Amniotic Membrane Hydrogel for Wound Healing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for extensive burns and full-thickness skin wounds are limited by the need for cellular components, which can lead to immunological rejection and high costs, and existing non-cellular dermal substitutes result in poor cosmetic outcomes and high production costs.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising amniotic membrane, either in powder or solubilized form, is used to induce wound healing and tissue regeneration, which can be applied as a scaffold or incorporated into hydrogels for direct application to wounds, eliminating the need for cellular components and promoting bioactivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cellular components are used in wound healing treatments, then wound healing effectiveness is improved, but immunological rejection risk increases and treatment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound healing effectivenessVSAvoidimmunological rejection risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and utilizes specific bioactive components (growth factors, cytokines, extracellular matrix proteins) from amniotic membrane through solubilization, separating the beneficial healing factors from the cellular components that cause immunological rejection. This allows the therapeutic effects to be retained while eliminating the harmful immune response triggers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The amniotic membrane acts as an intermediary source, providing a natural reservoir of bioactive molecules that mediate wound healing without requiring living cells. The membrane serves as a biocompatible carrier that delivers healing factors while avoiding the immunological issues associated with cellular therapies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If cellular components are used in wound healing treatments, then wound healing effectiveness is improved, but treatment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewound healing effectivenessVSAvoidtreatment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes amniotic membrane, a byproduct of childbirth, as a cost-effective source of bioactive molecules. The membrane can be processed into solubilized forms that provide wound healing benefits without requiring expensive cellular culture facilities, GMP-grade cell production, or complex biomanufacturing infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If non-cellular dermal substitutes are used, then production cost is reduced, but cosmetic outcome quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduction costVSAvoidcosmetic outcome quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite therapeutic composition by solubilizing amniotic membrane components, combining multiple bioactive molecules (growth factors, cytokines, ECM proteins) into a unified formulation. This composite approach replicates the complexity and effectiveness of cellular therapies while maintaining the simplicity and cost advantages of non-cellular products.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Speed

If amniotic membrane composition is applied to wounds, then re-epithelialization speed is improved, but treatment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvere-epithelialization speedVSAvoidtreatment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms amniotic membrane from its native solid state into solubilized forms, changing the physical and chemical parameters to create formulations that can be easily applied as gels, creams, or sprays. This parameter transformation simplifies the application process while maintaining the bioactive components' ability to accelerate re-epithelialization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 amniotic membrane-based composition enhances wound healing by accelerating re-epithelialization, reducing contraction, and promoting blood vessel development without the immunological drawbacks of cellular therapies, offering a cost-effective and efficient treatment option.

Implementation Method 1

The scaffolds may be comprised of natural or synthetic polymers, alone or in combination, and may include natural or synthetic growth factors, and other bioactive molecules

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExtracellular matrix support:

Implementation Method 2

hydrogels for direct application to wounds

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrogel absorption: Hydrogel

Data Source

PatentUS20240398873A1Amniotic Membrane Hydrogel and Methods of Making

Publication Date: 2024.12.05 WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES INC

AI summary

The present invention provides compositions and methods for wound healing and tissue regeneration. The compositions of the present invention comprise amniotic membrane of the placenta. In certain embodiments, the composition comprises amniotic membrane powder or solubilized amniotic membrane (SAM). In some aspects, the composition is cell-free and rich in cytokines, extracellular matrix proteins, and other components that improve tissue regeneration. In one aspect, the composition is a hydrogel scaffold that comprises amniotic membrane. The present invention reduces contraction and improves blood vessel development in regenerating tissue.