Abstract: A method is disclosed for production of a sterile thermoreversible hydrogel characterized by a known temperature Tmin at which the viscosity reaches at least a local minimum. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method comprises dissolving the components in water within ±4° C. of Tmin; forming the thermoreversible hydrogel; and filtering the thermoreversible hydrogel at Tmin. The final sterilization can be obtained by filtering under aseptic conditions or by autoclaving or irradiation of the final product. In other embodiments, the components of the gel are dissolved in a sufficiently large quantity of water that reduces the gel viscosity or precludes formation of a thermoreversible hydrogel, and sufficient water is then removed under vacuum to produce the final thermoreversible hydrogel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are materials, means and methods for sustained release of therapeutic agents for topical treatments. In particular, disclosed are means and methods for topical treatment of diseases of internal body cavities by embedding therapeutic agents in a slowly degrading biocompatible mixture applied to affected tissue.

Abstract: A hydrophilic biocompatible sustained-release material is disclosed. The material comprises amounts of Pluronic F-127, PEG-400, HPMC and water, effective to produce a composition of sufficiently low viscosity at room temperature to be injectable into an internal body cavity via a tube inserted within a urinary catheter. At body temperature, the material exhibits a much higher viscosity and will stably adhere to the internal surface of a body cavity. As the material dissolves, a therapeutic agent incorporated therein is slowly released to the body cavity, while the material itself is excreted from the body.