Patent ID: 7425322

Claim:
A polymeric system, comprising: a polymeric component capable of undergoing a transition that results in a sharp increase in viscosity in response to a triggering effect of a temperature increase from a lower temperature to a temperature of about 37° C. and wherein said polymeric component is a block copolymer comprising polyethylene oxide (PEO) and polypropylene oxide (PPO) selected from the group consisting of a diblock, a triblock, and a segmented block copolymer comprising polyethylene oxide (PEG) and polypropylene oxide (PPO) chains connected via chain extenders; a solid, non-ceramic reinforcing component which reinforces the polymeric component and wherein said reinforcing component is a macro, micro or nano-sized polymer material comprising methacrylic polymers or polyesters; and a water-based solvent; wherein the viscosity of said polymeric component increases by at least about two times upon exposure of said polymeric system to said temperature increase.