes of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel based on the received characteristics.

Abstract: Microfluidics sensor devices having an array of smart polymer hydrogel features for resistive channel analyte sensing via hydrogel swelling and de-swelling, and methods of manufacturing and using the same. Inexpensive, rapid-responsive, point-of-use sensors for monitoring disease biomarkers or environmental contaminants in, for example, drinking water, employ smart polymer hydrogels as recognition elements that can be tailored to detect almost any target analyte. Fabrication involves mask-templated UV photopolymerization to produce an array of smart hydrogel pillars, with large surface area-to-volume ratios, inside sub-millimeter channels located on microfluidics devices. The pillars swell or shrink upon contact aqueous solutions containing a target analyte, thereby changing the resistance of the microfluidic channel to ionic current flow when a bias voltage is applied to the system. Hence resistance measurements can be used to transduce hydrogel swelling changes into electrical signals.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and sensor devices for identifying one or more changes in a stimulus-responsive hydrogel include a sensor device having (i) a sensing structure and (ii) a stimulus-responsive hydrogel associated with a first side of the sensing structure. The sensing structure includes a flexible thin film polymer and an electric sensing element capable of electric impedance change, and the hydrogel is configured to dimensionally change in response to predefined stimuli such that a dimensional change of the hydrogel causes a change in an impedance property of the electric sensing element. Systems including such a sensor device can additionally include a meter in electrical communication with the sensor device to identify changes in the impedance properties of the structure and/or a catheter sheath configured for placement within an in vivo environment and is sized and shaped to receive the sensor device within a lumen thereof.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accurately measuring changes in biomarker sensitive hydrogel volume and shape due to exposure to various biomarkers include a system for identifying one or more dimensional changes in a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment. The system includes a biomarker sensitive hydrogel positioned within an in vivo environment and configured to dimensionally change in response to interaction with predefined biomarkers. The system additionally includes an ultrasound transducer for locating and identifying one or more characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel and a computer system in electrical communication with the ultrasound transducer. The computer system is configured to receive characteristics of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel from the ultrasound transducer and determine dimensional changes of the biomarker sensitive hydrogel based on the received characteristics.

Abstract: Osmolarity-responsive hydrogel sensors, particularly biosensors, containing quaternary ammonium functionality, which are useful for, inter alia, continuous osmolarity monitoring with no pH interference, are disclosed. Methods of using the osmolarity-responsive hydrogels are also disclosed.

Abstract: Osmolarity-responsive hydrogel sensors, particularly biosensors, containing quaternary ammonium functionality, which are useful for, inter alia, continuous osmolarity monitoring with no pH interference, are disclosed. Methods of using the osmolarity-responsive hydrogels are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein are modified hyaluronans or the pharmaceutically-acceptable salt or ester thereof, wherein the modified hyaluronan comprises at least one hydrophobic polypeptide covalently bonded to hyaluronan. The modified hyaluronans can be used as viscosupplements in a number of medical applications. The modified hyaluronans can also be used in several biological and medical applications. Methods for preparing the modified hyaluronans are also provided herein.

Abstract: A biosensor (10) has a hydrogel (30) in a rigid and preferably biocompatible enclosure (20). The hydrogel (30) includes an immobilized analyte binding molecule (ABM) and an immobilized analyte. The immobilized analyte competitively binds with free analyte to the ABM, thus changing the number of crosslinks in the hydrogel (30), which changes hydrogel swelling tendency (and thus the osmotic pressure) in its confined space in proportion to the concentration of free analyte concentration. By measuring the change in hydrogel pressure with a pressure transducer (40), the biosensor (10) is able to accurately measure the concentration of the free analyte molecule without the problem of oxygen limitations and interference encountered by prior art biosensors. A battery (64) powered telemeter (60) operably engaged to the pressure transducer (40) sends a radio data signal to a receiver (66) containing an alarm system operably attached to a computer (62).

Abstract: A biosensor (10) has a hydrogel (30) in a rigid and referably biocompatible enclosure (20). The hydrogel (30) includes an immobilized glucose-binding molecule such as concanavalin A (Con A) and an immobilized hexose saccharide such as a-D-mannopyranoside. The immobilized hexose saccharide competitively binds with free glucose to the glucose-binding molecules, thus changing the number of crosslinks in the hydrogel (30), which changes hydrogel swelling tendency and the pressure of the hydrogel in its confined space in proportion to the concentration of free glucose. By measuring the change in hydrogel pressure with a pressure transducer (40), the biosensor (10) is able to accurately measure the concentration of the tree glucose molecule without the problem of oxygen limitations and interference encountered by prior art biosensors.

Abstract: A biosensor (10) has a hydrogel (30) in a rigid and preferably biocompatible enclosure (20). The hydrogel (30) includes an immobilized analyte binding molecule (ABM) and an immobilized analyte. The immobilized analyte competitively binds with free analyte to the ABM, thus changing the number of crosslinks in the hydrogel (30), which changes hydrogel swelling tendency (and thus the osmotic pressure) in its confined space in proportion to the concentration of free analyte concentration. By measuring the change in hydrogel pressure with a pressure transducer (40), the biosensor (10) is able to accurately measure the concentration of the free analyte molecule without the problem of oxygen limitations and interference encountered by prior art biosensors. A battery (64) powered telemeter (60) operably engaged to the pressure transducer (40) sends a radio data signal to a receiver (66) containing an alarm system operably attached to a computer (62).