Bioabsorbable Adhesive Compounds for Flexible Tissue Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical adhesives and sealants face challenges in achieving high initial tack, rapid bonding to living tissue, sufficient strength, and biocompatibility, with limitations such as high flexural modulus and variability in natural materials, while also needing to be flexible and consistent.
Innovation Solution
Development of bioabsorbable compounds with specific molecular structures that are flowable and functionalizable, allowing for the creation of a two-part adhesive system that can be sprayable, with components reacting to form a gel matrix for tissue adhesion and sealing, using dihydroxy compounds and bioabsorbable monomers like glycolide and lactide, and functionalizing with electrophilic or nucleophilic groups for enhanced properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If cyanoacrylate adhesive is used, then high initial tack and rapid bonding are achieved, but flexural modulus becomes too high limiting flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using polyesters and polyether esters instead of cyanoacrylate, and controls molecular weight and hydroxyl value to achieve optimal balance between strength and flexibility. The adhesive composition includes specific ratios of polyester (30-70 wt%) and polyether ester (30-70 wt%) with controlled molecular weights to reduce flexural modulus while maintaining bonding strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite adhesive system combining polyester and polyether ester components with complementary properties. The polyester provides strength and adhesion while the polyether ester contributes flexibility and low temperature toughness, achieving a balanced performance that neither component could achieve alone.
2Reliability
If natural material sealants like fibrin are used, then biocompatibility is improved, but material variability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses fully synthetic polyester and polyether ester polymers that are produced through controlled polymerization processes, eliminating the need for natural material extraction and processing. These synthetic polymers provide consistent, reproducible properties batch-to-batch while maintaining excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls key parameters including molecular weight (10,000-100,000), hydroxyl value (10-50 mg KOH/g), and composition ratios to ensure consistent adhesive performance. The synthetic nature of the polymers allows precise control over these parameters, eliminating the variability inherent in natural materials.
3Ease of operation
If adhesive viscosity is reduced for sprayability, then ease of operation is improved, but bonding strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes viscosity parameters to achieve a balance between sprayability and bonding strength. The adhesive composition has a controlled viscosity range (100-10,000 cP at 25°C) achieved by adjusting polymer molecular weight, composition ratios, and adding low molecular weight plasticizers. This allows the adhesive to be sprayable while maintaining sufficient bonding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses low molecular weight plasticizers and solvents as intermediaries to reduce viscosity and improve sprayability without compromising the fundamental bonding mechanism. These additives temporarily reduce viscosity during application but are either evaporated or remain in controlled amounts that do not interfere with adhesive performance.
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 bioabsorbable compounds provide a flexible, biocompatible, and consistent adhesive or sealant with low viscosity, enabling rapid bonding and tissue adhesion, reducing the need for sutures and minimizing tissue deformation, while being easily sprayable and controllable in viscosity for various medical applications.
Implementation Method 1
Methods of making a compound of formula (I) are also contemplated wherein a dihydroxy compound is reacted with a bioabsorbable polymer under transesterifying conditions.
Implementation Method 2
The compound of formula I can be functionalized with either electrophilic or nucleophilic groups to provide a compound of the following formula (II)
Implementation Method 3
The compound of formula (I) may be functionalized with isocyanate groups, the resulting compound thus having the following formula (III)
Implementation Method 4
a two part adhesive system which includes a first component containing a functionalized compound of formula (II) and a second component containing a multifunctional compound
Data Source
AI summary
Flowable bioabsorbable compounds are provided which are useful in producing surgical adhesive or sealant compositions.