Amino Acid Functionalized PVC for Blood Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current PVC-based medical devices, such as blood storage bags and catheters, rely on DEHP plasticizers for flexibility, which are toxic and non-covalently bound, leading to adverse health effects due to excessive leaching into the body, and lack blood compatibility, causing clot formation.
Innovation Solution
Functionalization of PVC with amino acids having a hydropathic index between −3.5 and 1.8, such as Gly and β-Ala, to increase hydrophilicity and flexibility, reducing or eliminating the need for DEHP and enhancing blood compatibility by modifying the polymer surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If DEHP plasticizer is used to provide flexibility to PVC, then flexibility is improved, but toxicity increases due to leaching into the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the PVC by incorporating amino acids with specific hydropathic indices (between -3.5 and 1.8) during polymerization. This modifies the polymer's inherent properties to provide flexibility without requiring DEHP plasticizer, thereby eliminating the toxicity issue while maintaining the desired mechanical flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer structure by copolymerizing vinyl chloride with specific amino acids (Glycine, β-Alanine, Alanine). This composite approach combines the structural properties of PVC with the flexible, hydrophilic characteristics of amino acid side chains, achieving flexibility through molecular structure rather than additive plasticizers.
2Ease of operation
If DEHP plasticizer is used to provide flexibility to PVC, then flexibility is improved, but health effects worsen due to excessive leaching into the body
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the polymer composition by incorporating amino acid units during polymerization, modifying the PVC's molecular structure to inherently provide flexibility. This eliminates the need for DEHP plasticizer and its associated health risks from leaching, as the flexibility is built into the polymer chain itself through controlled copolymerization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and eliminates the harmful DEHP plasticizer component from the system by achieving flexibility through alternative means - specifically, by incorporating amino acids with appropriate hydropathic indices during the polymerization process, thereby removing the source of adverse health effects while preserving the desired flexibility.
3Ease of operation
If PVC surface is made hydrophobic to improve flexibility, then flexibility is improved, but blood compatibility worsens due to increased platelet adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface hydrophilicity parameter by selecting amino acids with specific hydropathic indices (between -3.5 and 1.8) for copolymerization. This creates a hydrophilic polymer surface that resists platelet adhesion while simultaneously providing flexibility through the amino acid side chains, thus improving both blood compatibility and flexibility concurrently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality modification by incorporating hydrophilic amino acid residues at specific positions within the polymer chain structure. These localized hydrophilic segments create a surface property that prevents platelet adhesion while the overall polymer structure maintains flexibility, resolving the contradiction between surface properties and mechanical properties.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The functionalized PVC exhibits improved flexibility and blood compatibility, reducing platelet adhesion and clot formation, while maintaining or increasing flexibility, thus providing a safer and more effective material for medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
Functionalization of PVC with amino acids having a hydropathic index between −3.5 and 1.8
Implementation Method 2
increase hydrophilicity and flexibility, reducing or eliminating the need for DEHP and enhancing blood compatibility by modifying the polymer surface
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the medical industry. In particular, it is related to a polyvinyl chloride polymer (PVC) functionalized for medical use, which is flexible and compatible with blood. Specifically, this invention is related to a biomolecule-functionalized PVC and its production method, in order to produce a flexible and blood-compatible polymer for medical use.