POLYVINYL ALCOHOL HYDROGEL HAVING ASYMMETRIC PORE SIZE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel having an asymmetric pore size. the pore size of the upper surface of the polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel is 1-30 μm, the pore size of lower surface thereof is 50-300 μm, and the pore size of the hydrogel gradually increases from the upper surface to the lower surface. The polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel in the present invention has excellent biocompatibility, and has functions of blocking bacteria, anti-adhesion, the absorption of exudate, promoting wound healing, observing in situ of wound healing process and the like.

Claims

1. A monolayer hydrogel with an asymmetric aperture size, wherein the aperture size of upper surface of the monolayer hydrogel is 1-30 μm, the aperture size of lower surface of the monolayer hydrogel is 50-300 μm, and the aperture size of the monolayer hydrogel gradually increases from the upper surface to the lower surface.

2. The monolayer hydrogel according to claim 1, which is a sponge-like polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel.

3. A method for preparing the monolayer hydrogel according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: (1) dissolving respectively a water-soluble tackifier and polyvinyl alcohol in water with a certain content, so as to obtain an water-soluble tackifier aqueous solution and an polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution respectively; wherein the viscosity of the water-soluble tackifier is 200-10000 cP, and the content of the water-soluble tackifier in the water-soluble tackifier aqueous solution is 0.4 wt %-3.6 wt %; (2) preparing a warm mixed solution of the water-soluble tackifier aqueous solution and the polyvinyl alcohol aqueous solution at a certain mixing ratio; (3) dissolving polyethylene glycol powder into the warm mixed solution with a certain content, so that it is completely dissolved to be a clear solution, thereby obtaining a hydrogel preparation solution; (4) pouring the hydrogel preparation solution into a template and performing low-temperature freezing to obtain the monolayer hydrogel.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the water-soluble tackifier is selected from the group consisting of: hyaluronic acid, sodium alginate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, chondroitin sulfate, and keratan sulfate.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the temperature of the low-temperature freezing is −14° C. to −24° C., and the time is 6-30 hours.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising a step (3-1) between the step (3) and step (4): placing the hydrogel preparation solution at room temperature for 1-200 minutes.

7. A method for preparing a double-layer hydrogel, comprising the following steps: (a) preparing the monolayer hydrogel according to the method of claim 3; (b) preparing the hydrogel preparation solution according to steps (1)-(3) of the method according to claim 3; (c) pouring the hydrogel preparation solution from the above step (b) on the lower surface of the monolayer hydrogel prepared in the above step (a) in a normal temperature state, and then performing low-temperature freezing to obtain a double-layer hydrogel.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the temperature of the low-temperature freezing is −14° C. to −24° C., and the time is 6-30 hours.

9. A method for preparing a double-layer hydrogel, comprising the following steps: (a) preparing the monolayer hydrogel according to the method of claim 4; (b) preparing the hydrogel preparation solution according to steps (1)-(3) of the method according to claim 4; (c) pouring the hydrogel preparation solution from the above step (b) on the lower surface of the monolayer hydrogel prepared in the above step (a) in a normal temperature state, and then performing low-temperature freezing to obtain a double-layer hydrogel.

10. A method for preparing a double-layer hydrogel, comprising the following steps: (a) preparing the monolayer hydrogel according to the method of claim 5; (b) preparing the hydrogel preparation solution according to steps (1)-(3) of the method according to claim 5; (c) pouring the hydrogel preparation solution from the above step (b) on the lower surface of the monolayer hydrogel prepared in the above step (a) in a normal temperature state, and then performing low-temperature freezing to obtain a double-layer hydrogel.

11. A method for preparing a double-layer hydrogel, comprising the following steps: (a) preparing the monolayer hydrogel according to the method of claim 6; (b) preparing the hydrogel preparation solution according to steps (1)-(3) of the method according to claim 6; (c) pouring the hydrogel preparation solution from the above step (b) on the lower surface of the monolayer hydrogel prepared in the above step (a) in a normal temperature state, and then performing low-temperature freezing to obtain a double-layer hydrogel.

12. The method according to claim 9, wherein the temperature of the low-temperature freezing is −14° C. to −24° C., and the time is 6-30 hours.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the temperature of the low-temperature freezing is −14° C. to −24° C., and the time is 6-30 hours.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the temperature of the low-temperature freezing is −14° C. to −24° C., and the time is 6-30 hours.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] FIG. 1 is a scanning electron micrograph of the monolayer hydrogel prepared in the examples. FIG. 1a is a scanning electron micrograph of the lower surface aperture size of a monolayer hydrogel; FIG. 1b is a scanning electron micrograph of the upper surface; FIG. 1c is a scanning electron micrograph showing a longitudinal section of the monolayer hydrogel.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a scanning electron micrograph of the double-layer hydrogel prepared in the examples. FIG. 2a is a scanning electron micrograph of the upper surface aperture size of the double-layer hydrogel; FIG. 2b is a scanning electron micrograph of the lower surface; and FIG. 2c is a scanning electron micrograph showing a longitudinal section of the double-layer hydrogel.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the morphology of the dry samples and the wet samples of the double-layer hydrogel prepared in the examples before and after shearing. FIG. 3a shows a freeze-dried sample before shearing; FIG. 3b shows a freeze-dried sample after shearing; FIG. 3c shows a wet sample before shearing. FIG. 3d shows a wet sample after shearing.

SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0042] In this specification, if there is no special mention, % means weight percentage.

Example 1

[0043] Step 1: Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 2.4% and 28% to obtain the uniform clear solutions;

[0044] Step 2: Polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a 1:1 mixed solution of the Step 1 solutions with a content of 7.5% at 80° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution;

[0045] Step 3: The mixed solution prepared in Step 2 is placed at room temperature for 50 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −20° C. for cross-linking, and taking it out of the refrigerator after freezing for 6 hours to obtain a hydrogel; circulating the freezing process for 4 times.

[0046] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 95,000, and the viscosity of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is 8,000 cP.

[0047] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 1,500.

Example 2

[0048] Step 1: Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 3.2% and 18% to obtain the uniform clear solutions;

[0049] Step 2: Polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a 1:1 mixed solution of the Step 1 solutions with a content of 7.0% at 85° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution;

[0050] Step 3: The mixed solution prepared in Step 2 is placed at room temperature for 80 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −22° C. for cross-linking, and taking it out of the refrigerator after freezing for 14 hours to obtain a hydrogel; circulating the freezing process for one time.

[0051] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 80,000, and the viscosity of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is 5,500 cP.

[0052] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 4,000.

Example 3

[0053] Step 1: Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 1.4% and 19% to obtain the uniform clear solutions;

[0054] Step 2: Polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a 2:1 mixed solution of the Step 1 solutions with a content of 10% at 90° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution;

[0055] Step 3: The mixed solution prepared in Step 2 is placed at room temperature for 10 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −18° C. for cross-linking, and taking it out of the refrigerator after freezing for 20 hours to obtain a hydrogel; circulating the freezing process for 2 times.

[0056] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 100,000, and the viscosity of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is 9,300 cP.

[0057] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 3,000.

Example 4

[0058] Step 1: Hyaluronic acid and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 0.8% and 22% to obtain the uniform clear solutions;

[0059] Step 2: Polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a 1:1 mixed solution of the Step 1 solutions with a content of 10% at 85° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution;

[0060] Step 3: The mixed solution prepared in Step 2 is placed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −18° C. for cross-linking, and taking it out of the refrigerator after freezing for 20 hours to obtain a hydrogel; circulating the freezing process for 2 times.

[0061] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 120,000, and the viscosity of hyaluronic acid is 1,000 cP.

[0062] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 2,000.

Example 5

[0063] Step 1: Hyaluronic acid and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 1.8% and 19% to obtain the uniform clear solutions;

[0064] Step 2: Polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a 1:1 mixed solution of the Step 1 solutions with a content of 8.5% at 90° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution;

[0065] Step 3: The mixed solution prepared in Step 2 is placed at room temperature for 20 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −22° C. for cross-linking, and taking it out of the refrigerator after freezing for 18 hours to obtain a hydrogel; circulating the freezing process for 4 times.

[0066] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 140,000, and the viscosity of hyaluronic acid is 800 cP.

[0067] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 1,500.

Example 6

[0068] Step 1: Hyaluronic acid and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 1.0% and 24% to obtain the uniform clear solutions;

[0069] Step 2: Polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a 2:1 mixed solution of the Step 1 solutions with a content of 7.5% at 80° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution;

[0070] Step 3: The mixed solution prepared in Step 2 is placed at room temperature for 10 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −18° C. for cross-linking, and taking it out of the refrigerator after freezing for 20 hours to obtain a hydrogel; circulating the freezing process for 2 times.

[0071] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 100,000, and the viscosity of hyaluronic acid is 600 cP.

[0072] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 4,000.

Example 7

[0073] Step 1: Sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 0.4% and 19% to obtain the uniform clear solutions;

[0074] Step 2: Polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a 3:1 mixed solution of the Step 1 solutions with a content of 8.0% at 90° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution;

[0075] Step 3: The mixed solution prepared in Step 2 is placed at room temperature for 40 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −20° C. for cross-linking, and taking it out of the refrigerator after freezing for 22 hours to obtain a hydrogel; circulating the freezing process for 3 times.

[0076] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 90,000, and the viscosity of sodium alginate is 600 cP.

[0077] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 3,000.

Example 8

[0078] Step 1: Sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 1.4% and 24% to obtain the uniform clear solutions;

[0079] Step 2: Polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a 1:1 mixed solution of the Step 1 solutions with a content of 9.0% at 85° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution;

[0080] Step 3: The mixed solution prepared in Step 2 is placed at room temperature for 5 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −22° C. for cross-linking, and taking it out of the refrigerator after freezing for 16 hours to obtain a hydrogel; circulating the freezing process for 3 times.

[0081] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 100,000, and the viscosity of sodium alginate is 800 cP.

[0082] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 2,000.

Example 9

[0083] Step 1: Sodium alginate and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 1.0% and 20% to obtain the uniform clear solutions;

[0084] Step 2: Polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a 1:1 mixed solution of the Step 1 solutions with a content of 10% at 80° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution;

[0085] Step 3: The mixed solution prepared in Step 2 is placed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −18° C. for cross-linking, and taking it out of the refrigerator after freezing for 20 hours to obtain a hydrogel; circulating the freezing process for 4 times.

[0086] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 120,000, and the viscosity of sodium alginate is 400 cP.

[0087] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 1,500.

[0088] For the monolayer hydrogels prepared in the above Examples 1-9, the aperture sizes of the upper and lower surfaces of the freeze-dried samples are measured by scanning electron microscopy.

[0089] The type, viscosity and content of the tackifier used in the above Examples 1-9, the molecular weight and content of PVA, the molecular weight and content of PEG, the temperature of the warm mixed solution, and the time that the hydrogel preparation solution is placed at room temperature, the temperature and time for low-temperature freezing, and the aperture sizes of the upper surface/lower surface of the prepared hydrogel are summarized in Table 1 below.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Tackifier PVA PEG Temperature Temperature/ type/ molecular molecular of the warm Time at time for low- Aperture of Viscosity/ weight/ weight/ mixed room temperature the upper/ No. Content Contnet Contnet solution temperature freezing lower surface 1 Sodium  80000/18% 4000/7.0% 80° C. 80 min −22° C./14 h 10/80  carboxymethyl cellulose/ 5500 cP/3.2% 2 Sodium  95000/28% 1500/7.5% 80° C. 50 min −22° C./6 h   5/100 carboxymethyl cellulose/ 8000 cp/2.4% 3 Sodium 100000/19% 3000/10%  90° C. 10 min −18° C./20 h 15/95  carboxymethyl cellulose/ 9300 cp/1.4% 4 Hyaluronic 120000/22% 2000/10%  85° C. 30 min −18° C./20 h 10/120 acid/ 1000 cp/0.8% 5 Hyaluronic 140000/19% 1500/8.5% 90° C. 20 min −22° C./18 h 20/100 acid/ 800 cp/1.8% 6 Hyaluronic 100000/24% 4000/7.5% 80° C. 10 min −18° C./20 h  5/100 acid/ 600 cp/1.0% 7 Sodium  90000/19% 3000/8.0% 90° C. 40 min −20° C./22 h 15/100 alginate/ 600 cp/0.4% 8 Sodium 100000/24% 2000/9.0% 85° C. 5 min −22° C./16 h 15/130 alginate/ 800 cp/1.4% 9 Sodium 120000/20% 1500/10%  80° C. 30 min −18° C./20 h 10/100 alginate/ 400 cp/1.0%

[0090] Observation shows that the mixed solution prepared in step 2 of the above examples is clear under warm conditions, but it becomes turbid, white and opaque after being left to cool. This is because PEG precipitates out of the solution and phase separation occurs. Under the teaching of this specification, those skilled in the art may control the aperture sizes of the hydrogel by adjusting the concentration, viscosity, and phase separation time.

[0091] Observation shows that the transparency of the monolayer hydrogel prepared in the above examples is good, and the wound healing may be observed in situ at any time without removing the dressing.

Example 10

[0092] Step 1: Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 2.4% and 22% to obtain the uniform clear solutions; polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a mixed solution of the above solutions with a content of 5.5% at 80° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution; and the mixed solution prepared above is placed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then pouring it into a template, putting in a refrigerator at −20° C. for 20 hours to obtain a monolayer hydrogel;

[0093] Step 2: Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and polyvinyl alcohol are respectively dissolved in deionized water with a content of 2.0% and 18% to obtain the uniform clear solutions; polyethylene glycol powder is dissolved in a mixed solution of the above solutions with a content of 10.0% at 80° C., to make it completely dissolved to be a clear solution; and the mixed solution prepared above is placed at room temperature for 30 minutes, then pouring it on the upper layer hydrogel obtained in Step 1 and thawed for 2 h, and putting in a refrigerator again at −20° C. for 20 hours to obtain a double-layer hydrogel.

[0094] In Step 1, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 95,000, and the viscosity of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is 7,000 cP, and the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 1,500.

[0095] In Step 2, the molecular weight of polyvinyl alcohol is 100,000, and the viscosity of sodium carboxymethyl cellulose is 7,300 cP, and the molecular weight of polyethylene glycol is 1,500.

[0096] FIG. 1 is a scanning electron micrograph of the monolayer hydrogel prepared in the examples. FIG. 1a is a scanning electron micrograph of the lower surface aperture size of a monolayer hydrogel with a loose structure; FIG. 1b is a scanning electron micrograph of the upper surface of a monolayer hydrogel with a dense structure; FIG. 1c is a scanning electron micrograph showing a longitudinal section of the monolayer hydrogel, and it can be seen that the aperture sizes of the hydrogel gradually increase from top to bottom in the thickness direction.

[0097] FIG. 2 is a scanning electron micrograph of the double-layer hydrogel prepared in the examples. FIG. 2a is a scanning electron micrograph of the upper surface aperture size of the double-layer hydrogel, and it can be seen that the aperture size is less than 20 μm and the structure is dense; and FIG. 2b is a scanning electron micrograph of the lower surface, and it can be seen that the aperture size is about 100 μm and the structure is loose; therefore, the upper and lower surfaces of the double-layer hydrogel have different aperture sizes. FIG. 2c is a scanning electron micrograph showing a longitudinal section of the double-layer hydrogel; it can be seen from this figure that the aperture sizes of the hydrogel gradually increase from top to bottom in the thickness direction, there are seamless butt joints between the two layers; and this is different from a stepped change of the aperture sizes between the two layers of a general double-layer hydrogel.

[0098] FIG. 3 is a photograph showing the morphology of the dry sample and the wet sample of the double-layer hydrogel prepared in the examples before and after shearing. It can be seen from this figure that, there is a good adhesion and no gap between the two layers of the dry and wet samples of the hydrogel before shearing; after being cut by scissors there is still a good adhesion between the wet and dry samples of the hydrogel, and they do not fall off due to external force. Therefore, the two layers of the prepared double-layer hydrogel are tightly bonded and are not easy to fall off.

[0099] The present invention has been described above through specific embodiments and examples, but those skilled in the art should understand that these are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should be determined by the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0100] According to the present invention, provided is a polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel with excellent biocompatibility and functions including blocking bacteria, preventing adhesion, absorbing exudate, promoting wound healing, and observing wound healing process in situ.