Biocompatible Adhesive for Wet Tissue Bonding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tissue adhesives are inadequate for clinical use due to toxicity, poor adhesion on wet surfaces, and inability to withstand mechanical stresses and dynamic environments, necessitating a biocompatible adhesive that can bond strongly to wet tissues, sustain mechanical loads, and be tunable in degradation.
Innovation Solution
A biocompatible adhesive system comprising a hydrogel with covalent and ionic crosslinked polymer networks, a high-density primary amine polymer, and a coupling agent, which forms strong, selective adhesion and is elastomeric, allowing for deformation and tunable degradation, achieving high adhesion energy (>1000 J/m2) even in wet environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If cyanoacrylate is used as tissue adhesive, then adhesion speed is fast, but adhesion strength on wet surfaces is poor and toxicity occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite adhesive system comprising a hydrogel matrix (first polymer network with covalent crosslinks and second polymer network with ionic crosslinks) combined with a silane-based adhesive monomer and water. This composite structure allows the adhesive to achieve both rapid bonding and strong adhesion on wet surfaces, resolving the contradiction between fast adhesion speed and strong adhesion strength.
2Strength
If current tissue adhesives are used, then adhesion is achieved, but ability to withstand mechanical stresses and dynamic movements is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates dynamic characteristics by using a hydrogel matrix that can deform elastically under mechanical stress. The elastomeric nature of the adhesive allows it to accommodate dynamic movements of tissues (such as beating heart) while maintaining adhesion strength, thus resolving the contradiction between adhesion strength and ability to withstand mechanical stresses.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the adhesive by controlling the crosslinking density and composition of the hydrogel network. This allows the adhesive to maintain optimal mechanical properties and reliability under varying physiological conditions, resolving the contradiction between adhesion strength and reliability under mechanical stress.
3Strength
If adhesive is applied to wet tissues, then adhesion can occur, but selectivity and biocompatibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a biodegradable hydrogel matrix that naturally degrades in the body through hydrolysis of the polymer network. This allows the adhesive to perform its function temporarily and then be safely eliminated, avoiding long-term toxicity while maintaining effective adhesion during the healing period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the adhesive by selecting specific biocompatible polymers and crosslinking agents. This ensures the adhesive maintains strength on wet surfaces while being non-toxic and selectively adhering to tissues, resolving the contradiction between adhesion strength and biocompatibility.
4Strength
If strong adhesion is achieved on wet surfaces, then bonding strength increases, but adhesion energy becomes excessively high causing unwanted adhesion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of different adhesion strength within the adhesive system. The hydrogel matrix provides controlled adhesion strength in specific areas while maintaining overall biocompatibility and preventing unwanted adhesion to non-target surfaces, thus resolving the contradiction between adhesion strength and prevention of unwanted adhesion.
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 adhesive system provides strong, rapid adhesion to wet biological tissues, sustains significant mechanical loads, and is biocompatible, with the ability to adhere to dynamic surfaces like the heart, while being non-toxic and having a controlled degradation rate, outperforming existing adhesives in terms of adhesion energy and tissue compatibility.
Implementation Method 1
a hydrogel comprising a first polymer network and a second polymer network, wherein the first polymer network comprises covalent crosslinks
Implementation Method 2
the second polymer network comprises ionic crosslinks
Implementation Method 3
a high density primary amine polymer; and c) a coupling agent. The synergistic effect from the three components leads to a biocompatible adhesive combining tough bulk matrix and extremely adhesive surfaces
Implementation Method 4
the biocompatible adhesives disclosed herein can sustain significant mechanical loads without failure and have an elastomeric interface that enables large deformation of the adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a biocompatible adhesive system comprising a) a hydrogel comprising a first polymer network and a second polymer network, wherein the first polymer network comprises covalent crosslinks and the second polymer network comprises ionic crosslinks; b) a high density primary amine polymer; and c) a coupling agent. The present invention also provides methods preparing and using the biocompatible adhesive system.