abstract |
A hydrogel-based biodelivery vehicle used to effectively deliver drugs and biomaterials to tissue or organ sites. A hydrogel-based biodelivery vehicle may comprise a hydrogel binding matrix comprising a biopolymer scaffold containing carboxyl groups. Tyramine may replace at least a portion of the carboxyl groups such that when hydrogen peroxide is added, covalent bonds are formed between the tyramine molecules, cross-linking the hydrogel binding matrix, and the hydrogel binding matrix becomes , can transition from a liquid state to a gel state. In its liquid form, the hydrogel binding matrix encapsulates the drug reservoir and produces a homogenous liquid with uniformly dispersed particles containing the drug or target molecule. As the hydrogel binding matrix solidifies to the gel state, the newly formed crosslinks do not destroy or react with the drug or target molecules contained within the drug reservoir. [Selection drawing] Fig. 1 |