Collagen-like Protein Sponges for Medical Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing animal-derived collagen sponges face challenges such as poor solubility, allergies, and inefficient preservation of network structure during cross-linking, which affects their form stability and mechanical properties.
Innovation Solution
A method for preparing sponges based on collagen-like proteins involves providing an aqueous solution of collagen-like proteins, cross-linking with a cross-linker, forming a hydrogel, and then lyophilizing to obtain the sponge, which can be sterilized optionally.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If animal-derived collagen is used to prepare sponges, then the sponges can be used for medical applications, but they exhibit poor solubility in water and form viscous solutions requiring acid treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces animal-derived collagen with recombinant collagen-like proteins produced in E. coli, creating a disposable alternative that eliminates the need for complex purification and acid treatment steps. The recombinant proteins are produced as inclusion bodies that can be directly processed into sponges without requiring solubility optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the protein material by using freeze-dried inclusion bodies directly as the starting material. This parameter change from soluble protein to frozen-dried powder eliminates the need for acid dissolution and enables direct cross-linking and sponge formation with improved handling characteristics.
2Productivity
If freeze-dried material is cross-linked directly, then the process is faster, but the initial network structure cannot be efficiently preserved and form stability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary cross-linking to the freeze-dried inclusion bodies before sponge formation. This preliminary action creates stable intermolecular bonds that preserve the network structure during subsequent wetting and processing steps, preventing structural collapse while maintaining cross-linking efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a flexible cross-linked network structure that can accommodate the transition from dry to wet state without collapsing. The cross-linked inclusion bodies form a robust framework that maintains form stability while allowing the sponge to absorb fluids and expand.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cross-linking is performed on viscous solution, then the network structure can be preserved, but the process requires additional freeze-drying steps and is slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs cross-linking as a preliminary step before sponge formation and wetting. By cross-linking the freeze-dried material first, the network structure is locked in place before any structural changes occur during subsequent steps, eliminating the need for additional stabilization steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the conventional sequence by cross-linking the dry material first and then adding moisture, rather than cross-linking the wet solution. This inversion allows the cross-linked structure to serve as a stable framework that guides sponge formation without requiring prolonged processing.
4Reliability
If animal collagen sponges are used, then they provide wound sealing and healing promotion, but they cause allergies and intolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces animal-derived collagen with recombinant collagen-like proteins produced in E. coli, creating a disposable alternative that eliminates the need for complex purification and acid treatment steps. The recombinant proteins are produced as inclusion bodies that can be directly processed into sponges without requiring solubility optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining recombinant collagen-like proteins with cross-linking agents to produce sponges that replicate the functional properties of animal collagen while eliminating immunogenicity. The composite structure provides both mechanical integrity and biological functionality.
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 collagen-like protein sponges demonstrate improved form stability, stiffness, Young's modulus properties, and open porosity compared to animal-derived collagen sponges, while also reducing the number of processing steps.
Implementation Method 1
cross-linking the at least one collagen-like protein with at least one cross-linker via incubation to obtain a hydrogel
Implementation Method 2
performing a lyophilization step to obtain the sponge
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preparing a sponge based on collagen-like proteins starts with providing an aqueous solution having at least one collagen-like protein. A cross-linker reacts with the collagen-like protein to obtain a hydrogel and lyophilization leads to the sponge. The sponge obtained by the method shows increased performance in wound sealing, haemostasis, wound plugging, healing promotion, bone regeneration, cartilage repair, cell cultures, production of vegetarian or vegan meat or the absorption of biological fluids, like blood or wound exudate.