Injectable Hydrogels for Minimally Invasive Medicine

Introduction

Medical hydrogels designed for use in the human body must be delivered in a minimally invasive way that preserves their therapeutic function, mechanical integrity, and biochemical stability. Current strategies for such hydrogels involve precursor solutions that can undergo in situ crosslinking through physical or chemical triggers post-delivery or macroporous structures achieved through cryogelation at sub-zero temperatures.

Our Idea

We used red blood cells to develop a novel class of injectable composite materials with shape recovery capabilities enabled by the unique physical properties of these cells. Through hypotonic swelling, the RBCs can be modified to develop nanometer-sized pores, which facilitates rapid liquid expulsion under compression. We incorporated the RBCs into the hydrogel matrix prior to polymerization, resulting in a highly deformable, shape-retentive scaffold. This biocomposite material can be repeatedly compressed up to about 87% of its original volume, withstanding multiple cycles of injection and retraction through various syringe gauges without sustaining damage.

Applications

Our fabrication method generates a new injectable hydrogel system that maintains its structure and properties, enabling efficient delivery of drug-laden scaffolds, tissue-engineered constructs, and personalized therapeutic platforms through conventional needle-syringe devices. This approach holds significant promise for minimally invasive therapies that require precise placement within the body.

Authors Involved

Oncay Yasa

Miriam Filippi

Robert Katzschmann