Abstract: A hydrogel material for modulating an immune response in a human subject or other mammal includes a collection of microgel particles having one or more network cross linker components, wherein the microgel particles, when exposed to an endogenous or exogenous annealing agent, links the microgel particles together in situ to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces formed between the microgel particles and wherein the collection of microgel particles further includes at least one of an antigen and an adjuvant.

Abstract: A hydrogel material for use in a human subject or other mammal includes a collection of microgel particles having one or more network cross linker components, wherein the microgel particles, when exposed to an endogenous or exogenous annealing agent, links the microgel particles together in situ to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having pores formed between the microgel particles wherein the pores are substantially devoid of hydrogel.

Abstract: A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.

Abstract: A hydrogel material for use in a human subject or other mammal includes a collection of microgel particles having one or more network cross linker components, wherein the microgel particles, when exposed to an endogenous or exogenous annealing agent, links the microgel particles together in situ to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having pores formed between the microgel particles wherein the pores are substantially devoid of hydrogel.

Abstract: A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.

Abstract: A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.

Abstract: A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.

Abstract: An immune-modulating biomaterial comprising a hydrogel scaffold coupled to D-amino acid containing peptides having unexpected properties in vivo is described. For example, certain inflammatory reactions in vivo are significantly increased around the D-peptide containing particles of hydrogel scaffold as compared to particles that contain both L and D peptides or L peptides alone. In addition, these D-peptide compositions are further observed to enhance wound healing and improve the tensile strength of healed tissues. For these and other reasons, the D-amino acid hydrogel materials disclosed herein are useful in a number of methodologies that seek to modulate the immune response and/or wound healing.

Abstract: A hydrogel material for modulating an immune response in a human subject or other mammal includes a collection of microgel particles having one or more network cross linker components, wherein the microgel particles, when exposed to an endogenous or exogenous annealing agent, links the microgel particles together in situ to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces formed between the microgel particles and wherein the collection of microgel particles further includes at least one of an antigen and an adjuvant.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are therapeutic polymer gel systems for promoting healing of a wound or surgical site in a subject. The therapeutic polymer gel forms a microporous network and may be applied or injected in a fluid form and annealed or crosslinked after application to the wound or surgical site. The microporous gel may optionally contain various therapeutic agents throughout the therapeutic polymer gel which are released.

Abstract: A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.

Abstract: An immune-modulating biomaterial comprising a hydrogel scaffold coupled to D-amino acid containing peptides having unexpected properties in vivo is described. For example, certain inflammatory reactions in vivo are significantly increased around the D-peptide containing particles of hydrogel scaffold as compared to particles that contain both L and D peptides or L peptides alone. In addition, these D-peptide compositions are further observed to enhance wound healing and improve the tensile strength of healed tissues. For these and other reasons, the D-amino acid hydrogel materials disclosed herein are useful in a number of methodologies that seek to modulate the immune response and/or wound healing.

Abstract: A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.

Abstract: A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.

Abstract: A microporous gel system for certain applications, including biomedical applications, includes an aqueous solution containing plurality of microgel particles including a biodegradable crosslinker. In some aspects, the microgel particles act as gel building blocks that anneal to one another to form a covalently-stabilized scaffold of microgel particles having interstitial spaces therein. In certain aspects, annealing of the microgel particles occurs after exposure to an annealing agent that is endogenously present or exogenously added. In some embodiments, annealing of the microgel particles requires the presence of an initiator such as exposure to light. In particular embodiments, the chemical and physical properties of the gel building blocks can be controlled to allow downstream control of the resulting assembled scaffold. In one or more embodiments, cells are able to quickly infiltrate the interstitial spaces of the assembled scaffold.