Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrogel network comprised of a physically cross-linked polymer and a chemically cross-linked polymer or physically entangled copolymer containing living cells, such as chondrocytes, encapsulated therein. In a preferred aspect, the physically cross-linked polymer is selected from the group consisting of thermally gelling polysaccharides and proteins, such as agarose or gelatin, and the chemically cross-linked or physically entangled polymer is synthesized from a water-soluble vinyl monomer, either as a homopolymer or copolymer, such as polyethylene glycol diacrylate (“PEG-DA”) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrogel network comprised of a physically cross-linked polymer and a chemically cross-linked polymer or physically entangled copolymer containing living cells, such as chondrocytes, encapsulated therein. In a preferred aspect, the physically cross-linked polymer is selected from the group consisting of thermally gelling polysaccharides and proteins, such as agarose or gelatin, and the chemically cross-linked or physically entangled polymer is synthesized from a water-soluble vinyl monomer, either as a homopolymer or copolymer, such as polyethylene glycol diacrylate (“PEG-DA”) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrogel network comprised of a physically cross-linked polymer and a chemically cross-linked polymer or physically entangled copolymer containing living cells, such as chondrocytes, encapsulated therein. In a preferred aspect, the physically cross-linked polymer is selected from the group consisting of thermally gelling polysaccharides and proteins, such as agarose or gelatin, and the chemically cross-linked or physically entangled polymer is synthesized from a water-soluble vinyl monomer, either as a homopolymer or copolymer, such as polyethylene glycol diacrylate (“PEG-DA”) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a hydrogel network comprised of a physically cross-linked polymer and a chemically cross-linked polymer or physically entangled copolymer containing living cells, such as chondrocytes, encapsulated therein. In a preferred aspect, the physically cross-linked polymer is selected from the group consisting of thermally gelling polysaccharides and proteins, such as agarose or gelatin, and the chemically cross-linked or physically entangled polymer is synthesized from a water-soluble vinyl monomer, either as a homopolymer or copolymer, such as polyethylene glycol diacrylate (“PEG-DA”) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (“HEMA”).

Abstract: A system for delivering solute to a target location within a mammalian body, the system including a medical device, a thermosensitive cellulose gel structure over the medical device, and a biologically active solute within said gel structure. The gel structure deswells and expels the biologically active solute with an increase in gel temperature. The invention includes a method of delivering solute to a target location, where the method includes the steps of providing a thermosensitive cellulose gel structure, wherein the gel structure is loaded with a solute; positioning the loaded gel structure to the target location; and increasing the temperature of the loaded gel structure.

Abstract: A system for delivering solute to a target location within a mammalian body, the system including a medical device, a thermosensitive cellulose gel structure over the medical device, and a biologically active solute within said gel structure. The gel structure deswells and expels the biologically active solute with an increase in gel temperature. The invention includes a method of delivering solute to a target location, where the method includes the steps of providing a thermosensitive cellulose gel structure, wherein the gel structure is loaded with a solute; positioning the loaded gel structure to the target location; and increasing the temperature of the loaded gel structure.

Abstract: A system for delivering solute to a target location within a mammalian body, the system including a medical device, a thermosensitive cellulose gel structure over the medical device, and a biologically active solute within said gel structure. The gel structure deswells and expels the biologically active solute with an increase in gel temperature. The invention includes a method of delivering solute to a target location, where the method includes the steps of providing a thermosensitive cellulose gel structure, wherein the gel structure is loaded with a solute; positioning the loaded gel structure to the target location; and increasing the temperature of the loaded gel structure.

Abstract: A system for delivering solute to a target location within a mammalian body, the system including a medical device, a thermosensitive cellulose gel structure over the medical device, and a biologically active solute within said gel structure. The gel structure deswells and expels the biologically active solute with an increase in gel temperature. The invention includes a method of delivering solute to a target location, where the method includes the steps of providing a thermosensitive cellulose gel structure, wherein the gel structure is loaded with a solute; positioning the loaded gel structure to the target location; and increasing the temperature of the loaded gel structure.

Abstract: A microporous, cross-linked, reversibly responsive gel obtainable from a polymeric precursor is disclosed. The microporous gels exhibit a volume change response on the order of seconds, many times faster than nonporous volume change gels of similar dimension. A method of making a microporous, fast response and reversibly responsive gel having a defined pore size and defined strut thickness is also disclosed. The method comprises preparing a polymer solution having a certain initial concentration of polymer precursor, initiating phase separation of the polymer to produce a phase separated state; cross-linking the polymer in its phase separated state or cross-linking the polymer prior in its phase separated state, or both prior to and during its phase separated state, for a certain cross-linking reaction time; and allowing gelation to be completed. Particular uses of the fast response gels are also described. In one embodiment, a method for purifying and concentrating a solute from a solution is described.

Abstract: An absorbent, microporous foam comprising a crosslinked polymer having interconnected fluid cells distributed throughout its mass, wherein the fluid cells have a diameter of between about 0.1 and about 100 .mu.m, and wherein the foam can rapidly absorb at least about twice its dry weight in fluid, is disclosed. Also disclosed is a method for producing such microporous, absorbent foams. In this method: (a) a crosslinkable polymer and a first solvent are mixed to form a stable solution which can be induced to phase separate; (b) the stable solution is induced to phase separate into a polymer concentrated phase and a polymer dilute phase; (c) the polymer is induced to crosslink in the polymer concentrated phase for a predetermined period of time thereby forming a microporous material; and (d) the microporous material is dried to produce the absorbent foam.

Abstract: A method of loading a drug into a crosslinked polymer network and protecting the drug from the effects of inactivation is described. The method includes the steps of contacting of a biologically active solute (i.e., drug) with:(i) a gel network; (ii) a second protectant polymer that is somewhat immiscible with the gel; and (iii) a protectant salt, under conditions sufficient for the biologically active solute to selectively partition into the gel and the protectants to be entrained in the gel. Most preferably, the gel network is a crosslinked gel responsive to a change in an environmental condition to which the gel is exposed.

Abstract: An absorbent, microporous foam comprising a crosslinked polymer having interconnected fluid cells distributed throughout its mass, wherein the fluid cells have a diameter of between about 0.1 and about 100 .mu.m, and wherein the foam can rapidly absorb at least about twice its dry weight in fluid, is disclosed.A method for producing a microporous, absorbent foam is also disclosed. This method comprises the steps of:(a) mixing a cross-linkable polymer and a first solvent to form a stable solution, wherein the stable solution can be induced to phase separate;(b) inducing the stable solution to phase separate into a polymer-concentrated phase and a polymer-dilute phase after a predetermined period of time;(c) inducing crosslinking of said polymer, so that the polymer will crosslink in said concentrated phase for a predetermined period of time during phase separation to thereby form a microporous material; and(d) drying the microporous material to produce the absorbent foam.