Biodegradable Diblock Copolymer Thermosensitive Gelation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current biodegradable copolymers lack thermosensitivity and biodegradability, making them unsuitable for delivering biological activity factors and promoting tissue regeneration, particularly in orthopedic applications where they are needed to adhere bone fragments and soft tissues effectively.
Innovation Solution
A biodegradable diblock copolymer with a hydrophilic segment of endcapped polyethylene glycol and a hydrophobic segment composed of random copolymers of lactic acid/glycolic acid and lactones or cyclic C3-C6 molecules, which forms micelles in solution and transitions from a liquid to a gel at body temperature, providing a reversible phase transfer and enhanced adhesion strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional bone cement (polymethylmethacrylate) is used for bone fragment fixation, then adhesion strength is improved, but biodegradability deteriorates and complete bone healing is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using poly(glycidyl methacrylate-co-ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) instead of conventional polymethylmethacrylate, creating a biodegradable copolymer that maintains adhesion strength while enabling complete bone healing through natural degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining biodegradable copolymer with bone fragments and soft tissues, where the copolymer serves as both adhesion agent and temporary structural support that degrades over time to allow complete healing
2Loss of time
If sutureless anchor is used for ablated tissue, then operating time is reduced, but stress concentration on ablated tissue increases forming bulge
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces biodegradable copolymer as an intermediary material between the anchor and ablated tissue, where the copolymer adheres to the ablated tissue surface and distributes stress uniformly, preventing stress concentration and bulge formation while allowing minimal invasive surgery
3Manufacturing precision
If material transforms to gel after injection for fixing activity factors, then delivery precision is improved, but biodegradability deteriorates preventing in vivo implantation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameters by formulating a liquid solution of biodegradable copolymer that transforms to gel at body temperature, enabling precise delivery through injection while maintaining biodegradability for in vivo implantation and slow release of activity factors
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 copolymer solution exhibits rapid gelation, high adhesion strength, and controlled drug release, making it suitable for tissue engineering, biological glue, and delivery of biological activity factors, while being biocompatible and non-toxic.
Implementation Method 1
the material which is subsequently injected into a body by a catheter or an endoscope, should transform to a gel after injection for fixing activity factors in the predetermined tissue regions
Implementation Method 2
Some materials have excellent thermosensitivity and gel formability but poor biodegradability
Implementation Method 3
A biodegradable diblock copolymer with a hydrophilic segment of endcapped polyethylene glycol and a hydrophobic segment composed of random copolymers of lactic acid/glycolic acid and lactones or cyclic C3-C6 molecules, which forms micelles in solution
Implementation Method 4
The materials which serve as a delivery carrier must possess bio-compatibility and biodegrability for an implanting in vivo
Implementation Method 5
transform to a gel after injection for fixing activity factors in the predetermined tissue regions, and slowly releasing the activity factors to complete treatment
Implementation Method 6
the bioadhesion is utilized to adhere to the ablated tissues to accelerate tissue regeneration
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed is a biodegradable copolymer, an amphiphilic diblock copolymer, composed of a hydrophilic segment and a hydrophobic segment. The hydrophilic segment is an endcapped PEG or derivatives thereof. The hydrophilic segment is a random polymer polymerized of lactone or cyclic C3-C6 molecule and lactic acid/glycolic acid. There is no coupling agent between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic segments, and the biodegradable copolymer is formed by one-pot ring-opening polymerization. The biodegradable copolymer can be dissolved in water to form a thermosensitive material having a phase transfer temperature of 25 to 50° C., thereby being applied to biological activity factor delivery, tissue engineering, cell culture and biological glue.