New Drug-Delivering Hydrogel Can Be Injected

Feb-23-15 A new self-healing hydrogel that can be injected by syringe could provide a new method for long-term drug delivery.

Delivering drugs using hydrogels is an attractive option, because the gels can be formed into different shapes and deliver the drugs over an extended period of time. However, they also have to surgically implanted.

Developed at MIT, the new gel consists of a mesh network of polymer nanoparticles combined with other polymer strands, such as cellulose. These chains form weak bonds that will break apart under stress, then form new bonds once the stress is relieved, enabling the gel to heal itself and reform into its original shape, even after being injected by a syringe. In addition, using two different components to create the gel allows it to deliver two different drugs at once.

More Info about this Invention:

[POPSCI.COM]
[NEWSOFFICE.MIT]

---