Elastic Macroporous Scaffold via Ice Templating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current macroporous scaffolds lack elasticity and mechanical robustness, are brittle, and require harsh conditions for preparation, making them unsuitable for tissue engineering and industrial applications, while existing methods for preparing elastic scaffolds with desired properties are not industrially viable or biocompatible.
Innovation Solution
Development of elastic macro porous scaffolds comprising amine-coated particles with amine in the range of 5-40% and a cross linker in the range of 5-40%, prepared by ice-templating, which regains its shape after large compressional strain exceeding 50% and exhibits significant organic and water sorption capacity and selectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If polymeric materials are used for macroporous scaffolds, then flexibility and elasticity are improved, but mechanical properties cannot be varied significantly and surface characteristics are not easily tunable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials combining inorganic particles (silica, hydroxyapatite, titania, zirconia) with organic polymers (chitosan, gelatin, collagen, alginate, polyethylene glycol). This composite structure provides both the flexibility and elasticity from the polymer matrix and the mechanical robustness with tunable properties from the inorganic particles. The composite nature allows simultaneous achievement of elasticity and adaptable mechanical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by coating inorganic particles with specific polymers and functional groups at localized regions. The particles are coated with amines, carboxylic acids, or other functional groups that provide localized surface characteristics. This allows different regions of the scaffold to have different properties - the polymer matrix provides flexibility while the coated particles provide tunable mechanical properties and surface characteristics.
2Strength
If inorganic sol-gel materials are used for macroporous scaffolds, then mechanical robustness is improved, but brittleness increases and elasticity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates composite materials where inorganic particles (silica, hydroxyapatite, titania, zirconia) are dispersed within and bonded to a polymer matrix. The inorganic particles provide mechanical robustness and strength, while the polymer matrix provides flexibility and elasticity. This composite structure eliminates the brittleness of pure inorganic materials while maintaining their mechanical strength advantages.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses polymer coatings and shells around inorganic particles to provide flexibility. The polymer matrix acts as a flexible shell that binds the rigid inorganic particles together, allowing the overall structure to be mechanically robust yet flexible and elastic. The polymer phase absorbs stress and prevents crack propagation that would occur in brittle inorganic materials.
3Shape
If sacrificial templates are used for preparing macroporous scaffolds, then ordered macropores are achieved, but severe conditions (extremely high or low pH and/or high temperatures) are required for template removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts or removes the ice template through melting after freezing the aqueous suspension. Instead of using chemical sacrificial templates that require harsh removal conditions, the ice template is physically removed by simply melting it at elevated temperatures or allowing it to thaw. This eliminates the need for extreme pH or temperature conditions during template removal while still achieving ordered macroporous structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transitions of water (freezing and melting) as the template formation and removal mechanism. The aqueous suspension is frozen to form ice crystals that serve as templates, then the ice is melted to remove the template and leave behind the desired macroporous structure. This phase transition-based approach avoids the need for chemical template removal processes that require severe conditions.
4Ease of operation
If existing elastic scaffold methods are used, then elasticity is improved, but industrial viability and biocompatibility are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes key parameters including using biocompatible materials (chitosan, gelatin, collagen, alginate, polyethylene glycol, and inorganic particles like silica and hydroxyapatite), operating at mild temperatures during ice templating, and using non-toxic crosslinking agents. These parameter changes maintain elasticity while ensuring industrial viability through simple processing and biocompatibility for medical applications.
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 resulting scaffolds demonstrate high elasticity, mechanical robustness, and biocompatibility, with adjustable mechanical properties and sorption capacities, suitable for tissue engineering and industrial applications, and can recover their original shape after significant compression.
Implementation Method 1
a macroporous particulate assembly where the scaffold modulus are elastic, have mechanical properties that can be varied several hundred fold and the modulus is linearly related to temperature, prepared by crosslinking during ice templating
Implementation Method 2
followed by allowing the ice to melt to leave behind the hydrophilic scaffold
Implementation Method 3
elastic Macro porous scaffold comprising amine coated particles wherein amine is in the range of 5-40% and a cross linker in the range of 5-40%
Implementation Method 4
exhibits significant organic and water sorption capacity and selectivity
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses elastic macro porous scaffold and a process for the preparation thereof. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of macroporous, elastic nano particulate scaffolds comprising of coated or grafted cross linkable nanoparticles, and a crosslinker prepared by crosslinking during ice templating, wherein the modulus increases linearly with temperature.