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Polysaccharide Hydrogel Formation without Conventional Photoinitiator

Detailed Technology Description

Researchers at Cornell have recently developed a pure polysaccharide-based hydrogel that is completely free of conventional toxic synthetic photoinitiators.

Others

• Patent Application: PCT/US2010/000086
• Sin-hee Kim and Chih-Chang Chu. Visible light induced dextran-methacrylate hydrogel formation using (-)-riboflavin vitamin B2 as a photoinitiator and L-arginine as a co-initiator.  Fibers and Polymers 2009.
• Sin-hee Kim and Chih-Chang Chu. Fabrication of a biodegradable polysaccharide hydrogel with riboflavin, vitamin B2, as a photo-initiator. Applied Biomaterials 2009.

*Abstract

Researchers at Cornell have recently developed a pure polysaccharide-based hydrogel that is completely free of conventional toxic synthetic photoinitiators.  Using Dextran as a model precursor and Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) as a photoinitiator, gelation of the hydrogel takes place in under five minutes, and either UV or visible light can be used to induce gel formation.  The material shows great promise for a variety of applications where toxins need to be minimized or eliminated, such as biomedical uses.  Its response to visible light further enhances its utility by allowing its use near eyes or other light-sensitive organs. 

Figure 1. SEM image of interior of dextran-methacylate hydrogel formed by visible light irradiation.

    

Potential Applications

• Various biomedical and biomaterials applications including
  • Drug carriers
  • Liquid carriers
  • Tissue carriers

    

Advantages

• Completely non-toxic
• Responsive to both UV and visible light
• 3D microporous gels with enormous surface area

*Licensing

Martin Teschlmt439@cornell.edu(607) 254-4454

Country/Region

USA