Two-Step Process for Accelerated Gel Formation (IMAGE)

University of Tokyo

Two-Step Process for Accelerated Gel Formation

Caption

Scientists developed the hydrogel oligo-TetraPEG with a low polymer concentration that gels in a relatively short time after being injected into rabbits' eyes. They were able to shorten the gelation period by separating the reaction into two steps: In the first step, biocompatible polymers react with each other, producing gigantic and highly branched polymer clusters. In the second step, the mutually reactive polymer clusters are combined to prepare a gel containing a very low concentration polymer component (1 wt percent or less) that gels in 10 minutes or less.

Credit

2017 Takamasa Sakai.

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