Chitosan Film-Hydrogel Prosthesis Layer for Post-Surgical Adhesion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current biomaterials for preventing post-surgical adhesions, such as those based on hyaluronic acid, collagen, or cellulose, face issues like residual toxicity, uncontrollable biodegradability, low mechanical resistance, and difficulty in preventing biological contaminants, particularly when used in surgical implants like hernia treatments where fine knits with large pores are required.

Innovation Solution

A textile support coated with a chitosan-based film and a chitosan hydrogel on one side, where the hydrogel is isolated from the textile by the film, preventing infiltration and maintaining mechanical integrity while allowing controlled biodegradability and anti-adhesive properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a fine knit with large pores is used to limit foreign body introduction, then the mechanical resistance and ability to retain biological contaminants deteriorates, but if a thicker knit with finer pores is used, then the ability to prevent cell colonization improves while the foreign body burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell colonization preventionVSAvoidforeign body burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The prosthesis is segmented into multiple functional layers: a reinforcement layer (fine knit with smaller pores for contaminant retention), an intermediate layer (chitosan film providing barrier function), and an anti-adhesion layer (chitosan hydrogel for preventing cell colonization). This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function without compromising the others, solving the contradiction between pore size and foreign body burden.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite structure combining different materials (textile knit, chitosan film, chitosan hydrogel) with distinct properties. The fine knit provides mechanical strength and contaminant filtration, while the chitosan-based layers provide biological functionality. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by distributing functions across materials with complementary properties rather than relying on a single material to fulfill all requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If chemical crosslinking based on aldehydes is used to create anti-adhesive membranes, then the mechanical resistance improves, but residual toxicity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical resistanceVSAvoidresidual toxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the chemical parameters of crosslinking by using transglutaminase enzyme catalysis instead of aldehyde-based chemical crosslinking. This enzymatic crosslinking mechanism achieves comparable mechanical strength while avoiding the residual toxicity associated with aldehyde crosslinkers, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and toxicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The chitosan-based anti-adhesive layer is designed to be bioresorbable and temporarily functional. It provides the necessary anti-adhesive properties during the critical healing period, then gradually degrades and is absorbed by the body. This temporary functionality reduces the need for long-term mechanical strength, allowing the use of gentler crosslinking methods that avoid residual toxicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If biodegradability is increased to improve bioresorbability, then the function as a physical barrier between tissues deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebioresorbabilityVSAvoidphysical barrier function
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a dynamic system where the biodegradability of different layers is staged. The chitosan hydrogel layer degrades first (within weeks), providing temporary anti-adhesion while maintaining barrier function. The chitosan film and reinforcement layer degrade more slowly (months), maintaining structural integrity and physical barrier function throughout the healing process. This dynamic, staged degradation resolves the contradiction between bioresorbability and sustained barrier function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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 chitosan-based film and hydrogel combination provides a stable, biocompatible, and bioresorbable solution that effectively prevents post-surgical adhesions by maintaining mechanical resistance and controlled biodegradability, reducing the risk of adhesions and inflammatory reactions, while allowing tissue integration and recolonization.

Implementation Method 1

the film, which makes it possible to distinguish the two faces of the composition obtained... the film makes it possible to prevent the gel from invading the pores of the knit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical barrier: Physical Containment

Implementation Method 2

a hydrogel... which has anti-adhesive properties during healing... effectively prevents post-surgical adhesions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAnti-adhesive property: Lubrication

Implementation Method 3

biodegradability is not sufficiently controllable... controlled biodegradability... allowing controlled biodegradability

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBiodegradation: Decomposition (biological)

Implementation Method 4

the mechanical resistance of some of these materials is too low and they cannot withstand the tensions imposed after implantation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical resistance: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2288744B1Combination of chitosan film and hydrogel, and surgical uses thereof
Publication Date: 2012.07.11 ANALYTIC BIOSURGICAL SOLUTIONS ABISS
  • EP2288744B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2288744B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP2288744B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a composition including combination of a chitosan film, containing 20% water (by weight), and a chitosan hydrogel, chitosan derivative, or chitosan complex, containing at least 80% water (by weight). The present invention also relates to a composition including combination of a textile substrate; a chitosan film, containing less than 20% water (by weight); and a chitosan hydrogel, chitosan derivative, or chitosan complex, containing 80% water (by weight), such that the hydrogel is only present on one of the two surfaces of the textile substrate. Said compositions are particularly used in the development of prostheses with a view to surgical, cosmetic, or aesthetic implants. The present invention also relates to methods for obtaining said compositions.