Calcium Alkoxyalkoxide Thermal Decomposition for Tunable Ion Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current biodegradable calcium release materials for tissue engineering face challenges such as unstable dispersion in biomaterial polymer matrices, slow ion release rates, and potential toxicity from components like titanium and phosphates, which require complex synthetic procedures and can cause undesirable side effects.

Innovation Solution

A method of preparing calcium materials with tunable calcium release properties by varying the treatment temperature of calcium alkoxyalkoxide particles, resulting in a range of calcium release profiles without the use of titanium or phosphate components, using a process that involves preparing calcium alkoxyalkoxide and submitting it to temperatures between 70°C and 600°C to achieve controlled calcium ion release.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If phosphate-based glasses with titanium and phosphate components are used to achieve controlled ion release, then calcium ion release can be controlled, but toxicity increases due to titanium and phosphate components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled ion releaseVSAvoidtoxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful titanium and phosphate components from the glass composition, retaining only calcium oxide as the active ingredient. This is achieved by using calcium alkoxide as the sole precursor material, which decomposes to form calcium oxide particles without introducing toxic contaminants, thus eliminating toxicity while preserving controlled calcium ion release capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by eliminating titanium and phosphate oxides from the glass system. Instead of using multi-component phosphate-based glasses, the invention uses pure calcium oxide derived from calcium alkoxide decomposition, fundamentally altering the material composition to remove harmful elements while maintaining the desired ion release function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If complex synthetic procedures are used to achieve controlled ion release, then ion release can be controlled, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrolled ion releaseVSAvoidsynthetic procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes complex multi-step synthesis procedures involving multiple precursor mixtures. By using a single calcium alkoxide precursor that decomposes directly to calcium oxide, the invention simplifies the synthetic pathway from complex multi-component reactions to a single-step decomposition process, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining controlled release functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of starting with complex phosphate-based glass compositions and attempting to control release through compositional tuning, the invention inverts the approach by using simple calcium alkoxide decomposition. This reverse strategy achieves controlled release through thermal decomposition kinetics rather than complex glass chemistry, significantly simplifying the synthetic procedure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If calcium materials are used for tissue engineering, then tissue regeneration is promoted, but unstable dispersion in polymer matrices occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetissue regeneration promotionVSAvoiddispersion stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention applies local quality control by ensuring uniform distribution of calcium oxide particles within the polymer matrix through the decomposition of homogeneously mixed calcium alkoxide precursor. The local decomposition events create uniformly dispersed calcium particles throughout the matrix, improving dispersion stability while maintaining the tissue regeneration benefits of calcium release

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 method allows for a controlled and sustained release of calcium ions, improving biocompatibility and reducing toxicity concerns, with the ability to adjust release rates by temperature treatment, enhancing tissue regeneration applications without the need for complex synthetic procedures.

Implementation Method 1

A method of preparing calcium materials with tunable calcium release properties by varying the treatment temperature of calcium alkoxyalkoxide particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP3634433B1Controllable ion release calcium particles, method for producing same and use thereof
Publication Date: 2023.09.06 FUNDACIO INST DE BIOENGINYERIA DE CATALUNYA (IBEC)
  • EP3634433B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3634433B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3634433B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present invention refers to a method for the synthesis of a biodegradable calcium release material that shows controlled ion release properties for tissue engineering, biomaterials containing said calcium particles as well as the calcium particles obtainable therefrom. By varying the treatment temperature of the described method, the calcium material shows different calcium release profiles. Contrary to a specific chemical composition such as CaCO3 which is associated to a specific calcium release profile, the present invention allows a manifold of compositions, with a manifold of calcium release profiles, all starting from a single specific chemical composition calcium precursor. Therefore, the invention also relates to the use of the controllable release, calcium material in tissue regeneration such as wound healing processes.