Methods for implanting and reversing stimuli-responsive implants

Abstract

Described are methods for reversible occlusion of a body lumen by way of degradation as a result of exposure to one or more stimuli such as light. The methods include administering one or more substance(s) into a body lumen of a subject and forming a stimuli-responsive polymer mass in the body lumen from the one or more substance(s). The mass is sufficient to occlude the body lumen in a manner that prevents transport of at least one material through the body lumen and is susceptible to on-command reversal in the body lumen upon exposure to one or more stimuli. The methods include administering one or more stimuli to a polymer mass in a body lumen for a time and intensity to cause the reverse the polymer mass. The methods are particular useful for applications in which it is desirable to temporarily occlude a body lumen, such as male and female contraception.

1 . A method comprising:
 administering one or more substance(s) into a body lumen of a subject resulting in a porous implant;   wherein the porous implant is sufficient to prevent transport of at least one material through the body lumen due to a size of the pores;   wherein the porous implant is susceptible to reversal in the body lumen upon exposure to one or more stimuli, wherein one of the stimuli is light, such that after the reversal is performed, the porous implant no longer has pores sized to prevent transport.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein reversal of the porous implant restores a flow of fluid, cells, and/or proteins within the body lumen due to an increase in pore size. 
     
     
         3 . A method, comprising:
 administering one or more stimuli to a stimuli-responsive porous polymer mass in a body lumen for a time and intensity to cause the porous polymer mass to increase in pore size causing the porous polymer mass to deteriorate, break down, degrade, disintegrate, dissolve, destroy, remove, dislodge, de-precipitate, liquefy, flush and/or reduce in whole or part, thereby reversing the porous polymer mass;   wherein two or more stimuli are applied, and a first applied stimulus is light and a second applied stimulus is a fluid.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more stimuli comprise one or more of ultrasound, x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, near infrared, infrared, thermal, magnetic, electric, heat, vibrations, mechanical, aqueous solutions (neutral, basic, or acidic), organic solvent, aqueous-organic mixture, enzymatic, protein(s), peptide(s), small organic molecules, large organic molecules, nanoparticles, microparticles, quantum dots, carbon-based materials, and/or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the body lumen comprises an artery, vein, capillary, lymphatic vessel, a vas deferens, epididymis, or a fallopian tube; a duct, a bile duct, a hepatic duct, a cystic duct, a pancreatic duct, or a parotid duct; an organ, a uterus, prostate, or any organ of the gastrointestinal tract or circulatory system or respiratory system or nervous system; a subcutaneous space; or an interstitial space. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the body lumen is a vas deferens or a fallopian tube. (original) The method of  claim 3 , wherein the fluid is saline. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein one or more steps of the method are guided by, and/or wherein reversal or increase in the pore size of the porous polymer mass is confirmed by, an imaging modality comprising ultrasound, x-ray, MRI, or CT, or any combination of these. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the light is monochromatic, ultraviolet, near infrared, infrared, or visible light. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the light is administered through tissue overlying the body lumen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the light is administered by way of a catheter or needle placed in the body lumen. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 administering into a body lumen of a subject a stimuli-responsive porous polymer mass;   wherein the porous polymer mass is capable of preventing transport of at least one material through the body lumen;   wherein the porous polymer mass is susceptible to reversal by increase in pore size in the body lumen upon exposure to one or more stimuli;   wherein the porous polymer mass has pores sized to block the flow of cells and upon exposure to the stimuli the flow of the cells through the body lumen is allowed.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more stimuli is one or more of ultrasound, x-ray, ultraviolet, visible, near infrared, infrared, thermal, magnetic, electric, heat, vibrations, mechanical disruption, aqueous solutions, organic solvent, aqueous-organic mixture, enzymatic, protein(s), peptide(s), small organic molecules, large organic molecules, nanoparticles, microparticles, quantum dots, carbon-based materials, and/or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the body lumen comprises an artery, vein, capillary, lymphatic vessel, a vas deferens, epididymis, or a fallopian tube; a duct, a bile duct, a hepatic duct, a cystic duct, a pancreatic duct, or a parotid duct; an organ, a uterus, prostate, or any organ of the gastrointestinal tract or circulatory system or respiratory system or nervous system; a subcutaneous space; or an interstitial space. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the at least one material is a sperm cell and the body lumen is a vas deferens, or   the at least one material is an oocyte and the body lumen is a fallopian tube.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the administering comprises administering one or more polymeric precursor material to form the stimuli-responsive porous polymer mass. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the polymeric precursor material comprises natural or synthetic monomers, polymers or copolymers, biocompatible monomers, polymers or copolymers, polystyrene, neoprene, polyetherether 10 ketone (PEEK), carbon reinforced PEEK, polyphenylene, polyetherketoneketone (PEKK), polyaryletherketone (PAEK), polyphenylsulphone, polysulphone, polyurethane, polyethylene, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, polyetherketoneetherketoneketone (PEKEKK), nylon, fluoropolymers, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or TEFLON®), TEFLON® TFE (tetrafluoroethylene), polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), TEFLON® FEP (fluorinated ethylene propylene), TEFLON® PFA (perfluoroalkoxy alkane), and/or polymethylpentene (PMP) styrene maleic anhydride, styrene maleic acid (SMA), polyurethane, silicone, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, poly (carbonate-urethane), poly (vinylacetate), nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, urethane, urethane/carbonate, polylactic acid, polyacrylamide (PAAM), poly (N-isopropylacrylamine) (PNIPAM), poly (vinylmethylether), poly (ethylene oxide), poly (ethyl (hydroxyethyl) cellulose), poly(2-ethyl oxazoline), polylactide (PLA), polyglycolide (PGA), poly(lactide-co-glycolide) PLGA, poly(e-caprolactone), polydiaoxanone, polyanhydride, trimethylene carbonate, poly(β-hydroxybutyrate), poly(g-ethyl glutamate), poly(DTH-iminocarbonate), poly(bisphenol A iminocarbonate), poly(orthoester) (POE), polycyanoacrylate (PCA), polyphosphazene, polyethyleneoxide (PEO), polyethylene glycol (PEG) or any of its derivatives, polyacrylacid (PAA), polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyvinylacrylate (PVA), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), polyglycolic lactic acid (PGLA), poly(2-hydroxypropyl methacrylamide) (pHPMAm), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVOH), PEG diacrylate (PEGDA), poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (pHEMA), N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA), poly(vinyl alcohol) poly(acrylic acid) (PVOH-PAA), collagen, silk, fibrin, gelatin, hyaluron, cellulose, chitin, dextran, casein, albumin, ovalbumin, heparin sulfate, starch, agar, heparin, alginate, fibronectin, fibrin, keratin, pectin, elastin, ethylene vinyl acetate, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH), polyethylene oxide, PLA or PLLA (poly(L-lactide) or poly(L-lactic acid)), poly(D,L-lactic acid), poly(D,L-lactide), polydimethylsiloxane or dimethicone (PDMS), poly(isopropyl acrylate) (PIPA), polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA), PEG styrene, polytetrafluoroethylene RFE, TEFLON® RFE, KRYTOX® RFE, fluorinated polyethylene (FLPE or NALGENE®), methyl palmitate, temperature responsive polymers, poly(N-i sopropylacrylamide) (NIPA), polycarbonate, polyethersulfone, polycaprolactone, polymethyl methacrylate, polyisobutylene, nitrocellulose, medical grade silicone, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, polyacrylonitrile, poly(lactide-co-caprolactone (PLCL), and/or chitosan. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the administering comprises injecting one or more substance(s) through a needle or catheter or a combination of both. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more stimuli comprises light and wherein the light is monochromatic, ultraviolet, near infrared, infrared, or visible light. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light is administered through tissue overlying the body lumen. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the light is administered by way of a catheter or needle placed in the body lumen. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the stimuli-responsive porous polymer mass swells greater than 100% after being administered.