Dry-powder amphiphilic polysaccharide hydrogel kit for
This technology describes new ways to chemically modify natural polysaccharides—sugars found in plants and microbes—to make them amphiphilic (able to interact with both water and oils) or to turn them into hydrogels, which are water-swollen gel networks. The core innovation is a cleaner, more controlled synthesis process that attaches specific chemical groups to the sugar backbone, ending with ketone-bearing polysaccharides that can cross-link with amine-bearing partners to form gels on demand. The resulting hydrogels can be dried into a solid powder, stored, and then reconstituted with water later—a practical advantage for shipping and shelf life. These materials are derived from renewable, biodegradable starting materials like dextran, making them attractive for sustainable product development.
What you could build
Injectable or topically applied biocompatible hydrogel kits—sold as dry powders that form gels on mixing—for wound care, drug delivery matrices, or tissue engineering scaffolds; buyers would be medical device companies, pharmaceutical formulators, and regenerative medicine startups.
Who in Virginia should care
Virginia-based pharmaceutical contract manufacturers, biotech startups in the Northern Virginia/DC corridor, and university med-school research programs would be natural early adopters or licensing partners.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Kevin J. Edgar, Brittany L.B. Nichols, Junyi Chen, Charles Frazier, Lynne S. Taylor, Laura I. Mosquera-Giraldo, Ann Norris
- Granted
- December 10, 2024
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 12162962
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.