The University of Western Ontario

Axcelon Biopolymers Corporation

Leonardo Millon

Wankei Wan

Wan-Kei Wan

Hadi Mohammadi

Mackenzie Quantz

Anisotropic nanocomposite hydrogel materials are created using a process in which a hydrogel-forming material is crosslinked in the presence of nanoscale cellulose and subsequently thermally cycled under an applied tensile strain. Such materials are capable of exhibiting high mechanical and viscoelastic anisotropy, increased stiffness when subjected to large strain, and are suitable for a broad range of soft tissue replacement applications. In addition controlled release of bioactive agents properties can be designed into medical devices fabricated from such nanocomposite materials.

Anisotropic nanocomposite hydrogel

Hydrogel-bacterial cellulose nano-composite materials are created using a hydrogel and never dried bacterial cellulose fibers. Such materials are suitable for a broad range of soft tissue replacement applications. In addition controlled release of bioactive agents properties can be designed into medical devices fabricated from such composite materials.

Poly(vinyl alcohol)-bacterial cellulose nanocomposite

Anisotropic hydrogels including poly(vinyl alcohol) and which have physical cross-links so as to form materials which exhibit anisotropic mechanical properties characteristic of soft biological tissues wherein the anisotropic hydrogel may be used for tissue reconstruction and/or replacement including vessels, arteries, valve components, cartilage, ligaments, skin, and other medical uses such as stents, medical phantoms, contact lenses, bandages, and the like.

Anisotropic hydrogels

The present invention provides surgical training aids formed from hydrogels and adapted to exhibit realistic mechanical properties mimicking those of real organs. Surgical training aids are preferably fabricated by subjecting a concentration of polyvinyl alcohol to freeze-thaw cycles in a mold designed to approximate the shape of an organ, and process parameters are selected to tailor the mechanical properties of the formed hydrogel to those of the organ simulated by the surgical aid. The mechanical properties of the hydrogel forming the surgical training aid may be tailored by incorporating bacterial cellulose and by applying strain during hydrogel formation, thereby producing controlled anisotropy.

Surgical training aids and methods of fabrication thereof

Process for producing poly(vinyl alcohol)-bacterial cellulose nanocomposite

The invention relates to an anisotropic hydrogel and a method of producing the anisotropic hydrogel. The hydrogel exhibiting anisotropic properties is poly(vinyl alcohol) produced by preparing a solution of poly(vinyl alcohol) with a pre-selected concentration, thermally cycling the solution by freezing and thawing, stretching the hydrogel and thermally cycling the hydrogel at least one more time The anisotropic hydrogel is used for tissue replacement and reconstruction, bioagent entrapment and delivery, in preparing ultrasound or radiofrequency thermal therapy transmission pads and substitutes for ice bags, as denture base, in soft contact lens material, for wound covering bandages and phantoms for medical-related use.

Growing community of inventors

London, Canada

Leonardo Millon