Method for Preparing Injectable Oxygen-Releasing Hydrogel and Biomedical Applications Thereof

Sustained-Release Oxygen-Generating Injectable Hydrogel Using Calcium Peroxide Ionic Crosslinking

This technology involves mixing anionic polymers, such as unmodified alginate, with calcium peroxide in a buffer solution. The calcium ions released from the decomposition of calcium peroxide ionically crosslink the polymers while simultaneously releasing oxygen, creating an injectable hydrogel. Oxygen release behavior can be modulated by adding catalase.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy requires specialized facilities and is limited to respiratory oxygen delivery, while hemoglobin- or perfluorocarbon-based oxygen carriers suffer from rapid oxygen release. Oxygen-generating substances like hydrogen peroxide or sodium percarbonate also fail to provide long-term oxygen supply after an initial rapid burst.

This technology allows for in-situ gelation upon injection through simple mixing without chemical synthesis. It enables control over mechanical strength and dissolved oxygen levels based on polymer and calcium peroxide concentrations, providing sustained oxygen release for over 48 hours. It can be used as a medical material for tissue engineering scaffolds, filler implants, wound healing/hemostatic agents, and drug delivery carriers to locally support the recovery of damaged, hypoxic tissues.

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Key Features:

• Method for preparing an injectable oxygen-releasing hydrogel by mixing natural or synthetic polymers and calcium peroxide in a Tris-HCl buffer
• Step of forming a hydrogel through ionic interaction between calcium ions—released as calcium peroxide decomposes into calcium hydroxide in the buffer—and polymer anions
• Manufacturing method using unmodified anionic polymers such as alginate, pectin, xanthan gum, or sodium carboxymethyl cellulose
• Tissue engineering scaffolds, filler implants, wound healing/hemostatic materials, and drug delivery carriers containing calcium-ion crosslinked hydrogels

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This invention was developed with support from the National Research Foundation of Korea for the development of tumor-vascular models using functional polymer hydrogels and hypoxia/reactive oxygen species-induced culture technology.

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