Hydrophobically Modified Biopolymers for Cohesive Hemostatic Adhesion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing hydrophobically-modified chitosans compromise tissue adhesion and material cohesion, particularly under significant blood flow, limiting their effectiveness as hemostatic agents.

Innovation Solution

Hydrophobically-modified biopolymers with covalently attached hydrophobic grafts and benzenediol groups, optionally oxidized to quinone, balance mucoadhesion, material cohesion, and hemostatic action, using chitosan, alginate, or cellulose as base polymers, with specific hydrophobic and benzenediol group densities and ratios to enhance adhesive and cohesive properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hydrophobically-modified chitosan is used to enhance hemostatic action, then hemostatic properties are improved, but tissue adhesion and material cohesion are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehemostatic actionVSAvoidmaterial cohesion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the degree of hydrophobic modification (0.01-15% hydrophobic grafts per monomer) and the ratio of benzenediol to quinone groups to achieve an optimal balance between hemostatic action, tissue adhesion, and material cohesion. This quantitative adjustment of chemical parameters resolves the contradiction by finding the precise modification level that provides hemostatic efficacy without compromising structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by combining hydrophobic grafts with benzenediol and quinone groups along the chitosan polymer backbone. This composite approach integrates multiple functional elements: hydrophobic regions for hemostatic activity, benzenediol groups for tissue adhesion, and quinone groups for oxidative crosslinking and structural stability, thereby achieving balanced performance across all three properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If hydrophobically-modified chitosan is used to enhance hemostatic action, then hemostatic properties are improved, but tissue adhesion is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehemostatic actionVSAvoidtissue adhesion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by adjusting the chemical composition parameters, specifically incorporating benzenediol groups (0.01-15% of monomers) that provide strong tissue adhesion through hydrogen bonding and hydroxyl interactions, while controlling hydrophobic graft content to maintain hemostatic functionality without excessive hydrophobicity that would reduce biocompatibility and adhesion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If hydrophobically-modified chitosan is used to enhance hemostatic action, then hemostatic properties are improved, but material cohesion in flowable form is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehemostatic actionVSAvoidmaterial cohesion in flowable form

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes phase transition principles by incorporating quinone groups that can undergo oxidative polymerization to form crosslinked networks, transforming the material from a simple flowable solution to a gel-like hemostat with enhanced structural stability. This phase change enables the material to maintain cohesion in flowable form while providing hemostatic action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure combining hydrophobic grafts with benzenediol and quinone groups, where the quinone groups provide oxidative crosslinking that stabilizes the flowable form, benzenediol groups maintain mucosal adhesion, and hydrophobic grafts provide hemostatic activity, achieving balanced performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 modified biopolymers provide tunable adhesive and cohesive properties, effectively controlling bleeding and managing wound exudate, even in severe conditions, with compositions suitable for surgical and external wound applications.

Implementation Method 1

a portion of the benzenediol groups are oxidized to the corresponding quinone

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Data Source

PatentUS20260097148A1Hydrophobically-modified polymers with benzenediol functional groups and oxidized forms thereof

Publication Date: 2026.04.09 MEDCURA INC

AI summary

The present disclosure provides hydrophobically-modified biopolymers, including hydrophobically-modified chitosans, which comprise benzenediol groups, optionally where a portion are oxidized to the corresponding quinone. The biopolymers demonstrate a surprising ability to tune mucoadhesive properties, material cohesive properties, and hemostatic action of the material, to provide next generation hemostats, among other uses. Accordingly, in other aspects, the disclosure provides compositions comprising the modified biopolymers of the disclosure as well as methods for bleed and wound treatment.