Hydrogel Comprising Dendritic Polyglycerol Units and Polyether Units

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This patent describes a novel hydrogel material made from dendritic polyglycerol units (with sulfate or sulfonate groups) and polyether units, which are chemically linked. The hydrogel has tunable mechanical properties and notable antiviral effects, especially against herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), due to multivalent interactions mimicking natural heparan sulfate. Its structure and properties allow it to bind and inhibit a range of viruses and potentially replace biological tissues like mucus, cartilage, or synovial fluid.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Mucus replacement in respiratory or other epithelial tissues to prevent viral infection.
• Cartilage or synovial fluid replacement in joints as a therapeutic implant.
• Topical antiviral therapy for infections such as herpes simplex virus (e.g., in creams, gels, or lip products).
• Matrix for in vitro cell and organoid cultivation and expansion, notably for stem cells or tissue engineering.
• In vitro virus-trapping or filtration systems for research or diagnostic applications.
• Development of antiviral wound dressings or medical device coatings to reduce risk of viral contamination.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Demonstrates strong antiviral activity, particularly against HSV-1, by mimicking natural heparan sulfate interactions.
• Highly biocompatible and safe for contact with various cell types with low cytotoxicity.
• Mechanical and viscoelastic properties can be tailored to match different tissue requirements (e.g., mucus or cartilage).
• Easy to manufacture via 'click' chemistry; can be scaled up for production.
• Can function as a flexible carrier or scaffold for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
• Potentially reduces or prevents establishment of viral infection reservoirs in treated tissues.

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a hydrogel comprising dendritic polyglycerol units and polyether units. The dendritic polyglycerol units correspond to general formula (I). They comprise a dendritic polyglycerol core having terminal hydroxyl groups and terminal sulfate or sulfonate substituents, wherein a degree of substitution of the dendritic polyglycerol core with sulfate or sulfonate substituents lies in a range from 10 % to 98 %. The polyether units correspond to general formula (II), wherein the dendritic polyglycerol units and the polyether units are covalently bound to each other via the bonds illustrated by dashed lines in formula (I) and formula (II). The hydrogel has antiviral properties and can be used, e.g., as mucus replacement, cartilage replacement, or synovial fluid replacement.