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Selective Excerpts
of the market research report concerning the application and trends in
the medical, pharmaceuticals market sectors.
Note: This
report is available for sale.
1. The report costs
$500, prepaid to Costas B. Chantzis, c/o TechnoBusiness Solutions, and
non-refundable.
2. It is about 8
pages long.
3. It covers
activities between 1977-1997.
Executive
Summary
- Hydrogels are water
swollen networks of water-loving polymers. Since the mid 80s
synthetic hydrogel applications have began to grow at a fast pace.
- The hydrogel industry
---------. The top --- companies hold ---% of the total intellectual
property for hydrogels.
- The major application
areas include: ------.
- The potential market
for hydrogels is indeed both big and untapped. Therefore, we expect
it to have continued growth.
Opportunities for strategic alliances are many and offer
attractive rewards.
1.
Background / Project Objectives
Hydrogels are
water-swollen networks of hydrophilic homopolymers or copolymers. These
networks may be formed by various techniques, however the most common
synthetic route is the free radical polymerization of vinyl monomers in
the presence of a difunctional crosslinking agent and a swelling agent.
The resulting polymer is interesting in that it exhibits both liquid-like
and solid like properties. The liquid-like properties result from the
fact that the major constituent (>80%) is water. However, the polymer
also exhibits solid-like properties due to the network formed by the
crosslinking reaction. These solid-like properties take the form of a
shear modulus which is evident upon deformation.
If an ionic or
hydrophobic monomer is incorporated into the hydrogel network, a
responsive polymer is often created. This responsiveness takes the form
of a volume phase transition, which is characterized by a sudden change
in the degree of swelling upon a small change in environmental
conditions. This behavior follows the trends seen in linear polymer
systems showing response to environmental pH, salt concentrations, and
temperature. For example it is well known that poly(isopropylacrylamide)
contains a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) at ~34oC. Likewise
isopropylacrylamide hydrogels undergo a discrete collapse of the polymer
network ~32oC. Discrete changes in swelling behavior may also be seen in
hydrogels incorporating a monomer containing a carboxylic acid moiety.
Therefore, with changes in pH, the hydrogel's charge density will change
and thus, the swelling behavior of the gel. By changing the amount of
water associated with the network, one is effectively changing the
hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance and therefore, one may utilize these
systems to reversibly interact with hydrophobic materials.
2. Hydrogel
Applications
Hydrogels have
been around for a while. However, synthetic hydogel applications began to
grow rapidly since the mid 1980s. Currently they are being used widely
throughout the industry.
This report
focuses on the pharmaceutical and related business segments. The
following are the major application areas:
3. Market Players
The intellectual
property concerning hydrogels is widely dispersed throughout the industry
since the mid 80s. The majority of these patents are owned by entities
which are involved in the ---industries. A number of academic
institutions and other research foundations own the remaining
intellectual know-how.
We have compiled
the following data for the last twenty (20) years and in terms of
a) % of hydrogel-related patents ----
The leading
companies - except that of the universities - hold ---.
4. Research Areas
Synthetic hydrogels
are by far the fastest growing segment. A number of universities have
been conducting pioneering research utilizing hydrogels. In
addition, there are a number of patents which have not yet been
assigned to companies for their licensing and/or commercialization.
The leading
hydrogel product application areas which are currently going through the
various screening, development, clinical trial and or commercialization
phases are:
5. Our Expert
Comments About Worldwide Trends
This industry
segment is being led by developments arising from --- The potential
market for hydrogels is indeed ---.
The various
business entities will reap hefty rewards if they would be prepared to
develop ---. The goal should be to invent, develop and commercialize
products which will satisfy ---. The fact that ---- indicates that such
--- be mutually beneficial to the engaged parties.
Copyright
2000.
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