Polysaccharide-based hydrogels and hybrid hydrogels and precursors thereof, methods of making same, and uses thereof

Abstract

Hydrogels and hybrid hydrogels, methods of making the hydrogels/hybrid hydrogels, and methods of using the hydrogels/hybrid hydrogels. The hydrogels have polysaccharide moieties (e.g., chitosan or hyaluronic acid moieties). The hybrid hydrogels have polysaccharide moieties (e.g., chitosan or hyaluronic acid moieties) and poly(ester amide) moieties. The poly(ester amide) moieties can have one or more arginine moieties. The hydrogels/hybrid hydrogels can be used, for example, in consumer products and as cargo carrier materials (e.g., as therapeutic agent carriers).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 ) A hydrogel comprising a plurality of covalently photocrosslinked functionalized polysaccharide molecules, wherein the functionalized polysaccharide molecules are selected from functionalized chitosan molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups and functionalized hyaluronic acid molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups. 
     
     
         2 ) The hydrogel of  claim 1 , wherein the swelling ratio of the hydrogel is at least 300%. 
     
     
         3 ) A hybrid hydrogel comprising a) a plurality of covalently photocrosslinked functionalized polysaccharide molecules, wherein the functionalized polysaccharide molecules are selected from functionalized chitosan molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups, and functionalized hyaluronic acid molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups, and
 b) functionalized poly(ester amide) polymer comprising one or more arginine moieties.   
     
     
         4 ) An article of manufacture comprising a) a hydrogel comprising a plurality of covalently photocrosslinked functionalized polysaccharide molecules, wherein the functionalized polysaccharide molecules are selected from functionalized chitosan molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups and functionalized hyaluronic acid molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups, or
 a hybrid hydrogel comprising i) a plurality of covalently photocrosslinked functionalized polysaccharide molecules, wherein the functionalized polysaccharide molecules are selected from functionalized chitosan molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups; and ii.) functionalized hyaluronic acid molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups, and functionalized poly(ester amide) polymer comprising arginine moieties.   
     
     
         5 ) The article of manufacture of  claim 4 , wherein the article of manufacture is a diaper or tampon. 
     
     
         6 ) A carrier material comprising:
 a) a hydrogel comprising a plurality of covalently photocrosslinked functionalized polysaccharide molecules, wherein the functionalized polysaccharide molecules are selected from functionalized chitosan molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups and functionalized hyaluronic acid molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups, or   a hybrid hydrogel comprising i) a plurality of covalently photocrosslinked functionalized polysaccharide molecules, wherein the functionalized polysaccharide molecules are selected from functionalized chitosan molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups; and ii.) functionalized hyaluronic acid molecules having at least 10 pendant photocrosslinkable groups, and functionalized poly(ester amide) polymer comprising arginine moieties, and   b) a cargo.   
     
     
         7 ) The carrier material of  claim 6 , wherein the cargo is a therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent. 
     
     
         8 ) The carrier material of  claim 7 , wherein the therapeutic agent or prophylactic agent is a nutrient, pharmaceutical, drug, peptide, polypeptide, oligonucleotide, polynucleotide, and combinations thereof.