Biodegradable Barrier Membrane for Guided Tissue Regeneration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current separation membranes used in Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) and Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) face challenges such as the need for animal-derived materials, potential inflammation due to biodegradation, and limited control over biodegradation periods.
Innovation Solution
A thin, porous, and elastic fibrous structure made of spontaneously distributed polymer fibers from a biodegradable polymer solution using electrospinning, coated with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The fibers are a mixture of poly-DL-lactide (PDLLA) and polylactide-glycolide (PLGA) with a hydroxyapatite content ranging from 10 to 25% by weight, enhancing tissue affinity and biodegradation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If animal-derived collagen membranes are used for tissue separation, then satisfactory tissue growth and stable base attachment are achieved, but the need for animal tissue extraction and long processing to remove lipids and protein remnants occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by using synthetic biodegradable polymers (PLGA, PLA, PCL) instead of animal-derived collagen, while adjusting molecular weight, degradation rate, and porosity parameters to achieve comparable tissue growth and attachment properties without animal tissue processing
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite structures by combining multiple synthetic polymers (e.g., PLGA-PLA blends) or combining polymer matrices with bioactive additives (nanohydroxyapatite, collagen peptides) to replicate the functional properties of animal-derived collagen while eliminating the manufacturing drawbacks
2Duration of action of stationary object
If fully biodegradable membranes are used to enable gradual dissolution, then tissue regeneration is facilitated, but increased risk of inflammation occurs due to local drop in tissue pH during biodegradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the biodegradation rate parameters by selecting specific polymer compositions (PLGA ratios, molecular weights, crystallinity) to control the degradation timeline, and modifies the membrane structure parameters (porosity, surface area) to distribute acid byproducts over larger volumes and longer periods, reducing peak pH drops that trigger inflammation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces basic buffering agents (calcium carbonate, magnesium oxide, trisodium citrate) as intermediary substances that neutralize the acidic byproducts of polymer biodegradation, maintaining tissue pH within physiological ranges and preventing inflammation while allowing controlled degradation to proceed
3Strength
If non-porous membranes are used for separation, then stable base attachment is achieved, but free flow of nutrients and oxygen through the membrane is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous membrane structures with controlled pore sizes (20-200 μm) and porosity (30-70%) that maintain mechanical stability for base attachment while enabling adequate diffusion and convection of nutrients and oxygen to support tissue regeneration on both sides of the membrane
4Ease of manufacture
If synthetic biodegradable polymer membranes are used to eliminate animal tissue, then manufacturing is simplified, but porosity constitutes a barrier for cells and protection against bacterial penetration occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes pore size (20-200 μm) and porosity (30-70%) to exceed the dimensions of cells and extracellular matrix components, enabling cell migration and tissue infiltration through the membrane while the interconnected pore structure allows nutrient diffusion and waste removal for sustained tissue integration
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 membrane exhibits high saline wettability, mechanical properties similar to natural gum tissue, and controlled biodegradation, reducing tissue inflammation and facilitating tissue regeneration with improved tissue affinity and biodegradation control.
Implementation Method 1
A thin, porous, and elastic fibrous structure made of spontaneously distributed polymer fibers from a biodegradable polymer solution using electrospinning
Implementation Method 2
coated with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. The fibers are a mixture of poly-DL-lactide (PDLLA) and polylactide-glycolide (PLGA) with a hydroxyapatite content ranging from 10 to 25% by weight
Implementation Method 3
enabling the free flow of nutrients and oxygen through the structure of the membrane
Implementation Method 4
The membrane's porosity ranges from 50 to 95%, advantageously from 60 to 90%, and the size of membrane pores ranges from 5 to 30 μm
Implementation Method 5
The membrane exhibits high saline wettability
Implementation Method 6
controlled biodegradation, which enables tissue regeneration
Implementation Method 7
The procedure of using a barrier membrane for tissue separation is called Guided Tissue Regeneration (GTR) or Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR). Separation membranes used for such purposes should be primarily characterized by controlled biodegradation
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The membrane has a form of a thin, porous, and elastic fibrous structure with spontaneously distributed polymer fibres (9) with a thickness ranging from 0.5 to 4 pm. The specific surface area of the membrane ranges from 5 m2/g to 20 m2/g. The fibres (9) of the membrane are coated with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles with a size of 50 nm at most and a molar ratio of calcium to phosphorus (Ca/P) ranging from 1.56 to 1.66, and the hydroxyapatite content in the membrane is 10 to 25% by weight. The material of the fibres (9) is a mixture of poly-DL-lactide (PDLLA) and polylactide-glycolide (PLGA). The hydroxyapatite coating of the fibres (9) of the membrane has the form of a matrix of these fibres (9) with a thickness ranging from 10 to 300 nm, and the coating rate of the fibres (9) by hydroxyapatite particles is at least 40%. The porosity of the membrane ranges from 50 to 95%, the size of its pores ranges from 5 to 30 pm, and its water absorption capacity ranges from 300 to 600%. The method of producing such membrane includes a step of producing the aforementioned fibrous structure using the method of electrospinning from a polymer solution and a step of coating the polymer fibres (9) of the produced structure with a hydroxyapatite layer by immersion. During the first step, the fibrous structure is produced from a solution made of a mixture of poly-DL- lactide (PDLLA) and polylactide-glycolide (PLGA) and a volatile solvent. During the second step, a water suspension is produced with a temperature of 30°C at most, in which the dispersed phase are hydroxyapatite particles with an average grain size of 50 nm at most and their mass content in the entire suspension is 0.5% at most. After immersing the fibrous structure in the prepared suspension, an ultra- sound wave with a power intensity ranging from 3 to 15 W/cm2 and a duration of at least four minutes is generated near the fibres (9) of this structure.