Materials With Time Dependent LCST and pH Sensitivity

Significant interest exists in developing biomaterials that are injectable, in situ forming, and biodegradable for drug delivery, cancer therapy, tissue reconstruction, and tissue engineering, to name a few. In cases where final shape is not important or must be defined by the local in vivo environment, the use of injectable and in situ forming materials is ideal.Researchers at Arizona State University have invented an in situ forming, injectable, and biodegradable biomaterials system possessing time dependent lower critical solution temperatures (LCSTs). This system has the following advantages: 1) injectable as a liquid; 2) water based; 3) uses no reactive chemistry; and 4) generates no heat during formation.