Multiphase gel

Abstract

Disclosed are hydrogels polymerized with or around a solid biofunctional moiety, biodegradable or permanent, designed to be implantable in a mammalian body, intended to block or mitigate the formation of tissue adhesions, and intended to aid in functional healing. The hydrogels of the present invention are characterized by comprising multiphasic structural elements: a) at least one gel phase, b) at least one solid phase, c) optional polymeric chains connecting gel and solid phases, d) optional shape designs that provide for an interpenetrating geometry between gels and solids, e) optional shape designs that enhance a tissue-hydrogel interface, and f) optional shape designs that provide a biofunctional aspect. The hydrophobicity of the various phases is chosen to reduce tissue adhesion and enhance tissue healing. The morphology of the polymers comprising the gel phase is typically of high molecular weight and has morphology that encourages entanglement. Useful polymeric structures include branching chains, comb or brush, and dendritic morphologies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising:
 a solid phase including a microstructured substrate, the microstructured substrate being comprised of a plurality of microfeatures having a distance between adjacent microfeatures, wherein at least one of the plurality of microfeatures is configured to transition to a gel phase, wherein the at least one microfeature increases in volume in the gel phase such that the increase in volume decreases the distance between the at least one microfeature and at least one adjacent microfeature.   
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the composition is configured to form an interface with a target surface. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the composition is further configured to restrain at least a portion of the target surface between the at least one microfeature and the at least one adjacent microfeature when in the gel phase. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the composition is configured to localize the target surface to the composition via the restraining of at least a portion of the target surface. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 16 , wherein the target surface comprises living tissue. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the solid phase and gel phase are temporally discrete from each other. 
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of microfeatures is configured to transition to the gel phase when in contact with water. 
     
     
         22 . A composition comprising:
 a solid phase including a hierarchical microstructured substrate, the hierarchical microstructured substrate being comprised of a plurality of hierarchical microfeatures having a distance between adjacent hierarchical microfeatures along the substrate, wherein at least one of the plurality of hierarchical microfeatures is configured to transition to a gel phase, wherein the at least one hierarchical microfeature increases in volume in the gel phase such that the increase in volume decreases the distance between the at least one hierarchical microfeature and at least one adjacent hierarchical microfeature.   
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of hierarchical microfeatures comprise a first structure and a second structure, the first structure being of a larger scale than the second structure, and the second structure being disposed about the first structure. 
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 21 , wherein the hierarchically arranged first and second structures are configured such that a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic domain are formed along the hierarchical arrangement. 
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the composition is configured to form an interface with a target surface, such that when the interface is formed, at least a portion of the interface forms a Wenzel-Cassie interface. 
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein the composition is configured to localize a target surface by forming a Wenzel-Cassie interface, and then further restrain at least a portion of the target surface between the at least one microfeature and the at least one adjacent microfeature when in the gel phase. 
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein the target surface comprises living tissue. 
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the solid phase and gel phase are temporally discrete from each other. 
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of microfeatures is configured to transition to the gel phase when in contact with water. 
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the composition is disposed about an implantable device. 
     
     
         29 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the composition is configured to form an adhesion barrier. 
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the composition is disposed about a soft-tissue reinforcement prosthetic. 
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the composition is disposed about a stent. 
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 22 , wherein the composition is disposed about an implant.