Reversible Hydrogels U.S. Patent #6,090,911 Abstract: The invention is based on the discovery that a block copolymer that includes _-helical blocks, e.g. terminal blocks, which form intermolecular coiled-coil structures, and one or more random-coiled blocks, which link the _-helical blocks, can form suspensions that can reversibly gel to form monodisperse hydrogels. The transition between the gel and liquid phases depends on pH, temperature, concentration, and chemical structure. The copolymers can be synthesized biologically through genetic engineering. View the full PDF