CROSSLINKED HYDROGELS WITH TUNABLE RADIOPACITY FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS

In some aspects the present disclosure provides a radiopaque, reactive copolymer comprising at least one hydrophilic polymer segment having a plurality of hydrophilic polymer segment ends, a plurality of iodinated polymer segments covalently linked to the plurality of hydrophilic polymer segment ends, and a plurality of reactive moieties covalently linked to the iodinated polymer segments. In other aspects, the present disclosure pertains to a system for forming a hydrogel composition that comprises (a) such a radiopaque, reactive copolymer and (b) a nucleophilic compound, as well as to a crosslinked reaction product of the same. In further aspects, the present disclosure pertains to a method of treatment comprising administering to a subject a mixture that comprises (a) such a radiopaque, reactive copolymer and (b) a nucleophilic compound, under conditions such that the nucleophilic compound and the radiopaque, reactive copolymer crosslink after administration.